Land Rover Series 3 - Rear Suspension Rebuild and Axle Restoration (Part 1)

#landrover #landroverseries #restoration At last, it's time to get that saggy rear springs swapped for nice new ones! But before any new parts can go in, the rear axle need to come off to do a thorough job of it. This is the first step in restoring the drivetrain of the 1976 Land Rover Series 3 88" diesel here in the channel - lots more to come. Please subscribe to keep up with this rebuild, restoration and refresh!

[@highdownmartin]

Old rubbers on mine probably 40 odd years old. Knackered now but I don’t rate new replacements for that kind of durability

[@restosaga]

True, new rubber bushings are awful quality! That’s why I hope to change to polyurethane all being well.

[@MHAquaticsUK]

It finally happened! Keep up the good work!

[@restosaga]

Thanks, yes, I’m sure you are all tired of hearing about it!

[@jamesdoodle6272]

Enjoying your videos.. can you tell me please what is the difference between Road Springs and Parabollic Springs .. I am assuming that the Parabollic are for off road and would be the ones to use for a refit. ?.

[@restosaga]

Thanks for watching James, glad you’re enjoying the videos! The parabolic vs leaf spring debate is contentious. Parabolics are good for articulation and road use, not heavy loads. Leaf springs have less articulation but bear loads better. Parabolics make the vehicle sit higher too. I fitted OEM to keep it as close to original.

[@VintageRestorationsAustralia]

"always funny how these jobs turn into 3 new ones"..... only when it when it happens to someone else :-)

[@restosaga]

Haha, yes, makes for great entertainment!

[@SterlingProcess]

Are these the Bearmach OEM springs?

[@restosaga]

Hi, thanks for watching! I got these from Paddocks, they are British made GME Springs.

[@SterlingProcess]

@@restosaga great to know. I’m just about to purchase a job lot of stuff from the various UK based suppliers and want to make sure I’m getting the best quality drive train stuff. Seen a lot of mixed commentary and content relating to some brands

[@restosaga]

Absolutely, just right to. I bought Britoart springs the first time and they didn’t last at all. Hard to beat Bearmach!

[@mattswan7710]

Hi really enjoy your videos and I am just about to start work on a series 2A SWB Land Rover . Could I ask when you put the Land Rover on axel stands where do you jack it up , and in what order . Many thanks Matt

[@restosaga]

Hi! Glad you enjoy the videos! Jacking up is my least favourite job. Normally I put my stands between the spring and wheel on the axle tubes themselves. Or you can put them under the chassis too! I jack under the drain plugs of the diffs but this isn’t ideal always so can be lifted under the springs also. Sorry, that may not be all the helpful!

[@mattswan7710]

@@restosaga that is helpful! I will start slowly I have good axel stands a flat surface like yours and a good jack .. I will use the diffs . It’s funny with all that’s written about series Landrovers there is no actual agreed way to place them on stands . Cheers Matt

[@restosaga]

Good, happy to be of help. Just take your time and give the vehicle a food shake before getting under it please!

[@ramarover]

Excellent video again. Had the same diesel leak on the outrigger behind the tank on my 88", it turned out to be a 2cm split in the rubber/fabric filler pipe that goes between the filler neck and the tank itself.

[@restosaga]

Thanks! Yes, now that you mention that, I had a hose split there before too, hideous to replace. Will check that out! Thanks for watching!

[@ramarover]

@@restosaga Yes, replaced the one on mine a few weeks ago, thought it would be a half hour job, turned into two hours of wrestling, especially in getting the neck aligned again, but thankfully leak free now.

[@restosaga]

From memory the edges of the Birmabright have a knuckle-skinning tendancy too! Something to look forward too!

[@gonesailing]

I’m sure you know, but if switching from dot 3 or dot 4 brake fluid to silicone (dot 5.1) you have to replace all the rubber in your brakes. So this means all seals in master and slave cylinders and new rubber hoses. If you just run new fluid through the existing system unchanged those old seals very likely will fail as they react differently from the 2 different fluid types. Good luck with everything. Thanks for sharing your rear axle work. I have to replace the spring on my S1.

[@restosaga]

Thanks! I wasn’t aware of this, but it makes sense. Will have to do a bit more homework on this then! All the best with your Series 1, would love one of those, especially a 107” SW!

[@gonesailing]

Restosaga Classic Car Restoration. You are welcome. Yes a 107 would be great. Thanks, mine is a 57 88”.

[@restosaga]

Lovely! Will post a video if I get round to switching to DOT5

[@almac414]

Dot 5 is the silicone based stuff that causes problems if not originally used. 5.1 is absolutely fine to use on Dot 3 and 4 systems.

[@restosaga]

Thanks, good to know!