andy.cowman Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 So 8 years ago when the 200tdi 1993 defender 90 finally broke down enough that I couldn't be bothered to fix it I was a young man. I had no wife, no child and apparently a spine that could absorb falling off a building. Fast forward to now and the HD springs that gave my defender a very important must have 1 inch left are ruining me. They are hateful! And my wife is now refusing to go anywhere in the land rover which is a shame, mostly. So what's peoples recommendations? I don't care about lifting it 2inches really. I just want to be comfortable! It has new shocks on which seem ok. I assume normal 90 ones, but we will be towing our caravan with it... Assuming she ever gets in it again of course.. so do I need to think about the rear ones? So what have people got and why! Gratiotius land rover photo because why not. The ratty paint is a theft deterrent, as is the ratty interior 😄 Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 Go back to standard LR genuine springs for a 90 station wagon, think those would slightly softer than HD springs for a pick up or hardtop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Drumstick Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 57 minutes ago, andy.cowman said: So 8 years ago when the 200tdi 1993 defender 90 finally broke down enough that I couldn't be bothered to fix it I was a young man. I had no wife, no child and apparently a spine that could absorb falling off a building. Fast forward to now and the HD springs that gave my defender a very important must have 1 inch left are ruining me. They are hateful! And my wife is now refusing to go anywhere in the land rover which is a shame, mostly. So what's peoples recommendations? I don't care about lifting it 2inches really. I just want to be comfortable! It has new shocks on which seem ok. I assume normal 90 ones, but we will be towing our caravan with it... Assuming she ever gets in it again of course.. so do I need to think about the rear ones? So what have people got and why! Gratiotius land rover photo because why not. The ratty paint is a theft deterrent, as is the ratty interior 😄 Thanks! Ultimately there are lots and lots of options. A 90 should ride pretty well though, a bit of pitching due to the short wheel base and it is live axle. But ride quality should be quite good. Although many things can impact ride, such as the tyres you run and the pressure they are at. As well as the bushes, the dampers and the springs. Standard springs are perfectly good for general use. If you plan to off road and want more travel with longer shocks, then there are options. Also if you plan to tow or haul then you can tailor to that setup. I really like the Flatdog springs, as they show you length and spring rate. https://www.flatdoguk.com/search.asp?types=fd+springs My brother has the standard rate +2" springs. These give about a 1" lift due to being longer, but being standard spring rate they ride like stock. HD springs are really for hauling heavy loads. https://www.flatdoguk.com/def-90-%2B2"-%2F-std~339 There are other options if you want to go softer spring still, although you may want an anti roll bar if they are too soft for road to prevent excessive lean. Shocks can also play a big part in suspension comfort. Do you know what make shocks you have now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 Nrc9448/nrc9449 work nicely, if you still want a smidge of a lift you can fit the discovery rubber isolators on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 Dont forget the dampers... get some decent ones too! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuko Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Echoing the above comments, original springs will give the best results. If a lift or a slight lift is wanted then spacers is the best solution. I was using Terrafirma gas shocks but wasn't really impressed with them therefore changed to Koni's on the Defender and they made a real difference comfort wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 As has been said, standard genuine LR springs and Disco 1 rubber donuts on top if you want a bit of lift, and also help with noise. Shock absorbers make a lot of difference, but there are lots and lots of options, and most aftermarket ones, "standard" replacements, seem to be a one size fits all, so you don't know what the rates are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 This is quite useful if you haven’t found it: http://red90.ca/rovers/springinfo.html I can’t remember exactly what I have on - standard 90 read I think, but I have the progressive yellow/yellow springs on both side of the front from memory: NRC8045. I’ve two more which I plan to put on the back, so the same spring all round, to soften it up back there. With good dampers the progressive springs make a nice ride. The standard 90 fronts at 175lb rate - the progressives are 155 - 215, so softer on the first part of their movement and the. Firmer as they compress more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 15 hours ago, Maverik said: Dont forget the dampers... get some decent ones too! I use Bilsteins - very happy with those. In fact they transformed the ride when I first put them on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmmv Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 I echo a liking for Koni shocks. My 90 ('97) is on Konis and standard springs, and rides much better than my daughter's ('13), all stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.cowman Posted January 14 Author Share Posted January 14 Thanks everyone, lots to sort through! It has standard terra firma shocks which are pretty new, so first stop will be standard springs rates from FlatDog as I like supporting things made here. Then we can review the next step! Probably look at changing shocks as well. I have had Biksteins and Koni on other cars over the years and they were certainly excellent! So the disco donuts are straight forward to fit? Also need to finish off the sound proofing and change the seats! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Drumstick Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 37 minutes ago, andy.cowman said: Thanks everyone, lots to sort through! It has standard terra firma shocks which are pretty new, so first stop will be standard springs rates from FlatDog as I like supporting things made here. Then we can review the next step! Probably look at changing shocks as well. I have had Biksteins and Koni on other cars over the years and they were certainly excellent! So the disco donuts are straight forward to fit? Also need to finish off the sound proofing and change the seats! The Disco isloators are just rubber donut rings that sit on the top of the spring to create a barrier between the metal spring touching the inside of the upper metal spring seat. I'd guess real world they are worth 5-10mm lift tops. Not enough that you'd be able to eyeball it. And while in theory they should reduce NVH, I doubt anyone would be sensitive to know a vehicle with or without them. The Discovery had a whole host of NVH changes over a Defender, which collectively improve NVH and refinement a lot. Although the biggest change is having the body as a body tub mounted and isolated away from the chassis on rubber donuts. Something you'll never be able to recreate on a Defender. Are you shocks standard length or longer? If standard, the standard length spring will work fine. If you have longer shocks the +2 standard rate spring is less likely to dislocate or fall out of the spring seat when off road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 You can use the ANR2938 or the Disco 2 RBC100111, which is what I have been using, I did use ANR2938 at the bottom of the spring previously but haven't fitted them after this rebuild. With both top and bottom it will raise about 25mm. https://www.lrdirect.com/rbc100111-isolator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted January 14 Share Posted January 14 Well if the WIFE won't go in it again, the plus side is at least the WHINING Noise has STOPPED!?! 🤣 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.cowman Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 Just as an update - spoke to FlatDog today and getting a set of standard springs off them should be a decent start to getting it riding nicely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.cowman Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 Also from a lot of reading, and hoping, to get a little extra lift again of 1cm but also possibly a little smoother through the chassis I am collecting a pair of RBC100111 for the front and ANR2938 for the rear. For about £20 it seems worth a try for a possible benefit. I think thats right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.cowman Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 Slight change of plan - it looks like the easier option is to use 4 of ANR2938 so going for that! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 On 1/22/2024 at 11:13 AM, andy.cowman said: Just as an update - spoke to FlatDog today and getting a set of standard springs off them should be a decent start to getting it riding nicely. Which standard ones are they going for Andy ? The progressive ones ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.cowman Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 (edited) 4 hours ago, Anderzander said: Which standard ones are they going for Andy ? The progressive ones ? Hello, I called them in the end be went through what we are doing with it and ended up coming away with the standard ones here http://www.flatdoguk.com/def-90-std-height-%2f-std~255 Should arrive tomorrow! So that's the job for Saturday. I got the RX8 seats in as well whilst keeping the centre seat for our little lad and a load more sound proofing has arrived. The seats are really comfy! And the size difference is hilarious as shown in the photo to what was there. Any one after a tatty set of modular seats to re trim? Once its all nice and comfy do I pull the m57 engine and 6speed zf out of my old x5 and shove them in the defender?! I am so tempted! Edited January 23 by andy.cowman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 On 1/14/2024 at 11:23 PM, Mutley said: Well if the WIFE won't go in it again, the plus side is at least the WHINING Noise has STOPPED!?! 🤣 Or one finds out that it is the gearbox/transfer box/axle that has been making that whining noise after all.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.cowman Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 14 hours ago, JeffR said: Or one finds out that it is the gearbox/transfer box/axle that has been making that whining noise after all.... Haha that was a month ago - ended up doing new front prop, ujs, diff rear seal, removed and inspected the diff, new gaskets, new wheel bearings, one new stub axle and new brakes.......then it was me whining about the state of my bank account. Springs have arrived and they are very yellow! Got the first one in last night so hopefully today the other three will follow 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmmv Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 On 1/16/2024 at 8:00 PM, Anderzander said: Once its all nice and comfy do I pull the m57 engine and 6speed zf out of my old x5 and shove them in the defender?! I am so tempted! Great idea, what else can you do with an old X5? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 1 hour ago, andy.cowman said: Haha that was a month ago - ended up doing new front prop, ujs, diff rear seal, removed and inspected the diff, new gaskets, new wheel bearings, one new stub axle and new brakes.......then it was me whining about the state of my bank account. Springs have arrived and they are very yellow! Got the first one in last night so hopefully today the other three will follow Was there much of a price difference between those and genuine? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.cowman Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 5 hours ago, fmmv said: Great idea, what else can you do with an old X5? drive it!? bloody comfy and fast its like the anti-defender really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy.cowman Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 5 hours ago, steve b said: Was there much of a price difference between those and genuine? Steve I dont know! I was so scarred from how much landrover wanted for a hazard warning switch I didnt even think to call them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.