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How do you test your suspension?


doddel

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I've been told that coil springs don't go bad, and that suspension problems normally come from the shock absorbers.

Now I think in my case, the steering problems I have (breaking out of the rear end when coming of the throttle at high speed, especially when heavy loaded) come from weak springs instead of shocks. How can I test this?

also, my shocks are from Rock Shox (2" lift). I have tried to find any info on them, but nothing so far. Lots about suspension for MTB's, but nothing about 4x4 shock absorbers...

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Guest diesel_jim
I've been told that coil springs don't go bad, and that suspension problems normally come from the shock absorbers.

especially orange springs... they never go bad, they stay as fresh as the day they were made.. :ph34r::ph34r::rolleyes:

:D:D:D:D

bad shocks dampers, usually manifest themselves in "bouncing wheel" syndrome (you ever seen that old government TV advert with the side mounted camera on an old allegro or similar, with the wheel bouncing like a banshee?)

you say "breaking out at the back end when coming off power", well, due to the inertia of the vehicle you get weight transferrance to the front end, which make the back end light. i'd say stiffer rear springs would stop the car "lurching" forward on the suspension as much when you lift off.

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Springs in a correct setup will rarely 'go bad' - it is springs that are stressed because they are not right for the job that go bad....

Some that are carp to start with will get worse as they are not matched to the damper travel etc. and will get damaged. Sometimes simply by natyre of suspension this happens over a long period of time, sometimes it happens in a matter of a few outings if the springs are the wrong rate / travel for the job they are being asked to do...

If your rear is getting loose at speed then I would look carefully at 2 options:

1 / Remember it is a LR, not a sports car and drive it accordingly :D

2 / Look very carefully at the rear trailing arm bushes, any play in these will create rear wheel steer as the power is put on or off them....

Ho[e that helps

David

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Springs in a correct setup will rarely 'go bad' - it is springs that are stressed because they are not right for the job that go bad....

Some that are carp to start with will get worse as they are not matched to the damper travel etc. and will get damaged. Sometimes simply by natyre of suspension this happens over a long period of time, sometimes it happens in a matter of a few outings if the springs are the wrong rate / travel for the job they are being asked to do...

If your rear is getting loose at speed then I would look carefully at 2 options:

1 / Remember it is a LR, not a sports car and drive it accordingly :D

2 / Look very carefully at the rear trailing arm bushes, any play in these will create rear wheel steer as the power is put on or off them....

Ho[e that helps

David

well, with high speed, I mean 60 mph.

I replaced most of the joints and bushes around the front axle, so that should be OK (radius arm bushes have not been replaced, so maybe I should have a look at those as well)

I did leave a lot of weight in the car for a very long time (like 2 or 3 months) without moving the car, so that might have damaged the springs (and shocks?).

Also, when heavy loaded, the rear end of the car hangs quite low.

I'll have a look at the trailing arm bushes, they look a bit dodgy (and it is a straight trailing arm, whereas I have a 2" lift, so that doesn't do the bushes any good)

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doddel ---Also, when heavy loaded, the rear end of the car hangs quite low

my 110 always has my rally recovery kit onboard regardless of where I'm going, at around 400kgs on OME springs [rated to carry a constant 300kgs & upto gross vehicle weight] even with a heavy trailer hitched the rear hardly sags.

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Doddel

The rear end shouldn't be low, but how much weight are you adding?

Will try to arrange a meet if you like, and have a look in the metal.

Have sent you a PM with the info on the garage

you're most definitely welcome (and I have some freshly imported Belgian beers in the fridge ;) ) I'll PM my contact details

the weight I had in the car? Well, I was moving all my stuff from Belgium to the UK, so quite a bit, but most was not very heavy (things like clothes and stuff).

O, it did help a great deal when I moved the spare wheel from the rear door to the bonnet (wolf rim, so heavy thing)

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