Parabolic installation issues...

[B. Wallace]

I recently recieved my parabolic kit from our host onto my Series III 88 after 3 months of anxious waiting. I have since installed the springs and shocks, and have run into some issues that I hoped someone on here may have knowledge of. Every person that I have mentioned the word parabolic to in town has simply given me a blank stare...

1. To make things clear, before the parabolics, I had the original springs and shocks, which were old and worn out and sagging, but the vehicle WAS in alignment and tracked well.

2. Now, with the new springs and shocks, the rear axle seems to be shifted to the right side, in other words, my back wheels offset to the right of the vehicle compared to my front wheels. How is this possible considering the fact that the spring pin simply lines up with the recessed hole in the axle? I noticed that the left side of the rear axle is solid with the hole in the middle for the spring pin, while the right side is not solid, the entire "plate" that the spring sits up against is hollow, although there is still a separate round recessed hole in the center. So, yes, the springs are in the correct holes. I've checked repeatedly.

3. There seems to be some kind of grinding when I suddenly hit the gas or suddenly decelerate. It sounds like it's coming from the transmission or drive shaft, but I can't be certain. It almost seems like my driveshaft is at too extreme of an angle now, and that it might be rubbing at the yoke areas.
Could adding shims to the axle to decrease the driveshaft angle solve this?

4. And last, and probably least important at this point, there is a loud popping sound when I hit small bumps coming from the front right. Maybe the spring settling in, but it sounds like a blown shock or the shock itself bottoming out. Just one more problem...

If anyone on here has installed this kit from RN and has had similar issues, or just might know the answer otherwise, please let me know. I know I won't get very far with anyone locally, i.e. an alignment shop, I've already asked them too and they said there was "not much" they could do.

[Jim-ME]

Have you tried calling RN? Their tech people are very good. No offense to the rest of the board and their knowledge.
Jim

[sven]

Just curoius, what brand of parabolics are these? Rocky mountain, british spring, TIC?

[B. Wallace]

I have called RN, but that was due to having to replace one of the rear springs. It was damaged, but that has nothing to do with these problems.

[B. Wallace]

Just curoius, what brand of parabolics are these? Rocky mountain, british spring, TIC?

These are the springs that RN sells. They wouldn't tell me what brand they are.

[daveb]

hey b.

check to make sure you have the correct shackles in the correct places.
the ones for the rear springs should be flat and the ones for the front springs
should be two flat and two with an offset.

retorque the ubolts, and make sure everything is tight.

also check the bushings aren't fubar'd.

also make sure you torque the shackle bolts correctly, i.e, run them up snug and then go for a drive around the block to settle everything. then come back and torque first the bolts and then the locking nuts.

rgrds
dave

These are the springs that RN sells. They wouldn't tell me what brand they are.

[jp-]

Need photos.

Most likely you have gotten one or more of the shackles in the wrong location.

There are two ways to mount the springs. The first is to bolt the springs to the axle case and then bolt the front of the spring to the front of the frame then jack up the whole assembly and bolt the rear into the frame.

The second method (that I use) is to suspend the axle case in place on jackstands and then bolt the springs front and rear to the frame. Then lower the axle case and bolt the springs to it. The reason that I like doing it this way is that the axle will drop nicely into the springs when the holes (in the axle case) line up with the center bolt in the springs. If they don't line up, or if you have messed something up, the axle case will not "drop down" correctly onto the springs. You must have the shackles in correct or it will not work.

[jp-]

These are the springs that RN sells. They wouldn't tell me what brand they are.

Why not? Did they give a reason?

[B. Wallace]

Why not? Did they give a reason?

As I've seen with other postings before, its kind of like their proline parts; they won't disclose who actually produces them. The same with the springs, all he would say was that they were from the UK.

I didnt touch the shackles, and as far as I know, they have never been removed or re-oriented in any way.

[I Leak Oil]

You should certainly call RN and get their input. You can try swapping the rear springs from one side to another and/or reverse them to see if the shift moves from the right to the left.
As for the driveline noise, quite often U-Joints will make a noise after changing the shaft angle. Older joints are worn in a certain way and when you change the angle you change the groove they run in. You didn't mention if you had extended shackles or not but if you have the standard shackles it's very unlikely that the angle would be affected enough to cause the yokes to bind.
The noise you describe in the front sounds like a chassis bushing gone bad or loose shackles.
Jason T.

[LWB109]

they won't disclose who actually produces them.

That has to be BS (and I don't mean british springs...) right???

I have a feeling this would cut way down on the number of springs sold.

[alaskajosh]

That has to be BS (and I don't mean british springs...) right???

I have a feeling this would cut way down on the number of springs sold.

It had this very effect on me. I asked one day, when placing an order for something else, whose paras they had chosen to sell and why. The man said, "I don't know".
I decided right then to go with RM... at least I'd KNOW what I'm getting into.

Hope all ends well for you, Mr Wallace--

[B. Wallace]

It had this very effect on me. I asked one day, when placing an order for something else, whose paras they had chosen to sell and why. The man said, "I don't know".
I decided right then to go with RM... at least I'd KNOW what I'm getting into.

Hope all ends well for you, Mr Wallace--

The reason I chose these spring over Rocky Mountain, after MUCH deliberation, was price, well actually shipping price. I was unable to find someone who could definitively point me in one direction over the other, and they ran about the same price, it just happened that I was able to get free shipping through RN, while Rocky Mt's were going to cost me about $200 to ship. I just hope it was worth it; like I previously mentioned, I've already had to recieve a replacement for one of the rear springs because the leaves were not arched the same as the others and the spring pin in the center was badly bent... I was hoping this was going to solve my issues, but that's not the case.

[B. Wallace]

That has to be BS (and I don't mean british springs...) right???

I have a feeling this would cut way down on the number of springs sold.

Feel free to call them and ask...

[TeriAnn]

As I've seen with other postings before, its kind of like their proline parts; they won't disclose who actually produces them. The same with the springs, all he would say was that they were from the UK.

I think that alone narrows it down to British Steel as I think they are the only company making parabolic springs in the UK.

I wonder why RN isn't willing to disclose the manufacturer of their non-genuine parts???? There are some really good OEM & aftermarket manufacturers out there that I would happily purchase parts from. But there are companies I try to avoid wherever possible. If I see that companies like Mintex or Delphi/Lookheed manufactured a brake shoe I'll happily buy the part over one in a LR box.