Parabolic leaf springs - shocks not fitting

Hi I purchased a set of these for my S3 and can't seem to compress the rear axle to fit the standard shocks. Do I need longer ones for these? If I do I'm a little ****ed off because a bought new standard shocks all around.

Thanks,.

Landyfella said:

Hi I purchased a set of these for my S3 and can't seem to comprise the rear axle to fit the standard shocks. D =o I need longer ones for these? If I do I'm a little ****ed off because a bought new standard shocks all around.

Thanks,.

Land Rover Short Wheel Base - Series 2&3 parabolic leaf spring kit

Land Rover Short Wheel Base - Series 2&3 parabolic leaf spring kit - Get in touch with a member of the team today! Many orders with Free Shipping!

sandersonleafsprings.co.uk

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You could try loosening all bolts except the U bolts, and bouncing the vehicle up and down to try and settle the springs.
If that doesn't work, you will have to talk to the makers of the springs, see what they suggest.

My makers said standard ones would fit, they were a little short when the body and engine/gearbox where not on the chassis. A ratchet strap around the spring compressed them an inch or so to allow the shocks to be fitted.

Landyfella said:

Hi I purchased a set of these for my S3 and can't seem to comprise the rear axle to fit the standard shocks. D =o I need longer ones for these? If I do I'm a little ****ed off because a bought new standard shocks all around.

Thanks,.

Land Rover Short Wheel Base - Series 2&3 parabolic leaf spring kit

Land Rover Short Wheel Base - Series 2&3 parabolic leaf spring kit - Get in touch with a member of the team today! Many orders with Free Shipping!

sandersonleafsprings.co.uk

Click to expand...

So you have several things going on here.

Firstly, you are modifying a vehicle. Therefore you need to accept that other mods may need to be done to support the first mods.

The listing you linked doesn't say anything about the springs. Like coil springs, leaf and parabolic springs have spring rates, they will also have heights. Do you know anything about the springs you have bought?

On a more basic level, how many leaves do they have?

It is generally accepted that standard shocks are not really suitable for parabolic springs, as they run the risk of over heating. Due to parabolics moving more. Most places would suggest an upgraded shock.

You also don't want your suspension fully extended, even if you compress your springs to fit shocks on, it sounds like they would have no down travel at all. Which would make it crap off road and ride very badly on road. Longer shocks would clearly be needed, although you can only go a little longer without modifying the upper shock mount. Else it will just bottom the shock out under compression.

Is your vehicle loaded at ride weight? Have you done anything else to induce a lift? If the springs are not sagging to give you up and down travel, it sounds like they are not suitable for your application.

But there is a lot to consider when all said and done. I did extensive suspension mods to my SIII 88 on parabolics. It rode and handled lovely, although did lean a bit. It was also great off road. But suspension is an entire system and you need to consider all aspect when changing things.

It looked pretty standard from a ride height point of view:


But had plenty of up and down suspension travel:

300bhp/ton said:

It is generally accepted that standard shocks are not really suitable for parabolic springs, as they run the risk of over heating. Due to parabolics moving more. Most places would suggest an upgraded shock.

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Generally accepted by whom?
I asked the question of the manufacturer when I bought the parabolics direct from them and they said standard shocks.

BruceB said:

Generally accepted by whom?
I asked the question of the manufacturer when I bought the parabolics direct from them and they said standard shocks.

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Parabolics have been about for a long time. No idea who said it first. But certainly when I looked into it, it was the consensus. Standard shocks don't move up and down as much with normal leaf springs. The more compliant parabolic will work them harder. I doubt a real issue for most unless you in a hotter country doing long miles on rough terrain.

Some of the older sites/suppliers no longer around, but a quick Google....

I spoke to Sandersons and they said they should be okay with standard dampers. However I acknowledge the good points made above. Therefore could you recommend some good upgraded dampers. I will not be doing very much off roading.

Thanks.

Landyfella said:

I spoke to Sandersons and they said they should be okay with standard dampers. However I acknowledge the good points made above. Therefore could you recommend some good upgraded dampers. I will not be doing very much off roading.

Thanks.

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There are probably several options.

Not sure how easy it is to get Rocky Mountain parts in the UK these days. I think they use Pro Comp or Old Man Emu:

But you need to know the shock lengths if you haven't got the manufacture part numbers. I think ES9000 Pro Comps are a common fit.

On my Series I fitted Rough Country shocks, but they were a custom long travel setup. However, if you give David at Llama4x4 a call, I'm sure he'd sort you out with what you need:

I've also got on well with the Britpart Celluar Dyanmic shocks, looks like they offer an extended one for Series owners these days: