Coils on series.

[Gareth Dickens]

Suzuki Grand Vitara, coils front and rear, part time 4x4.

So what makes it different to all the others. Can anyone offer some insight. I'll google Suzuki Vitara suspension and see if I see the light.

Do you know anyone with simmilar issues on their Defender that my friend described?

[Bowie69]

It is IFS if that makes a difference?

Oh, Patrol, I am sure came 4x2? Certainly with freewheel hubs.... coils all round, the Y60 or something variant, and beam axles.

[ToyRoverlander]

LandCruiser 80series, LJ70 as well If I remember correctly and GQ patrols come with part time 4x4 (not all of them mind) and coils all round. So I'd say there's no issue.

[Gareth Dickens]

I was just concerned because of what I was told. I don't want to modify a vehicle to a point where it becomes dangerous and unpredictable.

Maybe vehicles are just designed to remove more driver thinking and have the vehicle do more for you these days.

[Snagger]

I am no expert on vehicle dynamics, and while I agree that power distributions and suspension design have great effects, I don't think your friend is entirely right. I suspect that the RRC, Discovery and Defender models are all permanent 4wd to reduce the strain on the none-too-strong LR standard axles, splitting the torque over the pair instead of loading one. This would also be supported by the early 90/110 having part time 4wd and having optional FWH - their suspension was coils all round, and I suspect that LR only gave this option because these early proto-Defenders had low enough torque from their 2.25 engines that they wouldn't blow the rear transmissions in 2wd. Handling would be improved by 4wd, especially on wet or icy roads, but I don't think 2wd on coils would have been a serious issue.

Just a though on your plan of having the front radius arms horizontal - in addition to needing very low mountings, they will also lose the anti-dive characteristics of inclined radius arms. If you compare how much a LR coiler dives under braking to a leafer, it's a pretty big difference. This anti-dive is achieved by having the radius arms drop down at an angle parallel to the angle drawn from the CoG to the front tyre contact areas. This anti-dive characteristic is not only more comfortable, but presses the tyres harder into the road surface, imcreasing braking efficiency and safety. You'd be losing a lot but levelling the radius arms.

[ToyRoverlander]

Actually, late 70's Ford F100's have radius arms in the front that are horizontal/slightly sloping down towards the chassis.. so there's probably more to it than just the angle of the radius arms.

[bill van snorkle]

AntiDive is the exact reverse of AntiSquat,and is a product of axle housing torque lifting the chassis ends of the Radius arms upwards,that in turn applies a lifting force to the chassis thereby countering or cancelling the tendency of the front end to dive under brakes. With regard to stability under heavy 'panic braking', particularly on short wheelbase vehicles, the reduced weight transfer to the front wheels should prevent the rear brakes from locking up prematurely.

AFAIK, The heavy body roll of earlier RangeRovers, due to the soggy springs necessitated constant 4WD to maintain good directional control on winding roads.

That the Engineering school dropouts at LandRover Design elected to retain the notoriously fragile spiral bevel differentials together with 10 spline halfshafts on a 2 ton vehicle with a 3.5 litre engine was another factor in choosing constant 4WD.

[Chicken Drumstick]

Suzuki Grand Vitara, coils front and rear, part time 4x4.

Jeep Wrangler TJ and JK also. And they a live axle f/r. Think some of the Grand Cherokee's are also 4x2.

And isn't the latest 1500 Ram trucks coils all round and they sell 4x2 only variants.