Which OE springs?

[Ralph Hardwick]

Hi guys. I have just come back from an abortive tour of Morocco (blown and twisted cylinder head, stripped rocker arm stud, fried electrics, etc. etc.). Anyhow my car was well loaded and handled like a cross between a supertanker and citroen 2cv (remember them?). In the UK I have put up with it, but on the mountain roads in Morocco it was positively scary

The car is currently fitted with 235/85 wrangler mt/rs, bearmach blue +2" springs all around and pro-comp 9000s. As a result of the lift the rear ARB is removed.

I would like to retain the tyres but go back to oe hd springs. I don't wnat to use Britpart, Allmakes or bearmach because of mixed reviews on dozens of forums. Although cost is not a big issue I don't want to use OME or Scorpion as I want to us OE parst as these can be obtained easier in the event of failure (I'm a bit paranoid at the moment after several lone breakdwns in the middle of Morocco).

I have done plenty of googling and I have already looked at this:

http://members.shaw.ca/jbarge/springinfo.html#OEM

I have heard about 'mil spec' and 'wolf spec' springs but can't find any part numbers or suppliers (online anyway).
I want to loose the 2" lift so that I can replace the ARB. I dont mind a small lift due to increased poundage.
I do intend to rebush throughout. Whether I go polybush or OE I haven't decided yet (that will probably be the subject of another search).

So what springs should I choose?

Here are the facts:
Disco 300Tdi auto 1995
Front EPi9 winch + bumper with bullbar
Front stering guard (plate)
Rock sliders
Diff guards
Tank guard
Full length, safety devices roof rack carrying extra spare wheel, hi-lift & 4 waffles
Boot fitted with 20 litre auxiliary fuel tank and 20 litre nato water tank.

Although I do a fair bit of off-roading, on-road handling is a higher priority as I want to do a lot more overlanding (hence the desire to stay standard).

Looking at the tables in the link above I am considering probably the NTC8477 (Front disco with winch kit) and possibly the HD Rangie spring NRC4304 for the rear.

Any advice would be gratefully recieved especially about the mil and wolf spec springs).

Thanks

[Range Rover Blues]

Persoanlly I'd keep the lift or you'll rip bodywork off with those tyres.  Fit 1 1/2" of towball spacers under the rubber mounts for the rear ARB and it will work just fine.  If you want extra control then either fit a thicker one (£200) or clamp a second ARB to the first one using a set of coil spring clamps from the chav section of your local Halfrauds.

This is Blue with a 2" lift and twin rear ARB
http://www.mud-club.com/galleries/Range+Rover+Blues/Flexing/0/b2474a3ca157225282e29bfe0fcf2df1.JPG/
http://www.mud-club.com/galleries/Range+Rover+Blues/Flexing/0/00c4b2ef13aefded15472e61d5babef2.JPG/

This is the back of my LSE, I've now fitted ARB spacers and it's fine with plus 2" shocks.

[clbarclay]

I would agree with RRB and try the anti roll bar again with spacers. If you still want the articulation occasionally then fitting quick disconects on the ARB is an option. It may also be that different dampers might do a better job of controling the springs.


Providing a bit of infor for you next search I strongly advise against cheap polyurethane bushes. Search for 'deflex' and you will find my previous comments on these particular bushes.

[beggers]

Who sells thicker ARB's and quick disconects cause I wouldn't mind some. I do mainly road work with ocasional green lane and farm track stuff when I'm shootin so don't need much articulation just clearance  so thicker ARB's would be good and the quick disconects a bonus when I go shootin.
Thanks

[clbarclay]

I can't recall any comercial quick disconects for land rovers, but quite a few exist for Jeeps (popular in the states) which you may be able to adapt or copy.

[Range Rover Blues]

I've seen a few cruddy hopme-made disconnects and was trying to develop a reliable, secure disconnect myself but that project is stalled.

TBH you don't need to worry about disconnecting unless you have location cones and extreme articulation, I can get Blue fully twisted up with twin rear ARB.

the extra thick one comes form Scorpion amongst others, they fit a thin one at the fornt and a thick one at the rear to get a bit more oversteer.