tommobot Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 I've recently brought a Defender, with a 2 inch lift, big wide tyres and dislocation cones on the rear axle. It tramlines a bit on bumpy roads, but occasionally it just feels terrible. Utterly terrible. My plan is to fit castor corrected radius arms in the future, but since I don't predominantly use it off road, I think the dislocation cones are a bit overkill, and well, making it awful on the road. I've seen a few people with the cones at the top at the spring, whereas mine are on the axle? To remove them, I've purcahsed some spring retention plates, and new lower spring seat. Is this all I need to remove them, and will this work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Removing them will do absolutely nothing for the tramlining. They are completely inert and have no effect at all on the steering or suspension unless the axles are articulating - even then the only effect they have is to help relocate the spring back onto its seat. If you want to solve the handling issues is look at the tyres and suspension lift first, but equally it could be any number of worn out, under lubricated, damaged or just badly adjusted OE steering or suspension components Where are you located? Perhaps a local experienced forum member may be able to help you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 What Lewis says, there going to make absolutely no difference to the handling. Tyres/pressures/lift are all going to make a difference to the handling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommobot Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 Any ideas where to start? Surely you can't go too wrong with new shocks and springs.... also looks like the bushes on the underside are in good nick.. well the ones I can see anyways... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Well what will the car be used for? I'm a massive advocate of standard height suspension, lifts are overrated in my eyes and just raise the centre of gravity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Shocks and springs of standard height, then start checking bushes and joints. Oh and swivel preload. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommobot Posted June 13, 2016 Author Share Posted June 13, 2016 Predominantly on road driving, with occasional offroading. I know the big tyres are useless, and make it worse on road, but I have a mental age of about 5 and I think they look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 I would also tied your brake pipe up MUCH better than that, it is very likely to get ripped off like that, the person who did it wants shooting -very unsafe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Predominantly on road driving, with occasional offroading. I know the big tyres are useless, and make it worse on road, but I have a mental age of about 5 and I think they look good. How big are they? I successfully ran 33" on standard height with no issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommobot Posted June 13, 2016 Author Share Posted June 13, 2016 I think there about 33... Good call about the brake pipe, I have never noticed that before! So I think it has a 2inch lift all round, with orange unbranded / unstickered shocks that I assume are 'britpart cellular dynamic rear shock absorber plus 2 inch' If I was to remove the 2inch springs, and return to a standard height, would I need to fitting standard height dampers as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 It depends on the mounts.... with the Gywn lewis mounts I ran +5" shocks and standard height springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommobot Posted June 13, 2016 Author Share Posted June 13, 2016 You'll have to excuse my ignorance, but the mounts? I assume you mean the shock mounts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Yes sorry. What shock mounts are you running? The gywn lewis ones are 40mm taller on the front and the rear ones lay the shock over slightly to give more room (they're also pin-to-pin mount rather than standard pin-to-eye). Pictures would help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 I'm running 35" tyres on standard height springs. I prefer to run without lift, I can't see the need 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommobot Posted June 13, 2016 Author Share Posted June 13, 2016 Should be a few photos in the below link... https://goo.gl/photos/uquTWMTPqZgDvjiP6 Also, it probably doesn't help that the rear appears to be sitting higher than the front... I guess it just feels a vague and wandery on the road which isn't great.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landy-Novice Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 lloks like britpart hd springs and the foam shocks. you need to get under it with a pry bar and give every bush a good wiggle/prod/poke/jiggle to see if any have play. then i would be checking wheel bearings/swivel bearings including all track rods ends and even steering uj's. panhard rod bushes are a faviorite for causes 'wondering' issues. looking at the pictures, would probably be well worth returning to standard height, no need for that lift with such small tyres. hth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 If you lower it back to standard height you're going to need to swap the front shock turrets back to standard height ones. (They've Been swapped for lower ones to give more droop travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommobot Posted June 14, 2016 Author Share Posted June 14, 2016 Ok, this all sounds fairly good advice. I guess if I drop it down aswell, then there is no need Castor corrected radius arms either; massive benifit. So, if I got myself a set of front shock turrets, new standard height springs I would be able to retain the shock absorbers and the end result would be about a standard ride height? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted June 14, 2016 Share Posted June 14, 2016 You should be able to, yes . By the looks of it, they're standard length, but they've used the lower turrets to get away with it. But I'd be checking the state of the shocks as its easier to change all in one go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommobot Posted May 2, 2019 Author Share Posted May 2, 2019 Was just looking back through old posts. For completeness sake the problem was that 1 of the front wheels was pretty much down to 3mm of tread, the other side was as around 15mm.. May be exaggerating the depths, but the considerable difference on tyre size made braking and bumpy roads interesting. 2 new front tyres and it drove like a 'proper' car! Thanks for the help guys 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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