Custom rear lift springs?

[Bayside]

Having been researching options for the rear of the truck and heard that although LC springs fit they require custom spring seats and the resulting ride is quite harsh.

Regarding the ride firstly what are peoples experiences of this?

Anyway Ive been thinking considering the cost of the springs (cheap) and the seats (not so cheap) would it not be possible to have a pair made that were standard compression rate or slightly higher than standard but have the standard top and bottom shapes so that they drop straight in and which were made to be 3 inches longer (or whatever lift required) so that the end result is the required lift but without compromising the ride quality?

I am aware that Milners and Roughtrax sell +2 springs but from some of the posts Ive read these dont always equate to a 2 inch lift which seems odd.

Again experiences please.

I have spring spacers and what appear to be either uprated or standard springs which are doing the job but considering a swap so testing the water.

[s car go]

Hi

I've got the blue LC springs on my truck,without any locators.From what I understand springs dislodging,is only a problem when you get articulation on extreame off roading. Seeing as my truck does virtually no off roading it's not a problem for me. I do however do alot of towing,and it means I can take the pi55 with the nose weight,and the rear suspension doe'nt bottom out!
I'd call the ride firm to harsh,but if you want a "magic carpet ride" get a Range Rover

Regards

Mark

[wishbone]

I spent ages looking for similar soft extended springs but only found a couple of options. There's a post from me on here somewhere with the links to 2 springs available. I think one was a 'progressive' one from the states and one was from Oz. Both were only 2" lift though so would still need a small spacer to match the LC springs.

I also found this company who manufacture custom springs. I reckon you'd have to supply a brand new original spring to them so they could measure it and make a longer version.

In the end I bought a used lift kit that had 3" over rear springs but as yet haven't fitted it so cannot comment on them (trailmaster)

hth a bit,

Rob.

edit: Australian company.

USA company.

[POPEYE]

Mine didn't locate too well at the top, seemd to slip toward the back and made the spring "bow" slightly which made it/them rub on the shock, the locators stopped this, as you say these locators are more expensive than the soddin springs, i was lucky, a forum member flogged me a pair cheap, i'm sure summat could be made from mild steel plate with a ring welded on to stop the spring moveing, as s car go says, the ride's ok stiffish but i like it,

[Bayside]

So the general consensus is stiff but driveable on LC's. Not after the magic carpet but dont want to rattle my teeth out either

I may do a bit more digging as it might be the cost of the springs from Oz or the US may be similar or less than LCs with locators if thats the case a bespoke one from them would be my preferred option.

Ill have a chat with a couple of spring makers to see what they can offer and at what cost.

[Bayside]

Cheers for the sites Wishbone! had a quick look the ready mades are a little short but the custom fabbed ones look to work out around £90 for a pair

[wishbone]

Cheers for the sites Wishbone! had a quick look the ready mades are a little short but the custom fabbed ones look to work out around £90 for a pair

You're welcome - keep us informed if you go ahead and get some made up.

[KERRSURF]

I had the LC's fitted for a few years worth of offroading, never dislodged a spring yet, they are very stiff so I never manage to compress one side enough to dislodge the other, great for lugging loads and I fitted them without the seats and next to procomp shocks, they didn't touch but did slightly bow.

[Bayside]

Asking a favour!

Right I had a reply from a spring manufacturer near to me and they have asked a few questions about the springs which Im hoping someone can now help me with.

Basically they need some stock measurements from either a set of new standard springs or new after market springs with standard seats..... My uprated rears are old and probably past their best so no good for comparison.

Im going to use my current springs as a rough guide for qouting but will need to do a bit of grovelling in order to get some of the other info they need to actually make the springs up and this is where some of you guys may be able to help.

First Favour:

Anyone just had some new standard / new after market springs (something like the +2 milner, roughtrax ones) fitted?

If so can someone measure the free length (the vehicle on the flat settled distance between each end of the spring) of a fitted spring - ideally on a 2nd Gen 3.0 truck with a rear mount spare and tow bar fitted and let me know.

Second favour:

has anyone got some springs off their truck at the moment that can measure the size of the end coils where it seats on the chassis and axle and let me know that too.... some photos of the shape would be much appreciated too.

Third and biggest favour:

The only thing I cant get done at the moment is the spring rate as they want one to test..... any volunteers to lend me a new 10 / 20% uprated spring will be endowed with much beer tokenage - you will get the spring back by the way!.... but I wont hold my breath as I know its a big ask

Look forward to some replies!

[POPEYE]

I think i still have my old stock springs (not 100% sure but will check) if these are any use, i never had a saggy arse on the truck, alternitivly i can either measure my L/C's or pop down into Portsmouth for them to have a look at, just let me know a time and place etc,
years ago a firm called Mcinny (i think) used to be on the fratton industrial est, they made all manor of springs,

[HONEST AL]

Springs

On one of the "Wheeler Dealer" programmes on Virgin the other night they were doing a Mini Moke up,they discarded the "cone" suspension set up,went to a specialist firm of spring makers in Brummagem and had a set made to their spec,would that be better than springs and spacers/assistors,you could specify the height,thickness of wire and compression rate??

See Wishbones reply,#3 on here,not same firm but same idea

[Bayside]

On one of the "Wheeler Dealer" programmes on Virgin the other night they were doing a Mini Moke up,they discarded the "cone" suspension set up,went to a specialist firm of spring makers in Brummagem and had a set made to their spec,would that be better than springs and spacers/assistors,you could specify the height,thickness of wire and compression rate??

See Wishbones reply,#3 on here,not same firm but same idea

Im in conversation with a firm in Chichester over email at the moment and have just sent them my current measurements to get a rough price. The spec Ive asked for is somewhere around the standard to readily available upgrade spring rate and 3 inch final settled lift with no spacers - they seem pretty confident its achieveable.

[Bayside]

I think i still have my old stock springs (not 100% sure but will check) if these are any use, i never had a saggy arse on the truck, alternitivly i can either measure my L/C's or pop down into Portsmouth for them to have a look at, just let me know a time and place etc,
years ago a firm called Mcinny (i think) used to be on the fratton industrial est, they made all manor of springs,

That would be a great help! It would be good to know the standard spring rate compared to mine which I think are uprated and also given the lift you have the sizings of your LC spring length at rest would be of interest.

The measures for the ones Ive got now are

Outside diameter = 16cm
length between axle seat and spacer = 23cm
Wire thickness = 15 / 16mm (done by eye with tape measure so not massively accurate.

I work in Havant if its easier for you? Im working lates tommorrow evening and Friday so around at home in the morning and Friday morning too - if not Ill be out and about working and can always pop by to take a look and say hello? Whatever is easier for you really as dont want to put you out too much.

[POPEYE]

I'm out tomorrow but home all day/evening friday, ill pm you my address etc,

[Dara]

I also found this company who manufacture custom springs. I reckon you'd have to supply a brand new original spring to them so they could measure it and make a longer version.
]

I just emailed this company to see could they make 3'' lift springs for the 3gen
Iv been lookin for somewhere that sell 3'' front springs for months but cant find anywhere only in the US an shipping is WAY too expensive

hopefully they can sort me out too.

thanks for the link Wishbone

an sorry for the thread hijack to the OP