Spring Measurement Project

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Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron on Monday, December 03, 2001 - 06:15 pm: Edit

Ok people (and yes lurkers too)

Here is what I need:

Measurements from wheel center to bottom of the fender flare.

Approximate extra weight (list what you have if you don't know)

Springs used mileage and age on springs if possible as well.

Thanks
Ron

19.25 LF
19.25 RF

20.25 RR
20.5 LR

OME HDs all around DS/PS installed as speced 250lbs in front 100lbs in back 1/2 tank of gas 30k on springs disco I

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Matt Milbrandt (95discovery) on Monday, December 03, 2001 - 06:47 pm: Edit

RTE 3" Springs
189lbs Front
300lbs Rear

LF 21 5/8"
RF 21 3/8"
LR 22"
RR 21 3/8"

The springs are about 6 months old and have less than 5,000 miles on them. The truck tips the scales at 4980lbs with less than a quarter tank of gas.

Matt

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By ronward on Monday, December 03, 2001 - 06:48 pm: Edit

Ron,

Brand New RTE HD 2" With 10mm spring spacers:

DF 21
PF 20 3/4
DR 21 3/4
PR 21 3/8

40,000 miles on OME 763 and OME 751 with 10mm spacers:

DF 20
PF 19 1/5
DR 20 1/4
PR 20

I just swapped the old OME for the RTE so I had the info fresh.

Ron Ward


Ron Ward

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Daniel Rork on Monday, December 03, 2001 - 09:13 pm: Edit

I am running the 3 inch RTEs on my 95 with 1 inch blocks an ARB and Winch

Front 22.5
Rear 22.5

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Cal on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 12:49 am: Edit

OME medium drivers side length
pr 20
dr 20.5
pf 20
df 20

Former stock springs with 75k
pr 17.75
dr 18.75
pf 17
df 18

When I first installed the rear springs they measured 21 inches. They seem to have sagged.

Cal

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Clint on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 07:59 am: Edit

Stock Saggy Springs
Driver front 17 3/4"
Pass front 17 1/4"
Both rear 18"
measured empty without
driver, passenger, baby, stroller,
weight ~ 330 lbs

The non certified weight with everybody in it was...
2550 front axle
2630 rear axle
5180 total weight

97 SE7 factory brush, running boards, kelly safari MSR 245/75 on stock alloys, 3/4 tank of gas ,30lb toolbox,

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Clint on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 08:12 am: Edit

My brother's 94 disco with the same tires and nothing else measured
17 3/4 17 1/4 in front
19 rear
130k miles on his stock springs
70k on mine

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By gp (Garrett) on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 12:33 pm: Edit

i have a '96 with a full wilderness rack and some hooter hellas up there. unlaiden truck otherwise.

New OME MD springs in rear and new HD's up front. Stock brush guard only up front.

20.5 LF
20 RF

20 LR
19.5 RR

Yes i know my truck us a little higher in the front, but hoping to get a new bumper soon to compensate it all.
As a side note: I am getting some vibes now in the drivetrain around 55 mph. Roto looks good and so does all else. Do you think that having the trucks nose up a little higher would cause the vibes?

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Petros (Runnerma) on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 02:04 pm: Edit

Ron

On Sunday Morning with no weight at all:

LF 18 3/4
RF 17 3/4
LR 18 1/2
RR 17 3/4
stock springs 68K DiscoI '97

On Sunday evening the same weight:

LF 20 1/8
RF 19 3/4
LR 20 1/2
RR 19 3/4

OME 762 DS + PS Rear.
Stock rears on front.

I don't know if I swap the fronts what would be the measurment. Does anyone knows?

Petros

Thanks Ron and all of you guys for the "CB" suspension. :)

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 02:08 pm: Edit

Your welcome. Glad to have another satisfied "customer."

Thanks for the measurements!

keep them coming everyone. I hope to make a chart of the various lifts and data points (I hope to have a lot more than what is in tech now).

Ron

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 02:43 pm: Edit

1996 D1 - empty (no riders)

Front
OME 764
$G bar/skidplate combo & X9 superwinch
21.75"

Rear
OME 759 + 1" spacer
21.75"

keith
discosaurus

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Andrew on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 03:25 pm: Edit

94 Disco

Front 21 Back 23
three inch lift springs, 1/2 inch spacers
and 1 inch body lift.
Front has A.R.B bar and winch

Andrew(Australia)

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Clint on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 04:44 pm: Edit

I've almost got my spreadsheet dialed in.
It's getting pretty close predicting lifts based on weight and springs. I would like to include it in the tech section also. How do I do this?

I still need to know the free lengths of stock front and rear springs as well as confirmation of their spring rate 133/210 as well as The free length of the rovertym springs. John?? RonWard??

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 05:24 pm: Edit

Rear P and D 22 1/2"...RR1 at 3"lift,1 yr+ old, 1" spacer
Front P and D 22 1/4"...SP-2 at 3"lift,6 mts old 1" spacer
Bumpers and skid plates, winch, sliders, cat plate,roof rack..450 lbs est.+ gear in back

You want rates,lifts and free lenghts for all my springs? damn....thats 12 different springs...

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Clint on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 05:36 pm: Edit

I know you have it. :-)
You could just put the rest of the info on your website....

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron Ward (Ronward) on Tuesday, December 04, 2001 - 07:58 pm: Edit

Clint

RTE HD 2" freelengths are something like

RR4 (front) 15 7/8
RR1 (rear) 16 5/16

Those are the measurements that I wrote down after opening the boxes and puting the tape measure up to them. They sound low, but as they are installed now.....

Ron Ward

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Clint on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 09:04 am: Edit

Thanks Ronward,

The RR3 (MD rear) 2" that I just got measure 17" plus a hair out of the box.

I didn't get the fronts, as they will be the stock rears....
Clint

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By JEEPETR on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 02:14 pm: Edit

Hey Keith (Discosaurus),

The OME 764's you have in the front, were they not one of the first generation (For lack of a better description) springs that were actually longer than the current 17" free length 220 Lbs/inch Springs now marketed? Was just curious, as I thought that had come up once before, and that would effect the outcome of this discussion.

I am considering using the current 17" long 764 in the front of my Discovery, because the OME 758 (200 lbs/inch, 17.1") spring is a little short for my 759 rears.

To make this all relevent, my truck is a 1996 SD with ARB bumper and X-9 Winch. I carry about 100 Lbs of gear in the back all of the time, and I run a 10 mm Spring Packer ontop of each Passanger side spring to level.

Front Springs: OME 758 (200lbs/inch, 17.1" Free)
Rear Springs: OME 759 (260-300lbs/inch, 18.1" Free).


Front Driver's side: 20.25" (Hoping OME 764's will bring me up to 20.75" - 21", essentially leveling the truck)
Rear Drivers Side: 21.25"

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 02:25 pm: Edit

Yes, you're right.

My 764's were almost an inch longer then the springs OME currently markets as 764's...

Hopefully, we'll be able to get some nice 220 rate springs in 18"+ length from RTE sometime soon !

Keith
Discosaurus

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 02:34 pm: Edit

Why do you consider the rate and free lenghts of springs important as opposed to rate and actual lift? Just curious...

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 02:46 pm: Edit

Well, I want 3+ inches of lift but I also want a spring that will stretch the most in a captivated setup for maximum down travel. And, I don't want my fillings falling out on fast whooped dirt due to rigid high rate springs. I'm far from a suspension engineer, but to me that means long and soft springs.

After trying several combos, I've zeroed in on ~220 lb/in straight rates for the front - just like my old OME764's (just longer !).

Now everybody can tell me what I REALLY want...wait, haven't we been here before ??

keith
discosaurus

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:05 pm: Edit

Rate + axle weight + desired lift makes the free lenght fall to whatever it works out to be with wire dia. creating varible free lenghts. Long and soft will will give a stacking problem so the distance between spring mounts also is a player. Thats why I ended up with a 225 main rate front spring that is a dual rate to not stack on the 225 rate, give a 3" lift and stretch as well(25" plus). Its a 20 1/2" long free lenght but a 225/128 varible rate that stacks the 128 rate to give you the 225 ride rate to ride on but not stack under compression...confusing I am sure but it works and is sweet.(SP-2)

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:15 pm: Edit

SP-2

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Kyle on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:20 pm: Edit

Makes ya wonder whats gonna happen to that portion with a lighter rate and the point in which it joins the heavier rate over time... :)


Kyle

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:26 pm: Edit

Like any other progressive rate spring where 2 different winds meet...nothing. The old 759 OME spring is a good example as it is wound under similar construction.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Discosaurus (Discosaurus) on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:29 pm: Edit

Yeah - guess I forgot about coil stack. Don't want to have those 6" long bump stops that Kyle always rides people about !

So, your truck on SP-2's is about 0.5" lower then my A-version 764's if you discount your spacers. But, they probably stretch a hell of a lot more. Of course, you may weigh more then my setup...

Sounds good - maybe I'll buy a set in the spring before Moab.

Thanks. Now, for the rears. Did you ever have a spring made specifically for those running captivated suspensions ? I know we talked about it during the KKC bulls**t.

keith
discosaurus

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By kyle on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:31 pm: Edit

Hmm , not really , the lighter rate is way light. With that light rate its like bending a pepsi can back and forth. Ofcourse that wire and the treating quality plays into it but I am still seeing some pepsi can action there... If they were retained it would be worse....The point in the spring where the rate changes is the point that will see the most stress over time...


Kyle

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:32 pm: Edit

SP-1 Keith



Ron

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Kyle on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:34 pm: Edit

And Kieth , those bump stops arent doing a thing , just there for looks I am betting :)

Kyle

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Clint on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:36 pm: Edit

John,
I consider the rate and free lengths of springs important because the resultant amount of lift is dependant on the truck's weight. Weights vary greatly. For example, someone with a stock truck who wants a little lift will get too much when he gets springs designed to carry expedition weight.

I would rather calculate the lift rather than hope that my truck is close to the truck that a certain set of springs were designed for. Thats just the engineer in me.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Clint on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:41 pm: Edit

Chuck just completed the CB lift.
The free length of the stock rears was
left 15 7/16
right 15 5/16
average of 15 3/8 for calculation purposes.

Ron,
These springs are nearly identical to each other unlike the fronts. That is why the lean goes away when you get rid of the stock fronts. I could also guess that the right hand spring is shorter because it was forced to handle more weight to make up for the short front spring, so it sagged a little more.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:42 pm: Edit

As a progressive rate spring opens it doesnt bend at the progression point by itself, the whole lessor rate spring as a unit begins to unwind its entire lenght as any progressive wind will do.However you look at it is fine.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By kyle on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 03:48 pm: Edit

Yes , that whole set of lighter wraps will move first but they all hinge on the point that its joined to the heavier rate.That will be exagerated by retaining it. I am looking at durability and longevity... Thats how I am looking at it...Now if its some super high quality pepsi challenge type shit then I am sure its all good.... :)

kyle

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By 200 Tdi on Thursday, December 06, 2001 - 09:36 pm: Edit

Ron, info as requested

1993 200 Tdi

Front 20.5"

Spring - reset RR rear ~ 190 lb 18" free length

Rear 21.5"

Spring - 270 lb 16.8" free length with 2" spacers

Arb bar with X9 winch, twin batteries
Rear Kaymar bumper and wheel carrier
Twin sill tanks

John D (Australia)

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Clint on Friday, December 07, 2001 - 02:19 pm: Edit

Chuck got his CB lift done and the measurements are in!
95 disco no mods 130k miles stock shocks
before
17 1/2 front
19 rear

after
19 1/2 front (stock rears)
20 1/2 rear (RTE RR3 2")
Measured on eneven ground with some junk in the back

He reports better handling of large bumps and a smoother feel crawling over ruts.
Not bad for $155 and 3 hours ! Great find Ron!

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Ron on Friday, December 07, 2001 - 02:25 pm: Edit

Good show clint!

See it was not that hard :)

One interesting note I would like to make is that the rear measurement is the same experienced with two DS OME 762s by my buddie Dom when he first did it. So it is a rate choice there.

Ron

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Sunday, December 09, 2001 - 02:02 pm: Edit

RTE 225 rate 3 inch springs with one inch spacers in the front.

RTE 285-325 rate 3 inch springs with one inch spacers in the rear.

Springs are only a few weeks old with about 1000 miles on them.

RTE rock sliders, LR wrap around brush bar, about 70 pounds worth of tools in the back, and a full tank of gas.

Driver side front = 22 1/8
Driver side rear = 22 7/8

Passenger side front = 22 9/16
Passenger side rear = 22 3/8

Interesting that most peoples front and rear heights match up where as mine don't. Hmm..

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John on Sunday, December 09, 2001 - 02:13 pm: Edit

Its never over in a Rover...:)

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Sunday, December 09, 2001 - 02:25 pm: Edit

Hmmm, wonder what I'd have to do to get those numbers up to the 26-27 inch range.. :)

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Kyle on Sunday, December 09, 2001 - 02:42 pm: Edit

And yours will be more prone to vibbing Eric..... :)


Kyle

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By John on Sunday, December 09, 2001 - 03:00 pm: Edit

Put a 5 m/m OME packer under your FD spring. Or 3 1/2" spacers for 26" measurement. :)

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Sunday, December 09, 2001 - 03:09 pm: Edit

Maybe, maybe not.. The steering would be the hard part to figure out. If I can keep the drive shafts lined up with the pinion angle it should be OK. The only bad part is the more you rotate the pumpkin up towards the transcase the more the steering suffers. Hell, I may very well still have a slight vibe now. My steering wheel shakes a little at about 50 and I messed around with some things today so hopefully when I go out for a drive in a few minutes I'll know whether or not it is fixed. I wanted to check out the radius arm bushings but, I can't get the f'n arms off and on again with my limited tools and no help. So I may have to get someone else to do that for me. Mine had vibes at two inches and at three, but, they almost totaly went away at four. I think another inch and I should be perfect. Still need to get new tires though. Maybe after x-mass if I can find a set of steel wheels that I like. Hey, where did you get yours from?

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Eric N (Grnrvr) on Sunday, December 09, 2001 - 03:14 pm: Edit

Damn, I don't think that a 3 1/2 inch spacer would look to good. Would have to go for some 7 inch custom springs. And some thing else for a little extra height. :) Right now though I have other things that I want before I start figuring out how to get that monster truck I always wanted.

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By RonLF on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 10:37 am: Edit

99 SD SERIES 1 with ARB/8000lbs
Front OME 761 MD
Rear stock spring w/1.625 spacers

19.25 fornt
20.25 rear

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By Tom P on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 11:14 am: Edit

> I can't get the f'n arms off and on again
> with my limited tools and no help.

Eric N,

PB Blaster, Sockets, breaker bar, hacksaw, factory bottle jack, and a few open/box end wrenches is all you need. You can do it alone. But you don;t need to pull the arm to check the condition of these bushes.

Tom Proctor
96 Disco

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of pageLink to this message   By ZPukajlo on Friday, December 14, 2001 - 11:16 am: Edit

'97 SD with auto tranny
stock springs with a little over 46K on them
stock shocks
235/70-16 tires
about 70 pounds of gear in the vehicle
full tank of gas

Front: D-18.25 P-18.25

Rear: D-18.50 P-18.25


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