REAR SPRINGS

The 110 started to show signs of a saggy rear end lately. I checked the receipts and saw the springs were changed all round in 2001, well, that was 6-years ago; and I had carried some seriously heavy loads lately. I guessed the Boge self levelling suspension was giving up....and at £400 for a new one I wasn't about to change it. After some good advice from a forum user "DIFF" on lr4x4.com ( the message is at the bottom of this page) I chose to fit a pair of NRC6904 springs. Here's how:

   

Get your assistant to stand beside the springs, as you can see there quite big! I was also surprised how much heavier they are than the standard CSW ones. First remove the shock top mounting so you can drop the axle down far enough to get the spring out.

   

Then you can undo the two bolts keeping the spring retainer in place. They may snap, 3 of mine did....

   

This left me with snapped studs sticking up still attached to the captive nuts underneath. Basically. I beat them out with a hammer and chisel to leave me with the holes.

   

The spring mounting plate will still fit, so knock it off the old spring and press it on the new one (apply paint first if your an anorak....and yes, I know it's upside down in the picture!) I refitted them with "heavy duty spring retainers" because that's all the supplier had in stock. If you have any 5mm thick plate then just make your own.

       

Refit the shock top mount, then that's it. Now repeat on the other side. Ride height is spot on. Rear is just taller than the front and it handles much better. I just left the Boge unit in place. If I get around to it I'll remove it, but as it's doing nothing I guess it won't hurt to leave it where it is.

Spring retainers - here, make your own..

 

What spring to use on your 110..... Here's the original post from Diff. (cheers Diff)

 

 

 

Text Box: The original station wagon springs are only 180 lbs per inch and are helped by the self leveller. To check the leveller, load the rear up with a lot of weight, measure the bump stop to axle clearance, go for a short drive, stop and re measure. The leveller should have pumped the rear up so that the vehicle is level and the second set of measurements should have obviously increased. As the leveller and springs get old, it may let the vehicle sag at the back if left unused for a few days, but may pump itself up as normal in use. When the springs and leveller get tired or knackered, most people change the springs for the normal heavy duty springs fitted to hard tops because the replacement levellers are around £300. These are NRC 6904 with a red and a green stripe and are 15.55 inches long (passenger side), and NRC 6389 with 2 red stripes and are 16.02 inches long (drivers side). Be aware that these are rated at 330 lbs per inch so give a much firmer ride. They will also lift the back of the vehicle a bit. Newer Landrovers are fitted with the same length spring on both sides. I would use the same length spring and would choose 2 of the shorter NRC 6904 springs rather than one of each. Another alternative is the rear springs from the later 110s RKB101111 with a brown and purple stripe (fitted on both sides). These are 15 inches long and are a progressive spring 270 to 420 lbs per inch. NRC 6904 and NRC 6389 are cheaply available from aftermarket suppliers. Note that because the 110/130 rear springs are a larger diameter than those fitted to either the front or rear of all the other rover models, these are the only readily available standard Rover spec springs. Old man emu and some of the other after market manufacturers do make alternatives, but they are usually 'lifted' springs or even heavier duty. If you fit heavy duty springs, it is best to remove the leveller, though many people don't bother, so it may not make much difference if it is knackered. The front springs can stay as they are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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