New springs needed...i think!

Firstly apologies as for some reason my pc, or settings or whatever wont let me search past threads. I have just bought a 4 berth caravan to tow with my Tdi and its my first van. Pulling the weight is fine as you would expect but I can feel it bouncing down on the rear when I go over bumps etc and I dont know if this is normal or my springs are worn. I think they are the original ones by the way so may be tired. If I replace them what would others suggest? Do I go for heavy duty? I think a 1" lift looks great as I only use it for towing the van, carrying dogs and bobbing about but worry it will make it roly poly. Sorry to sound like a numpty but any experience would be listened to..

i like h/d firm ride but some dont std new springs and some gas shockers would probably be big improvement

First thing first, how long is your caravan and what's it's maximum weight. Have you checked nose weight of the van fully ladened?? I suspect your van may be tail or nose heavy, or the rear shock absorbers on your Disco are shot rather than the springs.
I tow a 17' Avondale with my Disco and I hardly know it's there.

ok thanks gents. So feeling the back end bounce is not normal..that answers my first thing. The van is unladen when travelling as we only went for a couple of days and its an old 4 berth that I think is about 1200kg. I will check noseweight etc so thanks for that. I dont mind replacing both springs and shockers as they are not too expensive but any suggestions as to whats best option to go for? what about the lift? Looks good but would it ruin the handling and not be a good idea?

Dampers or bushes at a guess

dont lift ,i would use britpart yellow h/d std hieght spring will lift a bit as are h/d and yellow gas shockers,all round only about £200 for full vehicle kit

For heaven sake don't get the Britpart kit. Invest in some quality components (standard height H/D as suggested) and do the job once, rather than buy cheap and do it again when you either aren't happy with it, or something breaks!

bull**** ive fitted loads of them and never had problem ,some pattern britpart stuf is poor but not entire range they do,

I know their buying group where they get alot of their parts because I work for a motorfactors, and I wouldn't put their shock absorbers on a shopping trolley.

Same cheap nasty ****e that euro car parts like to sell to garages under their budget range.

are you talking gas or the cheap oil ones ,the gas shocks ive used on my own for over 3 years and are still very good ,but have also fitted hundreds on other vehicles and have only had good coments and no bad ones even though if you fit enough sooner or later you will get a poor one of any make ,as a professioal reconditioner of lr units for 25 years i do have an idea of what parts are poor and what are good

I'm sure you do James, and you're entitled to that opinion as I am mine.

I've been a mechanic for 8 years, and work in the motor factor industry now, where I am involved in the technical dept and also in purchasing.

And I know as a matter of fact that Britpart shocks, and indeed springs actually are from a budget supplier that I wouldn't buy from.

I've got no REAL axe to grind over the springs, but I have the shocks.

i can only go on experience in that yellow springs and yellow gas shockers have been very good in use and ive fitted enough to make a judgement as in as good as any parts are nowadays

jamesmartin said:

bull**** ive fitted loads of them and never had problem ,some pattern britpart stuf is poor but not entire range they do,

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yes i agree i have herd that britpert springs are rated quite well and they are cheep on price.

just a thought and forgive me if i am wrong as i havn't checked but do discos have a rear self leveling unit like range rovers used to have maybe its leaking and causing the back end to bounce.

cornish rattler said:

just a thought and forgive me if i am wrong as i havn't checked but do discos have a rear self leveling unit like range rovers used to have maybe its leaking and causing the back end to bounce.

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Thats the Disco2, not the Disco1 unfortunately!

As for springs + dampers... Why not genuine ones - if they where good enough for land rover to fit to them when the vehicle was new (bearing in mind the ones on your disco will probably be the originals which it had when it left the factory!) they are good enough to replace your current ones... As for bushes I would go with polybushes personally - easier to replace than conventional bushes!

Unless your going to be doing a lot of load carrying/heavy towing, personally I wouldn't bother with H/D springs. But thats just my 2 penneth worth!

only the rrc and some def 110 used self levelling unit

Thanks to everyone who replied. I suspect they probably are the original units and the towing has just highlighted their age. Time to shop around then!

I tow a horse and box as well as dogs/kids in boot. I fitted police spec springs, because they were cheap, and monroe gas shocks, they seem to be doin a good job for me. Dont know if it's a good combo but it works for me!

Mine was quite bouncy and wallowy when i bought her, I still have the original springs but have fitted Bilstien shocks, easy job and not too pricey, I would definately recomend them. Im thinking of changing the springs but dont know what ones to go for, maybe LR original?