Freelander 2 Front spring touching body

D

Donners90

Member

Posts

10

• Jul 13, 2019

• #1

Hi All,
I've taken charge of my dads old FL2 TD4, and there was an awful grinding / creaking noise coming fro the front left corner when steering at low speed or stationary. On inspection it appears that the coli spring is in contact with the inside of the suspension turret. See attached picture - I've removed the strut and the spring looks very bowed, and the shock is not evenly centred in the spring. It has definitely been rubbing the body (marked on both body and spring paint worn away). The top mount bearing "pip" is nicely in line with the tab on the lower rear of the strut, the flat edge of the top mount is aligned to the inboard side, and the spring is seated correctly in the lower cup. According to my dad the front spring was changed a while ago, so I'm wondering if the garage that did it could have cocked it up in some way. Spring is a KYB RA3361. Anything obvious I'm missing here?
Many thanks
James

 

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potus

Well-Known Member

Posts

2,163

Location

South Devon

• Jul 13, 2019

• #2

I wonder if the spring has twisted when they tightened the top nut, causing it to bow?

 

D

Donners90

Member

Posts

10

• Jul 13, 2019

• #3

Thanks for the reply Potus. I've compressed the spring, checked the top nut and released it again. Still the same. No obvious twist in the spring due to the tightening etc. Also, looking a little closer the part number is KYB RA 3381 (which make more sense as that relates correctly on the KYB catalogue!)

I'm just wondering if this happened to be a dodgy spring.

 

marjon

Well-Known Member

Full Member

Posts

16,834

Location

Bulgaria

• Jul 13, 2019

• #4

Just a thought is the spring upside down? (If it’s possible)

I don’t know but just looking if it’s touching where you have the blue arrow that coil looks wider than the first coil at the bottom.

What does the other side look like.

J

 

andyfreelandy

Well-Known Member

Posts

5,581

Location

Devon

• Jul 13, 2019

• #5

I'd second that. Upside down or wrong spring. Supposed to sit in wide seat at base of shock!!

 

andyfreelandy

Well-Known Member

Posts

5,581

Location

Devon

• Jul 13, 2019

• #6

https://images.app.goo.gl/CUyPRYLNp5H5Kte88 pic may help you. Maybe not in seat at base like the F1 but different to yours!!

 

D

Donners90

Member

Posts

10

• Jul 13, 2019

• #7

Thanks both. I separated the strut and tried the spring the other way round - was definitely the right way round originally as it was very out of shape when flipped. Also was seated well into the lower base and nudges up to the end stop. Now that it's all in pieces I'm tempted to change the springs for OE ones and see if that helps!

 

Stv123

Active Member

Posts

501

Location

derbyshire

• Jul 13, 2019

• #8

Did the top bearings on mine and as I recall the spring is not concentric but it should not catch.

 

D

Donners90

Member

Posts

10

• Jul 13, 2019

• #9

Thanks STV, This pic suggests the spring should be biased towards the outside (where there's no bodywork) however on mine it seems to be the other way round. The more I look at it the more I think the spring is no good.