other vehicle to SIII leaf spring swaps - Land Rovers Only

black and tan · 03-19-2007, 12:12 AM

Howdy all, this is my first post here, yes, I've searched, looking for a good donor vehicle to swap out my old rusted springs on my SIII diesel, the intent is to come up with a near exact fit. For both F&R from a salvage yard, I'll keep searching, in the meant time any info anyone?! I'd like a softer ride but would like to keep the height near stock, any info thanks in advance.

KevinNY · 03-19-2007, 08:49 AM

Just get replacement springs and keep some weight in the back to soften the ride a bit. A truly soft ride is pretty much impossible but if your leafs are rusted up solid new will improve things a good bit.

300bhp/ton · 03-19-2007, 09:21 AM

Springs are cheap, just buy new ones.

New standard ones will make a massive difference over old rusted/tired ones.

But honestly go for parabolic springs. It's the only sensible option. There are loads of places to buy them in the UK and they will ship to the US.

Not sure if you can get them in the US. I often frequent Jeep forums and none and I mean none have heard of parabolic springs, which is stupid as they have been around since at least since the early 70's.

If you are not sure what they are I#ll post up some info for you.

slouzon · 03-19-2007, 04:15 PM

http://www.wiseowlparts.com/catelogue2/21.html

http://www.roversnorth.com/store/pc-...gs-shocks.aspx

Greg S · 03-19-2007, 08:53 PM

What he says. Wise Owl.

Rocky Mountain Parabolic Springs are made in North America, shipped world wide.

black and tan · 03-20-2007, 12:06 AM

Thanks for the reply, and the info! I'll try and reciprocate in time, I was planning on getting flamed to heck like of the pirate bb, maybe later...because the next logical question is:
I'll only be towing a jetski (50Lbs tung weight) or maybe 150 lbs of gear when I hit the trail and that's only about 5% of the time, so should I go with the lighter weight springs?
I'm not to sure but I think we call parabolic's progressive rate springs here.

thanks again

300bhp/ton · 03-20-2007, 03:50 AM

Try here: http://www.parabolicsuspension.com/landrover/lrover.htm

Parabolic springs allow each leaf to work independantly. Thus giving a better ride, handling and articulation. But still offering as good or better load carrying and increased ride height. Essentially they will work much the same as a coil spring does.

Note the leafs don't touch each other:

Quote:

What is a parabolic spring?
Basically a HST Parabolic Spring is a spring that consists of two or more leaves. The leaves touch only in the center, where they are fixed to the axle and at the outer ends, where they are fixed to the vehicle. In between those two points the leaves do not touch each other as they do with conventional leaf springs.
Each leaf represents a complete spring in it's self and will act as such. To enable this the leaf is tapered, from the center (thick) to the outer ends (thin). This tapering is parabolic, it means that every centimeter (or inch) the thickness of the leaf decreases in an amount that relates to the square function of it's length.

Conventional leaf spring:

p76rangie · 03-20-2007, 04:15 AM

Parabolics give a softer ride, but make the car less stable. So it depends on what you are after.

p76rangie · 03-20-2007, 05:54 AM

If your existing springs are not worn, you can pull them apart and clean them up and re-use them. They wear where the end of each leaf is. That is the lower leaf wears into the upper leaf, reducing the thickness. If they are simply too stiff, leave one or two of the smaller leafs out when you reassemble them.

300bhp/ton · 03-20-2007, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p76rangie

Parabolics give a softer ride, but make the car less stable. So it depends on what you are after.

Less stable - bollox.

They where first used on the 101 which primarily was designed for transporting ammo. Making it unstable on rough terrain would not have been a design critera.

Gee you really come out with total horse poop.

p76rangie · 03-20-2007, 06:51 AM

Insults again. Now how many series landrovers have you owned where you have fitted parabolics to. I fitted them 10 years ago.

300bhp/ton · 03-20-2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p76rangie

Insults again. Now how many series landrovers have you owned where you have fitted parabolics to. I fitted them 10 years ago.

So if it makes a vehicle unstable why use them on a vehicle which MUST be stable on rough terrain.

Come on man listen to yourself. Parabolics act in a similar manner as coils do, so if parabolics are unstable so are coils.

onslow · 03-20-2007, 02:30 PM

And There Off!!!!!!

p76rangie · 03-20-2007, 02:44 PM

Onslow, they're not off. I know he just says these stupid things to bait people.

TerryS · 03-20-2007, 07:59 PM

We have two series trucks with parabolics, a '71 S2A 88", and an 83 S3 Stage One 109 and both are not remotely unstable. I'd never go back to conventional springs because parabolics have a progressive rate increase as they are deflected, very much the same as progressive coils.
I'm not trying to stir up and trouble, just making my observations based on 2 trucks we currently have with them.(everything else has coils)

03-19-2007, 12:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
black and tan You can run, but you'll only die tired. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 16 Gallery: 0	other vehicle to SIII leaf spring swaps Howdy all, this is my first post here, yes, I've searched, looking for a good donor vehicle to swap out my old rusted springs on my SIII diesel, the intent is to come up with a near exact fit. For both F&R from a salvage yard, I'll keep searching, in the meant time any info anyone?! I'd like a softer ride but would like to keep the height near stock, any info thanks in advance.

03-19-2007, 08:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
KevinNY Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Guilderland, NY Posts: 790 Gallery: 0	Just get replacement springs and keep some weight in the back to soften the ride a bit. A truly soft ride is pretty much impossible but if your leafs are rusted up solid new will improve things a good bit. __________________ "The Goat",1973 Series III coil conversion, Daihatsu 2.8 Td, power steering, dual ARBs Etc. '91 RRC, bone stock

03-19-2007, 09:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
300bhp/ton The Best 4X4XFar Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: England, home of the Land Rover Posts: 601 Gallery: 0	Springs are cheap, just buy new ones. New standard ones will make a massive difference over old rusted/tired ones. But honestly go for parabolic springs. It's the only sensible option. There are loads of places to buy them in the UK and they will ship to the US. Not sure if you can get them in the US. I often frequent Jeep forums and none and I mean none have heard of parabolic springs, which is stupid as they have been around since at least since the early 70's. If you are not sure what they are I#ll post up some info for you. __________________ Land Rover Discovery (3 Door) 200Tdi 5-speed Mods:Allisport LARGE FMIC \| Allisport Tuned \| Simex Jungle Trekker II 33.11.50R15 Tyres \| 15x8 8 Spokes \| Heavy Duty Uprated Suspension (shocks & springs) \| Wheel arch Flares \| 1" Wheel Spacers \| Custom Straight Thru Exhaust \| Custom Trimmed Front bumper with twin NATO Hooks \| Custom Rear Bumper with single Large NATO Hook 360˚ Swival \| Front Light Guards \| Custom Aluminium Rear Floor \| Bonnet Straps \| 100w Spot Lights \| Upgraded Headlights The Best 4X4XFar

03-19-2007, 04:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
slouzon Back in a Series LR after 25 years :-) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Troy, Michigan Posts: 133 Gallery: 0	parabolic http://www.wiseowlparts.com/catelogue2/21.html http://www.roversnorth.com/store/pc-...gs-shocks.aspx __________________ Back in a LR after 25 years!!! 71 Series IIa 88 01 D2 "BackInA88" on all the other LR forums (Sign up here first and couldn't think of a good handle at the time! )

03-20-2007, 12:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
black and tan You can run, but you'll only die tired. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 16 Gallery: 0	thanks for your help. Thanks for the reply, and the info! I'll try and reciprocate in time, I was planning on getting flamed to heck like of the pirate bb, maybe later...because the next logical question is: I'll only be towing a jetski (50Lbs tung weight) or maybe 150 lbs of gear when I hit the trail and that's only about 5% of the time, so should I go with the lighter weight springs? I'm not to sure but I think we call parabolic's progressive rate springs here. thanks again

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03-19-2007, 08:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Greg S Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Duncan, B.C. Canada. Posts: 145 Gallery: 0	What he says. Wise Owl. Rocky Mountain Parabolic Springs are made in North America, shipped world wide.

03-20-2007, 04:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
p76rangie Ian Matthews Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 2,156 Gallery: 0	Parabolics give a softer ride, but make the car less stable. So it depends on what you are after.

03-20-2007, 05:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
p76rangie Ian Matthews Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 2,156 Gallery: 0	If your existing springs are not worn, you can pull them apart and clean them up and re-use them. They wear where the end of each leaf is. That is the lower leaf wears into the upper leaf, reducing the thickness. If they are simply too stiff, leave one or two of the smaller leafs out when you reassemble them.

03-20-2007, 06:51 AM	#11 (permalink)
p76rangie Ian Matthews Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 2,156 Gallery: 0	Insults again. Now how many series landrovers have you owned where you have fitted parabolics to. I fitted them 10 years ago.

03-20-2007, 02:30 PM	#13 (permalink)
onslow Series Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Lake district,UK Posts: 532 Gallery: 0	And There Off!!!!!! __________________ Current fleet 86 90 V8 in bits 86 RR classic Under repair 94 Disco TDI 3dr ex-police 256k and still going 80" coil sprung V8 auto Trialer in progress 71 2a Trialer V8 auto,parabolics,6" shackles,power steering awesome machine Stuff I have had at one time or another 76 S3 LWB 65 2a ex mil swb 71 2a swb safari 67 2a 1 tonne TACR 57 S1 V8 SWB 81 S3 SWB diesel 82 s3 SWB diesel 82 RR 2 dr perkins diesel 83 RR 4dr V8 84 RR 4dr V8 LPG 83 RR 4dr V8 LPG "in vogue" 88 RR gm 6.2 V8 Diesel 89 RR 3.5 mazda TDi 75 S3 LWB stationwagon 75 S3 2.6 LWB 86 110 2.5D 91 disco V8 91 disco TDi 89 disco V8 81 RR isuzu 2.8 TD

03-20-2007, 02:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
p76rangie Ian Matthews Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 2,156 Gallery: 0	Onslow, they're not off. I know he just says these stupid things to bait people.

03-20-2007, 07:59 PM	#15 (permalink)
TerryS Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bloomfield, CT If I died today, I lived there all my life. Posts: 2,234 Gallery: 0	We have two series trucks with parabolics, a '71 S2A 88", and an 83 S3 Stage One 109 and both are not remotely unstable. I'd never go back to conventional springs because parabolics have a progressive rate increase as they are deflected, very much the same as progressive coils. I'm not trying to stir up and trouble, just making my observations based on 2 trucks we currently have with them.(everything else has coils)

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