Spring Dislocation

[roverdevin]

Just back from the Whipsaw, my first time in 6 years, and my first time in the Discovery. Wow, the Discovery/auto transmission makes it easy!

Twice on the trail, during big articulation, I popped rear coils--easily put back in, but a little annoying. Are cones the best way to solve this problem, or is there some sort of retainer system I could use?

I had no problem up front, but I see cones are available for this as well. I have OME springs for a 2" lift.

Apparently the guys behind me said it was quite a show...wheel WAY up into the wheel well, then DROPPING into the dip below. I guess they've never seen Rover suspension at work!

Another note, out of curiousity...Last time I was on the trail was for NW Challenge...and we took a long steep set of switchbacks down an overgrown road into Coalmont, as opposed to the more civilised Blakeburn road from Lodestone lake...I couldn't remember how to find that though. Any ideas what that route was?

Also some ATVers wanted me to pass on their thanks for the bridge. It was appreciated!

[Greg S]

Go for the dislocation cones!

[red90]

Retain them. Hose clamps work fine...

Loose axles do zero for help the truck move forward and can make things worse as the axle gets caught in the hole. Dislocated spring are all about show and not about go.

[Greg S]

Do your physics again R90.

[Bill E.]

I'm with Greg on this one, cones are a good idea. Springs aren't playing any part in positioning the axle fore and aft or side to side and there is a reason they don't come from the factory fixed at the top. A cone will let the spring find its way back to the perch while giving you a bit more twist when you need it. I'll go with red 90 in so far as dislocation without some way to automatically re-seat is a nuisance and fixing the spring tops in place is the better alternative to having to re-seat a spring on the trail. IMHO

[John]

Another note, out of curiousity...Last time I was on the trail was for NW Challenge...and we took a long steep set of switchbacks down an overgrown road into Coalmont, as opposed to the more civilised Blakeburn road from Lodestone lake...I couldn't remember how to find that though. Any ideas what that route was?

That is the Badger Creek road.

[roverdevin]

Thanks everyone. I thought about hose clamps after the second dislocation, but by then we were nearly at the road, and I didn't bother. I did go ahead and order some cones with the batch of other bits and pieces I broke or that fell off the car. Are they necessary on the front axle? I didn't have any issues up front...maybe my brake lines kept the axle from dropping too far :lol:

I suppose the best thing to do is check the full range in the shop.

Thanks John on the Badger creek tip.

[Bill E.]

Hi Devin,
Your Disco 1 has the shocks located inside the coil at the front which roughly act as a positioning device and the panhard rod restricts lateral movement of the axle casing more at the front so cones are not really needed or possible up front unless you reposition the shocks external of the coils like in some RR's.
Bill

[red90]

Do your physics again R90.

I knew that being a mechanical engineer would never help me figure these things out.....

I'm basing my comments on really world, first hand experience only. Your mileage may vary.