LR 110 front suspension options

[Windsock]

Hi all,

Just joined the ORE forum recently after lurking long.

Have a 1984 LR 110 flat deck truck with a LD28, all else pretty stock standard.

When I placed the LD motor into this truck and then added the front bar protection I added approximately 60 kg to the front suspension. The suspension as it sits as far as I can tell are the original coils and the shocks heritage are unknown.

My question is: What are my options as far as bolstering the suspension to cater for the additional weight and to tidy this aspect up?

I would also replace the front shocks and bushes at the same time too.

I don't really want to get extreme with lifts or otherwise unless there are good reasons to do so as I want the centre of gravity to basically stay put.

I have read "lowbox"s job on this type of thing (http://home.off-road.com/~landy/) but I cannot find anything else of any value out there on other peoples experiences. There is a whole lot of promotional material however trying to sell me stuff.

Any views and/or experiences welcomed.

Cheers,

Phil

[KiwiBacon]

Coils or leaf?

[Windsock]

Oops, sorry, shoulda mentioned it is a stock coil suspension.

Can't quite make out the part number but looks like the standard LR number.

[KiwiBacon]

My rangie has a front axle weight of around 1150kg, I'm using 180 lb/in coils which I think are factory HD option.
Can you weigh the front of yours?

[Windsock]

There is a police weigh station at Ohakea and a private one I know of out of Waverley South Taranaki, anyone know of any closer to Palmerston North?

Could just join the queue of trucks at the Ohakea one...

Cheers

[KiwiBacon]

There is a police weigh station at Ohakea and a private one I know of out of Waverley South Taranaki, anyone know of any closer to Palmerston North?

Could just join the queue of trucks at the Ohakea one...

Cheers

Find a local transport company, head in armed with a 6 pack.

[Ralfie]

There is a police weigh station at Ohakea and a private one I know of out of Waverley South Taranaki, anyone know of any closer to Palmerston North?

You could always try your local rubbish transfer station. Have used them in the past and only $10.00 and got receipt with weight recorded.

[Windsock]

Good idea, thanks Ralfie. I know there is one at the Palmerston transfer station.

Cheers.

[KiwiBacon]

You could always try your local rubbish transfer station. Have used them in the past and only $10.00 and got receipt with weight recorded.

Genius.

[Windsock]

Well... went to the weigh station at the local Palmerston North Transfer station (cheers Ralfie ) and the good lady there allowed me to weigh the front of the truck for nought If I wanted to weigh the entire truck and then the rear only (like I orginally asked) she was going to charge $13 or similar so I only weighed the front.

I was thinking on the way into town, would it matter how much of the truck was on the scale, and decided it did, so I pictured where the fulcrum would be at the point of balance thereby aportioning the amount of truck supported by each axle and I figured about where the front of the seat box is...

Anyhow... 1150kg at rest for the front axle only with all the usual recovery gear on board and all the usual amount of mud Assuming I got the point of balance right (and I may have overestimated it in hindsight) this takes me to within 50kg of the maximum axle weight of 1200kg.

OK, now I have an axle weight, any recommendations on spring makes and models etc?

Cheers,

Phil

[KiwiBacon]

Well... went to the weigh station at the local Palmerston North Transfer station (cheers Ralfie ) and the good lady there allowed me to weigh the front of the truck for nought If I wanted to weigh the entire truck and then the rear only (like I orginally asked) she was going to charge $13 or similar so I only weighed the front.

I was thinking on the way into town, would it matter how much of the truck was on the scale, and decided it did, so I pictured where the fulcrum would be at the point of balance thereby aportioning the amount of truck supported by each axle and I figured about where the front of the seat box is...

Anyhow... 1150kg at rest for the front axle only with all the usual recovery gear on board and all the usual amount of mud Assuming I got the point of balance right (and I may have overestimated it in hindsight) this takes me to within 50kg of the maximum axle weight of 1200kg.

OK, now I have an axle weight, any recommendations on spring makes and models etc?

Cheers,

Phil

Well your front axle weight is almost exactly the same as mine. I'm using 180lb/in coils with the spring seats flipped for an extra 30mm ride height.
Works for me.

[Cloggy_NZ]

Don't know if you have seen this website yet: http://members.shaw.ca/jbarge/springinfo.html#OEM
It lists the stock OEM 110 front springs as variable rate 155lbs/215lbs
You could always use early Discovery rear springs in the front. These are non-variable rate 210lbs springs. These gave me a 50-60 mm lift when I stuck them in the front of my Discovery V8 which is running dual batteries and a winch. The extra weight of the winch and extra battery would also be in the order of 60kg to 70kg and caused the stock front springs to drop by about 20-30 odd mm.
With the extra weight these rear springs work quite well in the front. Advantage is that these rear springs are a dime and a dozen and you should be able to pick some up for next to nothing or free. So if they don't have the desired effect you are not out of pocket to much. People put lift kits into their Disco's and are left with stock springs which no one really wants.
Also talk to Jules Lee at Twooffroad. http://www.twooffrd.iwarp.com A very helpful guy.

[gonfellon]

work out how much lift you need and you could put a spacer under the bottom spring holder with longer bolts,then put longer front shocks in for the travel that you will lose .the origanal springs will easy handle a extra few lbs

[Windsock]

Cheers Cloggy, and gonfellon

Appreciate the idea of the disco rears and also the web links were very informative. Been away in the hills working and haven't been able to get anywhere on the suspension but with payday looming and a slower time at work it may happen shortly.

At this stage I am tempted by the low-cost option but am wondering what the insurance liability is should it be later discovered I am using the second-hand rear-end springs from a different vehicle in the steering end of another truck

So... I am leaning towards a package from the likes of OME or similar whereby I can get the coils, shocks and bushes to match etc.

I also have to be wary of too much lift as I only have inches to spare when driving it into my workshop Nice warm dry work space on those cold wet and windy manawatu days set aside for maintenance

[KiwiBacon]

At this stage I am tempted by the low-cost option but am wondering what the insurance liability is should it be later discovered I am using the second-hand rear-end springs from a different vehicle in the steering end of another truck

As long as the parts are sound (springs won't hold the weight if they're cracked) and the fit is good (the diameter and length are factory), there is no concern.
Check out the LTNZ website if you're worried, but there is no need to be.

Your insurance company however could be very interested in you fitting an aftermarket "upgrade" kit to your suspension instead of replacement landrover parts.

[Windsock]

Cheers Kiwibacon,

with the wife looking over my shoulder (with arms crossed, eyes sharp and a foot tapping) and with diesel prices growing like a fungus (multiplies by the hour) the low cost option is still being considered so any reassurance is good.

Has anyone else gone down this route?

[KiwiBacon]

Cheers Kiwibacon,

with the wife looking over my shoulder (with arms crossed, eyes sharp and a foot tapping) and with diesel prices growing like a fungus (multiplies by the hour) the low cost option is still being considered so any reassurance is good.

Has anyone else gone down this route?

I have a 400kg+ Isuzu 4BD1T in the front of my rangerover. I'm using 180lb/in springs all round which could be HD rear rangerover springs. My axle weights are similar to yours (1170kg front, 1130kg rear) and I'm happy with the results.

If you'd like some stiffer front shocks to go with them, I have some which I don't use. Unknown brand, but they're red and have "made in england" stamped into them.
I'm currently using disco diesel front shocks and also have some koni's which I took out to revalve and haven't put back in yet.

[Windsock]

Well, after much too'ing and fro'ing as far as front springs, shocks and bushes go I decided to act last week and bought some OME coils and Nitrocharger shocks for the truck.

Eventually went for the closest to factory I could get. OME 761 coils at 15.7" (right) and 15.4" (left) and rated 200 lb/in. Factory specs for this truck was 15.13" and 14.49" at 155/215 lb/in respectively.

Nitrocharger shocks have a bit more travel in them than the factory ones.

Change was immediate and felt pretty damn good.

A few numbers pre and post change. I measured from one point on each side - the bottom of the axle/chassis bump stop to axle pad - each side.

Pre change numbers are:
Left side Right side
1. 50mm 65mm
Post change numbers are:
Left side Right side
1. 85mm 98mm

I therefore have a +30mm lift and a much more stable truck.

The old shocks had absolutely no life left, very easy to pull/push around and once left in a position, they stayed in that position.

So all in all, articulation is much better , cornering no longer feels like a broaching trawler (tipping over surfing a wave) and even flat straight road driving now the truck stays in a straight line instead of pulling to the left , and the truck sits almost level again and doesn't have that torpedoed steamer (sinking bow first) appearance.

Now to consider what to do to the rear - will wait to see haw the front/rear articulation pans out over time as I haven't visited all my usual fishing spots yet so will let things settle.

Many thanks for the information and offers given from all who contributed to this post. Appreciated the feedback.

[KiwiBacon]

Good to hear. But it's only gas pressurised shocks which will self-extend. Emulsion shocks even when in perfect condition have no significant internal pressure.

[Windsock]

Good to hear. But it's only gas pressurised shocks which will self-extend. Emulsion shocks even when in perfect condition have no significant internal pressure.

ah ha that'd be why the damn shocks don't move when sitting!? They were very loose though when pushed and pulled. I went out to the workshop just now to check them again and I can push them in both very quick before they slow down again... pretty sluggish for on the front of a truck needing quicker slowdowns.

Taken the truck for a few more drives since installing and am more than pleased with them. Went into a few tracks I had previously been hung up on through lack of enough articulation and made it through all of them no problems. However, the back suspension is now groaning with what the front now wants it to do so I now look at something back there soon.