Classic suspension question

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hef19898

hef19898

Well-Known Member
Posts
591
Location
Germany
Hi there,

just had a closer look at the spare rear coils springs I have around. So, they are coded red / white indicating RR HD rear springs. Makes sense. It just seems that one is about 1.5 cm shorter than the other... Is one supposed to go on the driver side? Or do I need new ones?

There is also the question about shocks. I like the 235/85 R16 tires, and from the paper work the ride hight is now 89 cm in the front (up from 87/88) and 93 cm in the back (up from 87). I assume, as in guessing, the previous values were stock. The boge unit is fitted and working.

The goal is to keep the tire size, remove the supper stiff springs in the back and replace the shot shocks, front and rear. The question now is, can I get away with the tires and normal shocks, or do I need +2" ones? Assuming the previous ride height was standard, it would be a 1" lift max. Right now, the tires are not posing any problems whatsoever.

There is a dual shock set-up in the rear, for towing I assume. Any thoughts if that's worth keeping? And any suggestion regarding shocks?

Greetings,

Florian
 
Have a look through: http://www.red90.ca/rovers/springinfo.html
Different lengths have different colour codes. I would have expected red/white to be RR heavy duty rears - often referred to as 'Police spec' NRC4304 - to be the same length.
Used to be fitted to RRC in UK Police use to accomodate the weight of the paraphernalia carried for dealing with road traffic collisons.
 
Yeah, the car will carry all the camping stuff in the back and on the roof. But the springs used to tow up to 6 tons are just to damn stiff...
 
Had a brief play with a set of heavy Disco rears on mine. Fully laden & towing the boat superb. Unladen & solo they'd have your fillings out!
 
Last edited:
hef19898 said:
There was a pneumatic brake system fitted, removed it since as I don't have any inclination to tow anything. Still rated at 6 tons, in presence of said pneumatic brakes.
Click to expand...
Not in the EU it's not regardless of braking systems fitted. The limit is 3.5 tonnes even though Land Rover quote a higher towing capability in non EU countries.
 
Apparently they car is no longer a car, but some kind of dedicated towing vehicle if I understood correctly. Was quite funny to explain that to the insurance company when I got the special tariff for classic cars.
 
hef19898 said:
Hi there,

just had a closer look at the spare rear coils springs I have around. So, they are coded red / white indicating RR HD rear springs. Makes sense. It just seems that one is about 1.5 cm shorter than the other... Is one supposed to go on the driver side? Or do I need new ones?

There is also the question about shocks. I like the 235/85 R16 tires, and from the paper work the ride hight is now 89 cm in the front (up from 87/88) and 93 cm in the back (up from 87). I assume, as in guessing, the previous values were stock. The boge unit is fitted and working.

The goal is to keep the tire size, remove the supper stiff springs in the back and replace the shot shocks, front and rear. The question now is, can I get away with the tires and normal shocks, or do I need +2" ones? Assuming the previous ride height was standard, it would be a 1" lift max. Right now, the tires are not posing any problems whatsoever.

There is a dual shock set-up in the rear, for towing I assume. Any thoughts if that's worth keeping? And any suggestion regarding shocks?

Greetings,

Florian
Click to expand...

Just standard length damper either with gas or without, the suspension travel hasn’t changed has it?

Rear Springs RRc.
There are change points with springs, so if your vehicle VIN was up to GA 464553 the standard rear springs for was NRC8113 and on both sides (pink/purple stripe).
For the diesel the left hand spring was NTC3285 (green/pink stripe).

From HA464554 the standard spring was NRC2119 (green stripe).
For the diesel the left hand spring was NRC4035 (red/yellow stripe).

No doubt the springs are now obsolete, and any part numbers were superseded if the Genuine springs were still available.
 
Obsolescence is a problem, if one of the police spec springs I have is dead... Don't want to go with Britpart if I can help it.

Good news on the standard shocks, unfortunately the Bilstein ones are out of stock. Maybe I can sneak the Koni into the budget. Regarding the double shock set-up, is there any advantage when not towing stuff?
 
hef19898 said:
Obsolescence is a problem, if one of the police spec springs I have is dead... Don't want to go with Britpart if I can help it.

Good news on the standard shocks, unfortunately the Bilstein ones are out of stock. Maybe I can sneak the Koni into the budget. Regarding the double shock set-up, is there any advantage when not towing stuff?
Click to expand...
Only if you are towing 6 tonnes
 
Good to know! Makes it all a lot cheaper, doesn't it? From the invoices I have, it was once a Terrfirma mod. I go for standard length Koni dampers then, hoping the coils are still good. We'll see how she handles, on and off road after.

And no, I'm not gonna tow 6 tons

Edit: Just checked, I can get both, Bilstein and Koni shocks. Difference is 17£ per piece. Besides the cost, are there any real differences between the two?
 
Last edited:
I've towed a Unimog around my yard with the P38 ;)

I think they're over 8ton had to use Low range ;)

Did manage to make the morse chain jump a few teeth...

A horse trailer with 2 grown shires weighs quite a bit...
 
I beleive 235/85s require a slight arch trim and steering lock stops moving but yours may already have been if you have no problems now. Standard springs should be fine on the rear if the boge is working, its job is to keep the back up when loaded/towing
 
Kev12 said:
I beleive 235/85s require a slight arch trim and steering lock stops moving but yours may already have been if you have no problems now. Standard springs should be fine on the rear if the boge is working, its job is to keep the back up when loaded/towing
Click to expand...
+1 on that. On my classic the boge unit went for a burton and had to come off, after a lot of faffing about I got back to something like std ride by fitting the police spec rear coils. It's been ok for the last 18 months anyway.
 
henry_b, an Unimog? Nice! Really have to get behind the wheel of one one day!

So, the plan is as follows now: replacing the old shocks with standard length Bilsteins (saves some money for new police spec springs if mine a done). Leaving everthing esle like it is, the tires are working just fine (no idea what kit was added previously, should try to get hold of the previous-previous owner). In case the ride is not satisfactory, I can still use the second shock mounts to toy around.

Slowly getting there...
 
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