How to lift parabolic leaf springs

Orishaoko1 · Apr 7, 2019

I have a 1988 Land Rover Santana IV (defender body series 3 frame) that I want to lift 1" or 2" but as much as I look for, can't find a kit or instructions on how to do it. Do any of you guys or girls have deal with this in the past or know how to do it?

dieseldog69 · Apr 8, 2019

Orishaoko1 said:
I have a 1988 Land Rover Santana IV (defender body series 3 frame) that I want to lift 1" or 2" but as much as I look for, can't find a kit or instructions on how to do it. Do any of you guys or girls have deal with this in the past or know how to do it?View attachment 174610

Pretty little thing that

Have you considered going spring over axle?

goonarmy · Apr 8, 2019

Not feedback section, Please move to the correct one.

Maybe satanana zone?

Orishaoko1 · Apr 8, 2019

goonarmy said:
Not feedback section, Please move to the correct one.

Maybe satanana zone?

I haven't seen the Santana side yet but thanks for the heads up!!!

dieseldog69 · Apr 8, 2019

Orishaoko1 said:
I haven't seen the Santana side yet but thanks for the heads up!!!

Probably better in the series forum TBH but have you considered SOA conversion yet?

Orishaoko1 · Apr 8, 2019

dieseldog69 said:
Probably better in the series forum TBH but have you considered SOA conversion yet?

I just purchased the car two weeks ago and I have been thinking about the SOA
conversion but I need to look at the budget too and the level of difficulty on it.

dieseldog69 · Apr 8, 2019

Orishaoko1 said:
I just purchased the car two weeks ago and I have been thinking about the SOA
conversion but I need to look at the budget too and the level of difficulty on it.

SOA = cheap, cheap, cheap as it's just a bit of engineering and you hardly need to buy any new parts and it's only as difficult as you make it, there are heaps of video's out there on SOA conversions for J**ps and leaf sprung vehicles like Suzuki SJ410/413 etc,.

300bhp/ton · Apr 8, 2019

SOA is an option. But you’ll need to fab and figure something out with the steering. You may also have other issues to sort too.

And in reality you probably don’t need the 4”+ lift it will give you. Unless you are building a mud truck.

Loads of parabolic spring options out there. Just hit Google. Heystree and Rocky Mountain Spares are be ones I’d consider. But there are others.

I can run 33” tall tyres on my 88 no probs with stock body work. If you want bigger then you may need to look for other options. Although Series axles likely won’t handle anything any bigger.

I considered SOA on my build. But decided it wasn’t what I wanted to achieve in the end. So stuck with spring under and lots of flex.

Full info in my build thread (link in dog below).

Here it is on 8.25 x 16 tyres. Just over 33” tall (similar to a 255/85R16)

Orishaoko1 · Apr 9, 2019

300bhp/ton said:
SOA is an option. But you’ll need to fab and figure something out with the steering. You may also have other issues to sort too.

And in reality you probably don’t need the 4”+ lift it will give you. Unless you are building a mud truck.

Loads of parabolic spring options out there. Just hit Google. Heystree and Rocky Mountain Spares are be ones I’d consider. But there are others.

I can run 33” tall tyres on my 88 no probs with stock body work. If you want bigger then you may need to look for other options. Although Series axles likely won’t handle anything any bigger.

I considered SOA on my build. But decided it wasn’t what I wanted to achieve in the end. So stuck with spring under and lots of flex.

Full info in my build thread (link in dog below).

Here it is on 8.25 x 16 tyres. Just over 33” tall (similar to a 255/85R16)

Thanks a lot for all the info and the tips I really appreciated all the help.

Orishaoko1 · Apr 9, 2019

Thank a lot guys for all the help and the tips I really appreciated for everything. These Santana's are a hybrid for suspension or frame stuff I have to look in the series and If it is the body i have to look in the defender area

Orishaoko1 · Apr 9, 2019

And it has the 12J N/A like the Land Rover 90 that is painfully slow

300bhp/ton · Apr 9, 2019

I was forgetting, your Santana is already on parabolics isn't it?

You could add extended (military) style spring hangers, similar to those fitted to the 109 One Ton model. This will give you a small lift, but it will change the pinion angle of the diffs. But lots of people do this on 88's.

The 109 One Ton also had extended chassis hanger/mounts for the fixed part of the spring, not reason you couldn't also do this, but would require welding and/or fab work.

Longer springs with more arc will also offer a lift, else like others pointed out you are back at Spring Over Axle conversions.

Colthebrummie · Apr 9, 2019

If you lift it too much, you might struggle to get it in that carpark. I worked at a company that had its own multi-story carpark and a colleague had a defender that he used for commuting to work. One weekend he lifted the suspension about 3 inches and smashed a few light on his way into the carpark. There was a height restriction board hanging on chains at the entrance but he ignored that scraping on his roof.

Col

dag019 · Apr 9, 2019

As mentioned on the other thread I still think the thing to start with is replacing the milk bottle top wheels with some proper sized rubber. You may then find that it does not need any more of a lift.

rob1miles · Apr 9, 2019

Agreed, the ride hieght looks right. It needs bigger wheels. Its a very nice truck, I think it would look silly with a lift. Bigger dia wheel makes for better driving (within reason) and lifts make for worse unless you are off road.

How to lift parabolic leaf springs

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