Disco 2 Not sitting level

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Bantam1

Bantam1

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,627
Location
North Wales, UK
The past few days I have noticed a slight lean to the drivers side.
I measured from the ground to the wheel arch on both sides and found the front about 5-10mm lower on drivers side and the rear 20mm lower.
I put new springs and shocks on a year or so ago (the kit with 2" lift) and I wouldn't think they've done much.
The kit springs aren't handed as far as I know so it shouldn't matter which side they are put.
Anyone else found this?
I'll have a proper scout underneath in a couple of weeks time.
 
Not that I have tried yet? But I was told that some springs that come in twos? One is just taller!! That one will go on the drivers side! So it might be an idea to measure and swop if necessary??

Let me know!!
 
Yep... taller springs go on the driver's side.
What brand of springs did you install? Where they HD or MD? Is your disco loaded down with racks and steel bumpers and the lot?
 
JUKE179r said:
Yep... taller springs go on the driver's side.
What brand of springs did you install? Where they HD or MD? Is your disco loaded down with racks and steel bumpers and the lot?
Click to expand...
MD Springs! As I'm not doing any heavy works as yet! And only front bumper is steel!
 
JUKE179r said:
Yep... taller springs go on the driver's side.
What brand of springs did you install? Where they HD or MD? Is your disco loaded down with racks and steel bumpers and the lot?
Click to expand...
Will be looking at HD ones later in the year! (Poss) looking at the pros and cons as to installing winch later! With more robust bumper!!
 
On my Disco one I had HD springs fitted to the rear and the rears moved to the front. Worked a treat and cheaper than 4 springs.
Kept the originals and now I aint doin so much towin will prbly put them all back the way they were.
 
Badger688 said:
Not that I have tried yet? But I was told that some springs that come in twos? One is just taller!! That one will go on the drivers side! So it might be an idea to measure and swop if necessary??

Let me know!!
Click to expand...
I bought the Britpart kit +2" lift and did check at the time but could see no difference in height.
 
JUKE179r said:
Yep... taller springs go on the driver's side.
What brand of springs did you install? Where they HD or MD? Is your disco loaded down with racks and steel bumpers and the lot?
Click to expand...
Britpart +2" but no difference I could see at the time.
I'd be happy to swap them across, its no big issue but definitely no height difference at the time.
 
Feathers McGraw said:
Stop eating the pies? :)
Click to expand...
Well I did consider I may have overdone the christmas indulgences but on reflection I can't believe the driver should have such an influence on the spring wear of a big heavy vehicle like a disco.
What I was thinking is the engine and tranmission torque is the likely culprit. Haven't checked yet but I suspect the motor and transmission rotation would be resisted by the rhs suspension. Its the only thing that has a sustained load like that, well apart from my fat arse that is.
 
Another point is that the camber of the road will move the effect of the weight of the vehicle towards the left, which ida thort would offset the weight of the driver, especially in a LR.
I'm confused.com!
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Another point is that the camber of the road will move the effect of the weight of the vehicle towards the left, which ida thort would offset the weight of the driver, especially in a LR.
I'm confused.com!
Click to expand...
As soon as the weather improves i'll do some thinking and looking properly.
I'm sure we'll find the answer and all will be good again.
 
Bantam1 said:
Well I did consider I may have overdone the christmas indulgences but on reflection I can't believe the driver should have such an influence on the spring wear of a big heavy vehicle like a disco.
What I was thinking is the engine and tranmission torque is the likely culprit. Haven't checked yet but I suspect the motor and transmission rotation would be resisted by the rhs suspension. Its the only thing that has a sustained load like that, well apart from my fat arse that is.
Click to expand...
Torque would only twist against the chassis when you accelerate and conversely engine braking would twist it back the other way, Ida thort. Also the engine bearers would take a lot of this out. Pain in the rear I know, but is it worth taking them out and checking they are both the same stiffness? and length? If not, the supplier should correct this, you can check stiffness with a pair of bathroom scales, a short plank or square of wood and a ruler. Bit of a pain to do but not impossible. You put the square of wood on top of it, the other end on the scales, check to see how far the bottom of your plank moves down when you apply a push to it. The scales read for instance two stone, the top of each spring should have moved the same distance each time. The stiffer spring will move less distance for the same force applied.
If you find it too difficult to read, then just make up a stick and see how much weight the scales read for each spring when you move the plank down till it touches the top of the piece of stick, They should be the same. Expect to have to practically sit on the spring!
Don't forget most springs are progressive nowadays and will compress further under lighter loads then will stiffen as the load builds up.
I am now wondering if it is possible you fitted one spring upside down. That ought to be pretty well impossible and it ought not to make much difference.
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Torque would only twist against the chassis when you accelerate and conversely engine braking would twist it back the other way, Ida thort. Also the engine bearers would take a lot of this out. Pain in the rear I know, but is it worth taking them out and checking they are both the same stiffness? and length? If not, the supplier should correct this, you can check stiffness with a pair of bathroom scales, a short plank or square of wood and a ruler. Bit of a pain to do but not impossible. You put the square of wood on top of it, the other end on the scales, check to see how far the bottom of your plank moves down when you apply a push to it. The scales read for instance two stone, the top of each spring should have moved the same distance each time. The stiffer spring will move less distance for the same force applied.
If you find it too difficult to read, then just make up a stick and see how much weight the scales read for each spring when you move the plank down till it touches the top of the piece of stick, They should be the same. Expect to have to practically sit on the spring!
Don't forget most springs are progressive nowadays and will compress further under lighter loads then will stiffen as the load builds up.
I am now wondering if it is possible you fitted one spring upside down. That ought to be pretty well impossible and it ought not to make much difference.
Click to expand...
I'm an auto so have no real engine braking. Its therefore a reasonable assumption that there will be some acceleration torque acting on the rh springs.
I suppose even a manual, unless cruising, will be accelerating more strongly than the engine would brake.
All springs are on correctly and i'm of the opinion it doesn't make a difference which way up they are. Unlike motorcycle fork springs the Disco springs are in air and do not therefore influence oil damping, which is the reason I assume it is suggested the closer coils should be at the top in bike forks.
Now I mention damping, an aspect I hadn't thought about and that could influence would be the dampers of course. Though they were also new at the same time I suppose one could be a little weaker.
 
If springs are not progressive, all the coils are the same diameter and equally spaced. Any variation of this means they are progressive in one way or another. If you have gas shocks then that might make a bit of difference, and if you swap shockers side to side and find the difference in height has moved too then obviously...;)
 
OK - had the tape out today and measured everything.
All drop links are ok and exactly the same length.
The only thing that suggests a small lean to the right is 3 to 5mm difference between the spring heights on each side.
I measured this from the base plate to the upper spring mount.
All rubber bits in place correctly on both sides.
It would seem that the aftermarket britpart springs I put on her have settled a little on the rhs and this is why the genuine parts we are told have a small (i'm guessing 3 to 5mm) difference in height before fitting.
I may swap the springs side to side but not until the summer.
 
Bantam1 said:
OK - had the tape out today and measured everything.
All drop links are ok and exactly the same length.
The only thing that suggests a small lean to the right is 3 to 5mm difference between the spring heights on each side.
I measured this from the base plate to the upper spring mount.
All rubber bits in place correctly on both sides.
It would seem that the aftermarket britpart springs I put on her have settled a little on the rhs and this is why the genuine parts we are told have a small (i'm guessing 3 to 5mm) difference in height before fitting.
I may swap the springs side to side but not until the summer.
Click to expand...
Now thinking outside the box and wondering if the body mounts have a problem.
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Now thinking outside the box and wondering if the body mounts have a problem.
Click to expand...
I checked those too and nothing I could determine.
It seems the car wants to list to the right.
If its true that OEM springs are slightly longer on the rhs then it would straighten everything nicely.
Hey, its a niggle nothing more, the cars great, handles well, etc.
 
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