Disco 1 Britpart standard suspension - my thoughts

As there are plenty of mixed reviews on Britpart parts I thought I'd add my initial thoughts.

Today I fitted the rear springs and dampers, total cost for both sides around £70. It's fair to say my old suspension was obviously way past it's best but I'm really shocked at the difference. I assumed being a bouncy wallowy old thing was what it was supposed to be but they've totally transformed the car. Looking forward to doing the front and getting the bushes replaced, I'll be back with an update when I have and once it's done some miles etc. So far seem like a bargain, if they last.

Their metal work isnt bad, avoid the ultra cheap suspension parts, the "OE" gas struts are plain awful, had britpart springs on both my disco and RRC, never had anything back to say about them, just need bedding in like all stuck

I fitted the bog standard oil dampers. I've got no desire to turn it into a monster, would just like it to be something like it should have been new. There are a couple of positive comments about them on here if you search hard enough.

I put standard Britpart shocks all round on my disco 2 back in October last year, very happy with them.
Changed the steering arms last week so had a quick shufti under the whole car, shocks still look good no leaks or rust even the bushes still look ok and I've read loads of bad things about them. Cost about £100 for all 4 shocks
Watts linkage next

Good to hear! I've fitted polybushes at the bottom but decided to leave the rubber bush at the top for now, didn't see much sense in cutting out a brand new bush. I can always swap it as and when I need to. I am fitting all new hardwear including galvanised spring seats and turrets etc, possibly overkill but I do try to follow the 'do it right do it once' approach.

Looking forward to cracking on with the front on Saturday!

As said, pure and simple metal work is OK from Britpart, the problem with theyr's work appears with more complex parts when joints, rotating elements, rubber or electrics are involved

Yeah I did the turrets on mine same time. Got tyem from paddicks about £80 for the pair. Half the price of genuine but twice as good imo. @sierrafery i agree, i wouldnt use britpart for engine ancillaries for example

Well after a two day battle the rusty ****e is off and the new suspension is complete. For anyone considering HD suspension I'd say try to get a ride in a sorted standard car. For £130 I now have a disco that rides nicely, soaks up speed bumps and doesn't bounce all the way down the motorway. I'd even say it is a little on the firm side at the moment but it may settle, I would definitely have regretted a HD setup. It even goes round corners at 'normal car' speeds without feeling like it's trying to kill you, which is nice!

Initially it appears to have risen about 20mm, again I do expect this to settle.

Yep - standard height heavy duty Britpart springs and shocks, replaced steering damper too - on my D1 2 years ago. Tows the caravan and (often heavy) trailers superbly - good, comfortable ride, and actually attempts reasonable handling (for a tall barge)...on standard wheels and tyres (although changed from 205s to 235s)

Significant increase in ride height - old stuff was knackered though...

May I jump in and include my experience of using Britpart lower suspension arms on my 2005 Disco 3. Just prior to MOT I noticed a knock from the n/s/f suspension and thought whatever it was would surely be picked up on MOT, which sadly it wasn't, passing with flying colours. However, the knocking from n/s/f became more noticeable over potholes over the next few weeks. Investigation revealed severely shot lower suspension arm on the n/s and wear on the o/s too. The work was under taken using Britpart replacements, which cured the knocking and tightened the feel of the steering and at half the cost of original parts. My car will not be MOT'd at that particular establishment ever again. Missing a major suspension part failure is incompetent at best, down right dangerous at worse.

Replacing the suspension arms did leave the tracking very badly out of alignment. Not a problem as I had intended to have 4 wheel laser alignment carried out after replacing the suspension components. The fact that the tracking was so out of alignment, the steering wheel went from being perfectly aligned in the straight ahead position, to being approximately 15 degrees off centre to the right. This in turn threw up an suspension fault, which meant the vehicle suspension wouldn't inflate, giving the most bone shaking ride to the tyre depot. Following wheel re-alignment the suspension appeared to work normally once again. However, I have now noticed that I can feel most bumps and potholes in the road surface. Is there a method of checking and, if necessary, adjusting the air suspension to return it to its previous comfortable ride, or there other possible reasons for the harder than normal ride? TIA.