saggy rear end

[gary noden]

walking up to my old disco today (1990 -180K, but well maintained 200tdi) parked in a propper car park, I thought it looked a bit down at the rear end. I usually get to it from the front or rear or park it on rough ground so haven't noticed it before but it really looks about 2 inches lower at the back compared to the front.

are others like this? if not what's the solution? I don't want to spend £200 on a suspension upgrade to find the rear end still sagging. the trucks only worth about grand and no suspension is going to increase it's value that much.

any suggestions?

[despot69]

We all get saggy rears as lifes goes by!!!!! why shouldn't the Disco be any different?

Have you parked her on level ground and measured the height difference?

Is she is sagging too bad it would be cheaper to buy a new set of springs than replace her. Go on treat her for Xmas ready for the snow?

[lynalldiscovery]

2nd hand springs on e-bay.

Lynall

[Roger Whittle]

Does it have SLS? If so its probably one of the air bags which, the ghuru's on here tell us, are about eighty quid a pop and relatively easy to replace. Or, if its down at the rear on both sides and getting lower, it could be the SLS supply compressor. Much more expensive sadly - about £300.

With a window open (bit chilly this time of year) you should hear a short hiss of air venting every now and then and, if the rear load changes by very much (25Kg or so) you'll probably hear the SLS pump whirring. With then engine running, press the button marked with a rear raising symbol and the rear of the Disco should raise a good few inches. It'll reset the next time you turn it off.

Roger.

[gary noden]

SLS?, it only just has TLC. when my disco was made SLS and air suspension were nowt but a itch in a disco designers pencil lead!

1990, 180464 miles and counting, runs like a dream but looks like a dragster going the opposite direction.

thanks anyway

[Budgie]

If you've got Standard height springs on there now then a pair of new standard spring is only going to set you back about £40 and another £40 if you want to do the shockers at the same time. ;)

Or, I just found that MM 4x4 (http://www.mm-4x4.com/Shop/index.htm) have a special offer on a set of four heavy duty springs for just £48.97 +vat. :)

[uncle_sam]

coil springs will last almost the life of your truck, whereas SLS will leak every couple of yrs. but then, coil springs performance is not anywhere near the SLS...

[P00DLE]

If you've got Standard height springs on there now then a pair of new standard spring is only going to set you back about £40 and another £40 if you want to do the shockers at the same time. ;)

Or, I just found that MM 4x4 (http://www.mm-4x4.com/Shop/index.htm) have a special offer on a set of four heavy duty springs for just £48.97 +vat. :)

at that price replace the lot and fit 4 new shocks as well while you are at it standard shocks are under £10 ea

[gary noden]

this is my thinking,£50 for the springs, £40 for the shocks £20 for the tax and £10 for the postage. Should I spend the extra and get the britpart and procomp kit for £203 inc P&P? is it really worth that much extra?

always the same when you do one of these jobs, the springs a re a cheap fix at just £40 but then while you're doing it you might as well do this...and that....and the other.....and so on. where does it stop?

the biggest improvement I've seen on my other discos ha been polybushes and they're not even factord in yet

what I need are almost new upgraded springs, shocks and polybushes for £40 dropped off at my house..SANTA?

thanks for the replies, the god of reason will probably limit me to standard rear springs and shocks.

[littledude]

If you live in chester. Pro-comp are based in Lymm. Just next to the popular services on the M56/M6 interchange.....you could save the postage!

[Budgie]

this is my thinking,£50 for the springs, £40 for the shocks £20 for the tax and £10 for the postage. Should I spend the extra and get the britpart and procomp kit for £203 inc P&P? is it really worth that much extra?

The thing is that once you start along the lines of lifting the suspention then you "could" be heading for a whole world of extra upgrades.

+2" lift is the common one to do, but this brings with it a host of other problems that you may be faced with.
As you lift the suspension then the caster angle on the front axle goes out of spec' and can lead to light steering, "tram lining" where it follows any lines in the road surface and makes the vehicle difficult to keep in a straight line.
It will also alter the angle of the propshafts and may set up a vibration, mainly at the front prop and the propshaft U/Js may soon go because of the new angles they are working under.

You may also quickly find the bushes that are past their best, same goes for then rear A-frame ball joint, and if you use it off-road and the axles are likely to be used at full articulation then a set of extended brake flexys would be a good investment, otherwise you stand a chance of the axle ripping the standard flexys out.

All or none of the above may happen to your Disco, it seems to go on a vehicle by vehicle basis as to what is affected but it's best to be worned before you go ahead and start spending money. ;)

If you go for a +1" or +1.5" lift then you should be fine and not have any of the problems above and if you want to go higher, and you do get problems, then they can be sorted but it will intail spending more money!!

On the bright side, H/D springs and gas shocks will improve the handling of the Disco, reduce the roll when cornering and make it sit correctly. :D