Best Landrover 110 suspension setup??

[Bensouthall]

Calling on all suspension experts!!

I am stripping down and replacing my rear axle and suspension setup on my 1986 110 in preparation for a TransAfrica trip in 18 months time.

The axle has been replaced with a more modern TD5 setup. I currently have a 2" lift all round and want to replace both the springs and shock absorbers

They need to be HD to accommodate all of the extra weight I'll be carrying.

Whats the best replacement suspension setup and from where should I look to buy the kit from in the UK?

Thanks for any help in advance,

Ben Southall

[roamingyak]

You should get lots of replies on this one :-)

For springs, most HD will do, but you should either use airbags or LR 130 helper springs to assist them at the rear. I use LR HD springs all round and 130 helper springs in the rear, and it seems to run well with a lot of extra weight. Others such as Sam R on this board have successfully used this setup. Airbags seem quite common now that most have learned to trust in them not popping as our natural suspicion suggests. Check other trips on www.africa-overland.net. Scorpion Racing springs sag apparently(?) and OME are overpriced are what I have picked up from reading this board.

Shocks are another 'I have this setup, it works, so it's the best' sort of area. OME are very expensive and many people complain they snap - those who don't snap perhaps have better all round setups, or whatever. Shocks are consuambles and won't last forever, so it seems sensible to not go for the most expensive brands. Koni were recommended to me by Colin at Scorpion Racing as being able to withstand heavy loads and 3 years later they are still going strong. They have a newer heavy duty adjustable version out (no idea about pricing) but my older standard ones seem ok (over 6,000km offroad in Morocco & WS heavily loaded is a reasonable test).

Others will have opinions - try not to spend too much just for the fancy packaging and bling looks ;-)

[Robbert]

I'd go for a dual shock set up. They have twice the surface to dissipate heat, meaning they'll run cooler and as such last longer. And it's HD.

I used airbags in my springs, and they're cool. Gives you instant adaptable springs.

[Bensouthall]

Thanks for all of your help with this topic which is subject to very biased towards personal experience and opinion!

From what I have gleamed from the answers a simple, Landrover part-based setup seems the most logical and easiest to replace once on the road should the unexpected happen, I have thought about the use of airbags before so again I ask the Q; where would be a good source to get these from?

Ben

[roamingyak]

Matt Savage supplies airbags - and is a nice bloke to buy from:

http://www.mattsavage.com/

Matt Savage Land Rover Parts
Mooredge Farm
Knabhall Lane
Tansley
Derbyshire
DE4 5FS
UK

Tel 01629 55855
Fax 0870 706 1990
e-mail sales@mattsavage.com

[diesel jim]

On my 90 and previous 110 i run/ran OME, and love it. I've never had an OME damper snap, and thats with lots of high speed blasting around Salisbury plain.

on my current Td5 110, i've got genuine LR HD front springs, and some bearmach extra HD blue ones on the back. when i run empty they are waaaay to stiff, they rattle your fillings out!

once i laod up with some stuff for work they settle down a bit, so i'd imagine with the sort of just we'd carry for an overland trip, they would be fine... not sure what sort of axle travel i'd get though.

Where are you in Hants Ben? i'm in Swindon, so if you want to borrow the blue bearmachs to try them (i've currently put that standard SW springs back in) then you can see what they feel like.

Jamie

[FreeCaRveR]

hi
i did quite a bit of experimenting on this matter.

For travelling I prefer progressive springs (KingSprings) an a big bore low presure damper(tough dough or Koni heavy track raid)

the dampers are double the bore of a normal damper and will not let you down on heavy pistes.

HD suspension is too stiff as well are high pressure dampers,will bounce too much on bumpy pistes.

Good tip is to (re)fit the front and rear steering stabilizers which will give you an improved handling an stabile vehicle especially when heavily loaded.

[Bensouthall]

Hi Diesel jim

Thanks for the offer of testing out the Bearmach springs, unfortunately my landie is still up on axle stands and I wouldn't be able to road-test it in the next month or so.

If I could ask you a favour though!?!.....could you measure the springs for me as I 'd like to compare them to the ones I have removed, as I'm not sure exactly what they are. They've been shotblasted and are in pretty good condition so may end up using these up until we depart in 18 months time.

They measure:

Free height - 15 3/4"
No of coils - 6
Dia. of spring section - 3/4"

From all of the opinions I have gained from posting here and elsewhere I think I've come to the conclusion that OME are they way to go, so will start off by replacing the shocks first and then the springs further down the line.

Thanks to all for your guidance,

Ben