I took the land rover for nys inspection and it had a broken left front spring (I've never seen that before). It probably has been broken for a while and I never would have noticed it if it did not get put on the lift. I'm very tempted to go the cheap and easy route and buy a used pair of front springs with 60k miles on them and be done with it. I've never had any complaints with the ride of the truck, but I can't help but think it could be much better since the truck had 90k miles on it when I bought it. It has 100k miles on it now, will I benefit that much from new springs all around (and shocks)? I'm guessing the whole suspension is original, not sure though. Any recommendations on springs (and maybe shocks)? HD/MD/OEM/aftermarket/suppliers??

 

You would be foolish to install used suspension parts on your truck, Springs after 60,000 are warn out as are the shocks as is steering stabilizer.
When you have to pay $350 or so in labor just for the installation, why throw on used parts.
Best place around for shocks and springs would be a Lucky 8 where they sell OME set ups for around $628.

 

Buy new springs and shocks, springs with 60k on them are dead. OME makes a good kit but if you want a smooth factory ride look elsewhere to say Bilstein or Rover springs and shocks. Also you can do this on your own quite easily.

 

Yeah, I'll be doing the work myself. Anyways I doubt a shop would install used springs for me if I went that route. I had never heard of lucky 8 before, it looks like they have some good prices. They aren't too far from me either. Then again Atlantic British is right down the road. It's too bad that springs are so beat by 60k miles. Too bad a lift isn't practical for me right now, that would make this decision easy.

 

Justin at Lucky8 is a great guy. You can do it cheaply just ask Spike I think he uses Bilstein and has good luck with them.

 

I have ordered the parts for replacing the brakes and front rotors for the '01 Discovery SD and I am in bad need of new shocks and springs. I noticed that you mentioned that this is a job that one could tackle so if you had a few minutes could you help me out on the following:

1. Are there any special tools outside of the metric socket set and the contents of a hand held tool box? (I haven't progressed far enough to earn one of those refrigerator size ones just yet)

2. Is it worth picking up a professional jack for both safety and work load purposes as opposed to using the stock LR one?

3. Do I need to order any other parts along with the coils and shocks, or will the existing bolts and other connection pieces work?

If there's another sticky on this then I'll visit, but most of what I find is for lifts. I'm just looking for a smoother ride.

Thanks ahead of time for any assistance that you can provide.

'01 Discovery SD 125K Miles

 

You need a good floor jack this is a good one but made in China:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34271

You jack your truck up really high under the diff and put the frame on high jack stands. You then release the floor jack and that lowers the axle down. You need to put the bottle jack on top of the axle to jack it down farther to get the new springs in. There is a video that lucky8 put out that shows you how. They use a lift but you can do the same thing with the floor jack just do the dront and back separate.

You don't need any bolts or exotic tools.

 

Thanks for the advice on this one. I found an old thread discussing suggested parts that I ordered. I'll let you guys know how it turns out. If you don't hear from me then check the Atlanta paper for a guy who dropped a Discovery on him changing his shocks and springs.

 

Solid axle, so no spring compressor required I assume. That should make it really easy.

 

Get some heavy duty jack stands for trucks. The car stands are not very stable at their highest level with the narrow base. Don't trust the jack alone.

Willie