Problems, problems....
I have now got BOP's back end back together & the ride height looks like it should:
..compared with the 'before' height:
The diff' isn't back in yet, so there will be a slight drop but not much. In fact, the height is within 2mm of "Hazel's" ride height, - so far so good. However, the shock absorbers are at full stretch because when you push the rear corners down & release, the back end jumps up & 'snatches' as the shocks meet their maximum length.
As stated before, the springs are around 20mm longer than the WSM data for normal springs. It looks like to get stiffer & progressive springs that work well with the shocks, they should actually be more like standard length. A comparison with Hazel (which is excellent) is as follows:
Height of wheel arch from ground:
Hazel 546mm BOP 548mm
With approx 70kg person sitting above:
Hazel 520mm BOP 530mm
With approx 100kg person:
Hazel 502mm BOP 520mm
BOP's current springs are clearly much stiffer (which is OK) but I think too long & don't give way enough under normal loading. Incidentally, when I first replaced the rear springs in my 2000, I think I tried to get some front ones in
& the result was much the same. (Front ones have a free length of around 40mm more than standard rears, so would be around 20mm longer than the ones I've just put in BOP).
Comparing the top mountings of the shocks, they are very similar in length fixed through the upper mounts:
Hazel:
BOP:
Any ideas, please?