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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410  
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So you are looking for something to carry quite a bit of weight every now and again but the rest of the time the 90 will be mostly empty... Right?
All round HD springs may not be the answer. I have a 2002 110 which for many years I ran on the most HD springs I could get and understandably when mostly empty you felt every little imperfection in the road. The silver lining though was almost no body roll in the corners. The springs were Britpart +2" Lift; Front 230llbs Rear 420llbs. This last 12 months I removed the HD springs and replaced them with Land Rover standard progressive springs (meaning the spring has 2 distinct spring rates), as found on TD5 and newer vehicles. The difference is brilliant, comfortable when unloaded and it will still carry 5 people plus gear when it needs to. In my 110 2002 case I fitted; Front LH NRC8044 155/215llbs Front RH NRC8045 155/215llbs Rear RKB101111 270/420llbs Your 300tdi 90 probably would have had the following when new; Front LH NRC9446 175llbs Front RH NRC9447 175llbs Rear NRC9448 225llbs The Police Spec rear springs you mention is a time old traditional way to lift up the rear end of a 90, originally spec'd for the Police Range Rovers, but as you can see they are in fact quite soft which is great for offroading in a 90 but not carrying weight; Rear NRC4304 170llbs Your other option is to put TD5 springs on your 90, I did this with my 1992 200tdi 90 and the ride was brilliant; TD5 110 front; Normal duty and progressive Front LH NRC8044 155/215llbs Front RH NRC8045 155/215llbs Heavy Duty Front LH NRC9449 225llbs Front RH NRC9448 225llbs TD5 Rear HD and Progressive Rear LH NRC9463 (superceeded by RKB101240) 210/240llbs Rear RH NRC9462 (superceeded by RKB101230) 210/240llbs So if you want to have standard height LR springs then I would suggest a combination of the above. If you want a little extra height but still want the above springs then you can use the spring isolators (ANR 2938), which apparently will give you about 1/2" lift or 1" if you use them top and bottom. There is also another version (RBC100111) which was for the Discovery front springs and includes a rubber spring locating cone as well. For more spring information take a look at this site http://www.red90.ca/rovers/springinfo.html it is mostly up to date and very useful as it gives spring heights and rates for bearmach and old man emu as well. |
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8th Jan 2014 10:39am |
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| Arierep Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 258  
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Thanks for the help.
There seems to be two versions of the 90 HD suspension. One keeps the front 175lbs springs and gets the HD springs in the back. The other puts the normal rear 90 springs (225lbs) in the front and the HD ones in the back. Any comments on this? Also, what is the word on Allmakes springs? Are they any good? Thanks |
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9th Jan 2014 12:59am |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4410
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Hi Jose. No problem.
The first setup you mention with the 175llb on the front and HD on the rear was the setup used on the pre-TD5 90 truck cabs, AKA "The Farmer Special". The later TD5 vehicles came with the progressional springs, a one size fits all approach, on all the variants of the 90. The second setup with the 225lbs springs on the front and the HD ones on the back were to accommodate a winch and bumper. Back when all winches used the much heavier steel rope so beefing up the front suspension was necessary. The second setup might be what your vehicle would be best with considering the amount of gear and people you carry. However I would personally still prefer the TD5 setup with the progressional springs, at least that is my preference. Nothing wrong with allmakes, good quality aftermarket parts. I use them a lot. As for the springs it is unlikely that they make them themselves, moreover they get the OE manufacturers for LR to make them to the same specs. There are other manufacturers: Britpart, Old Man Emu, Pro Comp, Terrafirma, Bearmach to name some. All will work just fine, but the prices vary considerably. |
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9th Jan 2014 1:39pm |
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| Arierep Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 258
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Thanks again!
Still regarding the Police Spec NRC4304, does anybody knows why the high load rate of 1106lbs, as well as it's effect? Thanks |
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9th Jan 2014 9:00pm |
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| Arierep Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 258
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I recently had the opportunity to drive a Defender with the NRC4304 Police Spec springs and really liked it.
Can those springs be mounted with the original lengh shocks? Thanks |
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3rd Jun 2014 9:47pm |
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| L90Andy Member Since: 29 May 2014 Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon Posts: 716 
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Hi Jose,
I have a 1995 300TDi 90 pickup which I fitted 'Police Spec' RR springs to last year. The difference over standard was noticeable with a much more compliant ride on the road, much more composed. I fitted new standard dampers at the same time too and its worked well for me. Having said that, I run it mostly empty with 2 up front max so don't really carry heavy loads in the back. If I did I suspect it might become too wallowy. I'm very happy with the setup for my useage especially as it cost so little to do. Andy |
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4th Jun 2014 12:57pm |
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| Arierep Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 258
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Thank you,
How much lift did you got with those springs? |
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4th Jun 2014 3:56pm |
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| L90Andy Member Since: 29 May 2014 Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon Posts: 716
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Difficult to say - the springs and dampers I took off were old so wouldn't be comparing like for like. I have a winch with bumper on the front and nothing in the back so it is a bit front heavy.
Overall I guestimate circa +1in on the back and pretty much standard on the front. It sits nicely and doesn't look lifted. Much more pleasant to use as an everyday car now and doesn't look 'modified'. Just what I wanted. Cheers. |
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4th Jun 2014 4:00pm |
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| Arierep Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 258
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Thanks,
With the kind of offroad that I've been doing lately, I wouldn't mind a small 1" or 1,5" lift. Besides the HRC4304 route, I am considering to move my standard rear springs (NRC9448/9) to the front and slapping a pair of HD RKB101230/40 on the back, coupled with a set of rubber spring isulators. |
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4th Jun 2014 7:05pm |
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| L90Andy Member Since: 29 May 2014 Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon Posts: 716
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I tried that first and found it still rode too hard, so changed the fronts too. I was chasing ride comfort though so slightly different from your requirements.
Off road it is a lot more comfortable and although articulation is actually the same (std dampers which limit travel) progress is smoother on technical sections. Here is a picture of the ride height of mine: [img]  Click image to enlarge [/img] |
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4th Jun 2014 9:48pm |
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| roel Member Since: 08 Aug 2009 Location: Lelystad Posts: 2039  
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I have currently 225 lbs at the front and 325 lb at the back as I found the standard fronts to weak when charging up a hill. It bottomed out to easy at the start off the hill.
Click image to enlarge I use the 325 lbs at the back as I am building a rollcage at the moment. After that is finished I will have a look at the final spring setup as the weight is then known. Roel 1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001) 1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009) 2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts. 2003 90 Td5 (2009-now) |
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5th Jun 2014 8:24am |
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| takoon Member Since: 16 Oct 2013 Location: central Posts: 48 
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Hi L90Andy Did you considering standard RR springs before the police spec. I would like to soft`n the ride of my TD5 90 CSW and is wondering how the standard RR springs will affect the ride. I have a small Ramsey winch in front and no sparewheel at the rear and no anti roll bars Robert -99 Td5 90 CSW -09 Jaguar xk4,2 Portfolio |
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13th Jun 2014 8:59am |
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| steventheplumber Member Since: 29 Apr 2014 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 767  
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Will change it today!
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13th Jun 2014 2:15pm |
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| Arierep Member Since: 13 Apr 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 258
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Well, I made my mind.
I'll go with the HD setup allround. Why? I decided I'll install a winch in the near future, and two days ago I drove the car at maximum payload for the first time. Lets just say the ride was awfull with the standard suspension setup... |
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13th Jun 2014 10:50pm |
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