road springs or parabolics

im hearing different things when it comes to suspension for my series 3 do i fit standard springs or parabolics. your thoughts would be more than welcome.

There are lots of threads on here so might be worth doing a search on parabolics.

What do you use your Series for? Ocasional use? Lots of road miles? Twisty off road stuff? Load lugging?

i'm none too experienced (only owned my landy for 8 months) but i swapped a perfectly good set of road springs for a set of paras and don't think i've really done myself any favours ...

regularly oiled multileaf springs give quite a nice ride (unless they're heavy duty) with good shock absorbers, i'm putting my old front multileaf springs onto my 109 to replace the "blown" ones that are on it at present, i've just got to source good condition rears to go with them

parabolics on (i'm short)

What do you not like about them?

Parabolics give you more corner roll. They are better off road, they are slightly softer in the delicate posterior dept. They do let the cab roll a bit though, no worse that a Discovery, but not as solid as traditional springs.

I just switched to Paras, and the ride is terrific. Granted, my old road springs were not in a great state. This is the second best upgrade to my series 3.

rjblank said:

I just switched to Paras, and the ride is terrific. .

Click to expand...

Pervert

redhand said:

Pervert

Click to expand...

I am what I am...

I changed to paras - from rusted solid road springs. So i guess the imporvement is kinda obvious. But, for off-roading (my main usage) they are excellent. Trundling around roads is fine too, sure you roll around, but, its a land rover, its not as if you want to corner at 60 is it...

I live in Scotland.... If I couldn't drive it at 60 round corners in the wet I'd never get there! :crazy_driver:

NiteMare said:

i
parabolics on (i'm short)

Click to expand...

Firstly - great to see the mug sat on the wing

Secondly - what's the distance from ground to top of the body work? I'm sure i haven't got that much lift from my paras... - did you do anything else too?

53" to the corner i'm leaning on when i first put the springs on, i'd just dropped it off the axle stands and shook/bounced the rear to settle them, i think it was still on the original multileaf springs on the front when i took the picture...

no other mods except 7.50x16 tyres, when i said i'm short i meant i'm short, 5'2" from my socks to the top of my head

must always have a coffee/tea supply when working, it gives you a chance to look/think about the next little job

As everyone has said it all depends on what you use it for!
I've just fitted paras to my 58 lwb s2
I put the front ones on 1st and was well pleased but now I've done the back I'm not so happy, the ride is just so bouncy.

Nitemare, Is the front end now the same height as the rear with the paras on the front too?



Ad

no it's not, it still sits a little nose down...

if you look at the rear springs you can see a third "helper" leaf floating about, i'm not sure of the make of these springs as i bought them secondhand with a full set of shocks...

i plan on getting 109 front spring shackles at some time as i've the 200Tdi under the bonnet and have clouted the engine pulley a few times, the 109 shackles are only 1/2" longer so hopefully won't cause the prop to bind

damaged


after lathe work

personally i am going to stick to the original pattern road springs, coz i am an eccentric prat that likes to keep at least one vehicle in pretty standard condition, especially as its series II, seeing less and elss proper straight II's these days

carpy said:

personally i am going to stick to the original pattern road springs, coz i am an eccentric prat that likes to keep at least one vehicle in pretty standard condition, especially as its series II, seeing less and elss proper straight II's these days

Click to expand...

i'll be honest and say i don't think my paras gave any real improvement to the ride over what just changing shocks would have done with my old standard leaves that i'd freed up nicely, it's just taller now ...

my 109 2a Basic will be staying on the standard springs being as i have a pair of fronts waiting in my garage, i just need to find a pair of rear springs reasonably local, plus do all the other work it needs doing

Paras get my vote. Replaced my origionals for a set about a year ago and haven't had piles since. Off road my fillings stay in now too.

i have just fitted para's to my SII A & the ride is soooo much better on the road & off ! i also fitted military shackles which are 1'' longer . the whole set up has given a 3-4'' lift from the old standard springs(mind u they were looking very tired!!!) as nite mare i have a 200 Di under the bonnet & had trouble with crank pulley hitting the front axle !!! i am hoping now i have sorted this out ???

Just to add a question i often wander about this topic, what are the para load capabilities like compared to the old leafs? Are the paras as reliable as the leafs? I have broken one rear leaf n 5 years of ownership which was partly my fault, but it didnt stop me from doing the 800km trip home.