defender dinky Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 hi all, thinking of putting a 2" lift kit on my 1987 defender 90, only extras it has are a heavy bulbar, winch,and a alloy sump guard, so wondering which kit is best for me, after the suspension kit I will be fitting 235x85x16 a/t wheels, any ideas,something like this cheers dd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomark10 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Yea it should do fine, Terrafirma are a decent lower end bit of kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easytiger Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 does any one know if the 2" lift will affect steering geometry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 It will, but you don't really need to do anything about that at 2", which is why so many kits are 2"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defender dinky Posted August 12, 2013 Author Share Posted August 12, 2013 well the springs in the picture are heavy duty, thinking will the ride be to hard, will I have to alter the brake hoses ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomark10 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 well the springs in the picture are heavy duty, thinking will the ride be to hard, will I have to alter the brake hoses ? Well its a good idea too, you might get away with it, but if they get pulled you'l be a bit fubar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 What are you hoping for from it ? Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defender dinky Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 don't know really, but these 2" lifts do seem popular and the front suspension seems a bit low on the front, also the passenger rear side is lower than the other, so while changing it might aswell go for the lift Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Its been covered here before, but if you are going to go off road and want to have better travel, just bolting a 2" lift on it may well make things worse. Lift can be done in more than 1 way The cheap way is to fit springs with F all give and higher poundgaes, the truck still weights the same so it sits higher, as the spring are high poundage you find flex is all but gone... Longer springs same poundage - same poundage = same flex, longer = lift longer srpings than above and softer poundages - 90s are designed to be a load carrier, so the rears can be high poundage as std. this means in std form not too much articulation, softing the spring poundages will give more flex, longer springs and softer poundages can give superior articulation. To do this you have to decide on What you have now and identify the springs - colour codes and lengths and poundages (there are charts to do this) what height you wnat what pundage you wnat if you wnat to raise / lower front / back one side etc then use LR90 spring calculator to see what your options are... Genuine springs are reasonably priced, doing the above can give you lift and articulation for not much money Then there are shocks to sort, and lots of other things you can do Just bolting on a one size fits all 2" lift kit will give you the lift but if you are looking for "More" it can just make things worse. If all you wnat is some lift and cleafrance for say tyres etc and looks then a kit will do it. I get the feeling may peeps shiove a 2" llift kit on not knowing that the lifted truck they may have seen in competition / off road / doing something / looking good may have gotten the same lift but via a vastly differing route. Worth thinking about what you ultimately wnat and then do some searches here for info etc, if at the end of the day the kit you fancy looks like it does all of what you wnat then buy it, but it always upsets me when I buy / spend money and then find its not "Quite" what I was hoping !!My truck some years ago now, genuine LR springs modded for articulation and lift 34 simex and a few other mods... http://www.fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/kittygrip/Suspension%20testing.wmv The downside of doing the above is its a tad infectious and since then more mods ideas tweaks etc, now have terrafirma +5 inch res shocks, which are IMHO amazing value for money and can be valved to suit When I went from Hard Top to Truck cab suspension was all wrong again, in the video I had very cheap +5 procomps, later I had Old man Emu +5 (very good vlaue) and so on....and still have ideas, most of this was either genuine springs, modified things like domeing the washers drilling the hockey bushes, making home made turrets of a hight to give max teavel (again not just ones bought ) and to be honest all of this was cheap as chips - prob less than a std off the shelf kit, some springs used were sourced s/h to check if my / Trevs LR90 spring calcs were correct...and then spacers made o get it to sit where I wnated it to.... FAR more work than a off the shelf kit yes...but world of difference....Red & White police spec springs all around are good for a std 90 ....as a starter again do a search, not sure who it was here, maybe Steve G but R&Ws and some longer shocks give a bit of lift and a very good ride / flex ... With all these "kits" you have no idea of the lengths / poundages etc....its just fit and see...and then see if it works - answer = prob "OK" but not great another very decent kit is the Old man EMU which is at least able to see poundages and lengths etc, buy you won't beat effort thought and your own planning to get wnat you wnat vs a std here yer go guv kit... Right, thats been a nice outing for my anorak, pop it back in the cupboard now .. Think and be sure of what you wnat before to commit to spending hard earned .. Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomark10 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Think and be sure of what you wnat before to commit to spending hard earned .. Nige Nail on the head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aragorn Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Theres also the point that a lift alone probably wont help you all that much in terms of offroading, and will likely just make the vehicle less stable in most situations. Improving articulation and thus offroad grip can be done without raising the vehicle at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defender dinky Posted August 13, 2013 Author Share Posted August 13, 2013 Its been covered here before, but if you are going to go off road and want to have better travel, just bolting a 2" lift on it may well make things worse. Lift can be done in more than 1 way The cheap way is to fit springs with F all give and higher poundgaes, the truck still weights the same so it sits higher, as the spring are high poundage you find flex is all but gone... Longer springs same poundage - same poundage = same flex, longer = lift longer srpings than above and softer poundages - 90s are designed to be a load carrier, so the rears can be high poundage as std. this means in std form not too much articulation, softing the spring poundages will give more flex, longer springs and softer poundages can give superior articulation. To do this you have to decide on What you have now and identify the springs - colour codes and lengths and poundages (there are charts to do this) what height you wnat what pundage you wnat if you wnat to raise / lower front / back one side etc then use LR90 spring calculator to see what your options are... Genuine springs are reasonably priced, doing the above can give you lift and articulation for not much money Then there are shocks to sort, and lots of other things you can do Just bolting on a one size fits all 2" lift kit will give you the lift but if you are looking for "More" it can just make things worse. If all you wnat is some lift and cleafrance for say tyres etc and looks then a kit will do it. I get the feeling may peeps shiove a 2" llift kit on not knowing that the lifted truck they may have seen in competition / off road / doing something / looking good may have gotten the same lift but via a vastly differing route. Worth thinking about what you ultimately wnat and then do some searches here for info etc, if at the end of the day the kit you fancy looks like it does all of what you wnat then buy it, but it always upsets me when I buy / spend money and then find its not "Quite" what I was hoping !! My truck some years ago now, genuine LR springs modded for articulation and lift 34 simex and a few other mods... http://www.fuddymuckers.co.uk/gallery/kittygrip/Suspension testing.wmv The downside of doing the above is its a tad infectious and since then more mods ideas tweaks etc, now have terrafirma +5 inch res shocks, which are IMHO amazing value for money and can be valved to suit When I went from Hard Top to Truck cab suspension was all wrong again, in the video I had very cheap +5 procomps, later I had Old man Emu +5 (very good vlaue) and so on....and still have ideas, most of this was either genuine springs, modified things like domeing the washers drilling the hockey bushes, making home made turrets of a hight to give max teavel (again not just ones bought ) and to be honest all of this was cheap as chips - prob less than a std off the shelf kit, some springs used were sourced s/h to check if my / Trevs LR90 spring calcs were correct...and then spacers made o get it to sit where I wnated it to.... FAR more work than a off the shelf kit yes...but world of difference....Red & White police spec springs all around are good for a std 90 ....as a starter again do a search, not sure who it was here, maybe Steve G but R&Ws and some longer shocks give a bit of lift and a very good ride / flex ... With all these "kits" you have no idea of the lengths / poundages etc....its just fit and see...and then see if it works - answer = prob "OK" but not great another very decent kit is the Old man EMU which is at least able to see poundages and lengths etc, buy you won't beat effort thought and your own planning to get wnat you wnat vs a std here yer go guv kit... Right, thats been a nice outing for my anorak, pop it back in the cupboard now .. Think and be sure of what you wnat before to commit to spending hard earned .. Nige I think I should be looking at what the truck needs, rather than what I want it to look like, good reading just trying to get my head round the spring poundage all confusing for me, I do some searching as you advised, cheers dd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easytiger Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Its been covered here before, but if you are going to go off road and want to have better travel, just bolting a 2" lift on it may well make things worse.Right, thats been a nice outing for my anorak, pop it back in the cupboard now .. Think and be sure of what you wnat before to commit to spending hard earned .. Nige Nige, before you put your anorak away can I get the benefit of your experience please. Mines a 110 SW (200 TDI) and I am fitting a winch bumper, roof tent and some other bits with the intention of doing some overland stuff. I was going to fit flatdog +1" higher poundage (=15%) springs and terrafirma big bore shocks. I will prob be doing some off roading but need the car to behave on long motorway journeys. Any thoughts? Thanks Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jai_landrover Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Cant beat an old saggy RRC with soft saggy springs 1 inch from the bumpstop! I have red whites on my 90 they are 175Lbs/inch lighter duty than std and 3 inches taller (average) free height resulting in approc 1.5/2 inch lift. Well it did and they were perfect for my winch equiped 90 hard top with enough stuff in the back for a trials comp. Now I have some rear springs I think around 190Lbs/inch but still quite tall as loaded up for comps with red whites all around the back end was too low for my liking and occasionally you'd hit the bump stop on a sleeping policeman. Baring in mind my 90 will be towing a trailer and a trials motor I fitted the stonger rear springs.Also for what its worth save you money on shiney bling and buy hd shafts and a locker. if you feel so inclined dip you current springs in orange paint if it makes you feel good but as mention suspension needs to be thought out fully and when fitted tested fully to make sure its all A1. The problem is the spring "Kits" they never give lbs/inch they just say HD but many different variants of a 90, 110 or indeed a 130 RRC Disco etc have massivly varying spring rates in each corner depending on use engine and or equipment fitted so hoping thaty the one they chose to paint and sell for a serious premium is actually suited to what you want is kind of like trying to win the lotto. If I had a pound for every landy with stupidly high Lbs/inch suspension painted bright colours lifting wheels offroad because the rate is so obviously too hard and then the driver/owner saying how great it is offroad I'd be able to buy myself a coupld of lockers by now. Rear end I have Procomp +2 shocks and fitted a salisbury rear axle. Baring in mind this is my nice to drive/tow motor its not doing bad. The front suspension is red whites with std shocks. Salisbury rear has a detroit and the front currently has a lockright and FWH. These are coming off for some ashcroft shafts and an open 4 pin until I get an ashlocker in there. It has 37 inch mitchelin mud tyres which are ok for ground clearance but not amazing for sideways grip nor amazing in the wet but they are an ok compromise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomark10 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I must say I fit a set yellow/red (basically the same as whire/red) on my chopped disco, and they are great, combined with some long travel shocks.. it works great! Thanks again to Jai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 If you want to know lb/in values, I believe they are quoted on the D4x4 site, for OME springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defender dinky Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 If you want to know lb/in values, I believe they are quoted on the D4x4 site, for OME springs.hi, found spring info in the archives,http://www.red90.ca/rovers/springinfo.html, would anything in there suit my truck, I shoot so would need a bit of lift clearance, I also have a heavy bumper with winch,i am a builder and use my truck for work,carrying cement bricks ect, but not on a regular basis, where I shoot ground pretty uneven, its mainly road use I do, I think of 2" lift, not to many mods to do, only fitting 235x85x16x A/T after cheers dd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 don't know really, but these 2" lifts do seem popular The kit you've pictures looks just the ticket in that case. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defender dinky Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 The kit you've pictures looks just the ticket in that case. Si that will do nicely, thks si, and everyone who responded,dd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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