Saggy spring. Looks ****e.

Hi, my 73 Swb series 3 is sagging on the right rear and to be honest loos awful as its about 2" down. The whole thing looks lobsided so I need to address the problem.
I've seen some cheap parabolics of the Mm 4x4 site. I know that cheap isn't always best so my question is this.
Is it going to be okay to fit some cheap springs an perhaps some lift shackles as I hardly do any off road at the moment. I am planning in the long run to get her converted to coil springs but this is gonna cost me £600+ so need a short term fix.
Any opinions or experience is much appreciated.

Standard springs and shocks are fine.
Most people don't bother with standard because they get all excited about parabolics.
By the time we change the springs on a seris they are completly knackerd, so when people fit para's, they think they are brilliant.
A new set of standard springs, kept well oiled and new standard shocks will transform the landy.

Coils = Q plate and VOSA inspection

had that on mine so took the springs off wire brushed and greased the springs and bushes and now it sits leval ish.
a landy place i went to told me all series sit with a slight "gimp". the haynes comic says to park it on a flat leval serface and measure the the distance from the centre of the shackle pins to the ground, a 1 inch variation is acceptable.
haynes goes on to say that dirty, damaged or corroded shackle pins, bushes or side plates can cause "wind up". this may be causing your gimp.
i am not an expert and just reading from the manual so i hope this helps.

Cheers for that. I'll get my tape measure out.

borristherat said:

had that on mine so took the springs off wire brushed and greased the springs and bushes and now it sits leval ish.
a landy place i went to told me all series sit with a slight "gimp". the haynes comic says to park it on a flat leval serface and measure the the distance from the centre of the shackle pins to the ground, a 1 inch variation is acceptable.
haynes goes on to say that dirty, damaged or corroded shackle pins, bushes or side plates can cause "wind up". this may be causing your gimp.
i am not an expert and just reading from the manual so i hope this helps.

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Genuine drivers side springs stand a little higher than passenger side ones, something to do with making it sit level with a fat bloke in the driving seat.

Yeah but this is squatting down at the back on the drivers side.

waldershelf said:

Genuine drivers side springs stand a little higher than passenger side ones, something to do with making it sit level with a fat bloke in the driving seat.

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It's to do with the fuel... fuel tank on drivers side = more weight, so even if you had two equally sized people it would lean to the drivers side.

I know Series 1 Springs and i assume all good springs are different on the left to the right as they are stronger on the drivers side to compensate.

If you've not oiled the springs for a while it will take a while for them to work loose...After buying mine the hardly used but rusted springs never really worked right until I absolutely drenched everything in WD40 (diesel+engine oil might be cheaper!), I then had to take it on a fast (30-40mph) run over a very badly pot holed track to free everything up. It now sits straight and is a lot more comfy on the road...I have got some parabolics to fit and will be interested to note the difference if any


D

Thanks for tht. I think the first thing to do then is empty a couple if big cans of WD40 all roun then and go for a drive.

I had one that had been converted from petrol to diesel, the diesel being heavier caused the sag you are talking about as they had different amounts of leaves for petrol and diesel, could be a possibilty?

Stumpy 1970 said:

Thanks for tht. I think the first thing to do then is empty a couple if big cans of WD40 all roun then and go for a drive.

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Get a large flat bladed screw driver and whack into between the spring leafs and then squirt up.

landrover11019 said:

Get a large flat bladed screw driver and whack into between the spring leafs and then squirt up.

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Bodily fluids will only be a temporary fix

Mix grease and petrol and slap it on....chuck some weight in the back and go for a blast.

Know a bloke that swears by coating them in handfuls of grease, wrapping with cling-film and driving for a few days like that.....says it works wonders....never tried it though