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Alf_B



Member Since: 17 Dec 2016
Location: Chelmsford
Posts: 7

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi SW Corris Grey
Comfort Suspension - Wonky Ride
Hi all,

I've just fitted some Alive Comfort Springs to my 300tdi 90 (listed as being for a Td5), as if I'm honest, 95% of my driving is on road. As I understand it, the coils should be side-specific/handed. However, I've got the impression that these are not, and as such, there is certainly a lean to the offside - obviously not helped with a full tank of derv and a heavy me in the driver's seat.

Am I correct in assuming the new springs are the cause of this? With a good 1-2" lean, would spring isolators front & rear go a good way to remedy this, or should I just go all out & get some 25mm spring spacers?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Alf
Post #786103 10th Aug 2019 12:57pm
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Sulisuli



Member Since: 30 Oct 2016
Location: South west
Posts: 4788

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
I fitted a set of Alive -1 springs last weekend and they were only marked front and rear certainly not sided in anyway, and the defender sat true and level so not quite sure if yours are different. Thumbs Up

Before buying any form of correctives I would speak to the guys at Alive and pick their brains, they are very helpful indeed. 2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90
Post #786106 10th Aug 2019 1:12pm
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carrotbay



Member Since: 18 Aug 2013
Location: Northants, UK
Posts: 694

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
I fitted some to my 110 a couple of weeks ago and it sits level. Perhaps due to the fuel tank being central at the back. The springs weren’t handed.

Are you sure the springs are seated properly?
Post #786108 10th Aug 2019 1:18pm
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Alf_B



Member Since: 17 Dec 2016
Location: Chelmsford
Posts: 7

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi SW Corris Grey
Sulisuli wrote:
I fitted a set of Alive -1 springs last weekend and they were only marked front and rear certainly not sided in anyway, and the defender sat true and level so not quite sure if yours are different. Thumbs Up

Before buying any form of correctives I would speak to the guys at Alive and pick their brains, they are very helpful indeed.


Were these fitted on your Td5? Does anyone know if Tdis need handed springs? Obviously with the fuel tank situated offside (as opposed to Td5) as well as the driver, this might have an impact?

Cheers for the replies guys
Post #786120 10th Aug 2019 2:42pm
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Sulisuli



Member Since: 30 Oct 2016
Location: South west
Posts: 4788

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
Sorry these are fitted on my current defender a 2015 HT tdci Thumbs Up 2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90
Post #786123 10th Aug 2019 2:57pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5765

France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
Are you using OE dampers? Are they serviceable? My OS Rear damper had failed completely but with HD springs sat true. However, under load whilst driving, different story. In left hand corners, the drop on the rear right would be enough that the spring would actually scratch the rear prop shaft. Put new dampers in and ta-dah, issue solved. But the damper was absolutely shot, however, apart from leaking oil, you couldn’t tell as the spring was in essence holding the tub up so the damper looked at normal extension. When I removed the shock there was NO resistance under hand compression. None. So, maybe the problem is that the softer spring is allowing the damper to compress more than the standard rate spring? Enough to give you a one inch list? Honestly, I was amazed at how bad mine was but between bust shock and HD spring you couldn’t see it by eye, just under load. You’ve done the reverse upgrade to me, so might have missed it.... Thumbs Up Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #786126 10th Aug 2019 3:17pm
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Lodelaner



Member Since: 04 Feb 2010
Location: Lambourn
Posts: 621

United Kingdom 1988 Defender 90 V8 Petrol ST Shire Blue
Re: Comfort Suspension - Wonky Ride
Alf_B wrote:
Am I correct in assuming the new springs are the cause of this? With a good 1-2" lean, would spring isolators front & rear go a good way to remedy this, or should I just go all out & get some 25mm spring spacers?


Not sure I can help with a solution - but over the years I've had a few Defenders and a few Ninetys. Ninetys have had handed springs. When I got my current Ninety (see avatar) it was fitted with nasty aftermarket ('Brit-makes') heavy duty jobs - and not handed. The car looked wonky at rest on level ground and rode like an unsprung cart.

I've since fitted OE handed jobs, which balance out my bulk and 50kg of fuel. Spring specs across the internet suggest the spring rates are the same on each axle (175lb front and 225lb back) - but both front and rear offside springs are about 1/2" taller in free length than the nearside.

So I would say yes - you need some form of minor correction for the unhanded Alive springs but wouldn't know how much. I'd be interested to know what your solution is though. JB

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Post #786244 11th Aug 2019 10:28am
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Sulisuli



Member Since: 30 Oct 2016
Location: South west
Posts: 4788

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
I will be interested to hear the outcome of this. Maybe on earlier model defenders you do need some form of correction?

I still think your first call should be to alive and see what they say after all they do sell ALOT of the springs so I’m sure they would have come across this “problem” before and if you purchased them from them I’m sure they would have advised you at time of purchase, as already stated are you sure they are correctly seated? 2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90
Post #786246 11th Aug 2019 10:54am
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windy81



Member Since: 14 Mar 2018
Location: North Wales
Posts: 311

Wales 1992 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Firenze Red
My 200tdi deffinitely had different size springs from left to right.
Might not be the case with TD5, i don't know.
Post #786250 11th Aug 2019 11:12am
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Sulisuli



Member Since: 30 Oct 2016
Location: South west
Posts: 4788

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
I guess we are all waiting with baited to breath to know the answer Thumbs Up 2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90
Post #786254 11th Aug 2019 11:56am
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2062

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Pennine Grey
Tdi vehicles have longer springs because the engine is offset to one side. The off side side of my 200 block is on the centre line of the vehicleaning.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.
Post #786264 11th Aug 2019 1:19pm
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Lodelaner



Member Since: 04 Feb 2010
Location: Lambourn
Posts: 621

United Kingdom 1988 Defender 90 V8 Petrol ST Shire Blue
Not sure I follow the logic of that idea Mo...

The centreline (crankshaft) on all Defenders of all engine variants is offset about a couple of inches to the passenger-side. The gearbox is equally offset with the transfer gearbox mainset following. The driveline is then offset to the drivers side and in-line with the diffs.

On earlier models with the side tank the springs are longer on the driver's side. If they were supposed to offset the engine being off-centre the longer springs would be on the passenger side.

NAS, 50th Anniversary and Td5 and after (with fuel tank centred between the chassis rails) have the same rate/length springs for each axle, which kind of debunks the idea that an engine offset is the reason for unequal length springs. JB

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Post #786280 11th Aug 2019 2:57pm
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2062

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Pennine Grey
I can only speak from experience widget.
Fitted a set of new take off springs from a tdci to my tdi recently, no side tank, converted to td5 rear tank.
Decided lean to passenger side front, pulled both fronts, same spring, swapped anyway, lean still there.
Removed passenger side spring again, replaced with long front from previous set (newish but a bit too hard), job done and lean gone.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.
Post #786322 11th Aug 2019 5:39pm
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2062

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Pennine Grey
I don't know where ''vehicleaning'' came from ! Is that a word ?😁 The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.
Post #786323 11th Aug 2019 5:42pm
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Sulisuli



Member Since: 30 Oct 2016
Location: South west
Posts: 4788

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
Isn’t that another word for valeting Rolling with laughter 2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90
Post #786334 11th Aug 2019 6:39pm
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