I cant beleive I'm saying this....

I have owned a string of jap 4wds which to be honest have all been great. I've now got a disco 1, I love the simplicity I have not owned a vehicle this mechanically straight forward for years, so working on it is a dream. Off road I am amazed how well the vehicle copes even with the skateboards sized orriginal tyres the articulation gets you through and over. However I am about to ask for help on something I never thaught I would. Does anyone have any tips on improving the onroad handling, as the disco is by far the worse on road 4x4 I've owned. I spend the majority of time, driving on snow/ice, in blizzards. This means you slide/drift rally the car regurely. The disco has a tendency to want to tip over in the turns, and generally jump off the road, granted its very good at getting back on, but I would not mind some slightly better road manners. I notice the later disco 1 have ARB's is it possible to fit these to a 92 model? Also I was thinking of getting stiffer suspension, any one have any tips. I also have a pajero and whilst it lacks the articulation its made up with diff locks pulling you forward offroad. But on road it handles way better, drifting like a normal car. Is their anyway I can improve on the disco's performance. Thankyou in advance Jim

Easiest way to improve handling is to fit 'Police Spec' springs (they are listed as a RR classic part), that should stiffen the Disco up without making the ride too harsh.

Springs

jim cummings said:

I have owned a string of jap 4wds which to be honest have all been great. I've now got a disco 1, I love the simplicity I have not owned a vehicle this mechanically straight forward for years, so working on it is a dream. Off road I am amazed how well the vehicle copes even with the skateboards sized orriginal tyres the articulation gets you through and over. However I am about to ask for help on something I never thaught I would. Does anyone have any tips on improving the onroad handling, as the disco is by far the worse on road 4x4 I've owned. I spend the majority of time, driving on snow/ice, in blizzards. This means you slide/drift rally the car regurely. The disco has a tendency to want to tip over in the turns, and generally jump off the road, granted its very good at getting back on, but I would not mind some slightly better road manners. I notice the later disco 1 have ARB's is it possible to fit these to a 92 model? Also I was thinking of getting stiffer suspension, any one have any tips. I also have a pajero and whilst it lacks the articulation its made up with diff locks pulling you forward offroad. But on road it handles way better, drifting like a normal car. Is their anyway I can improve on the disco's performance. Thankyou in advance Jim

Click to expand...

Hi Jim, are you able to determine whether the onroad behaviour is due to suspension or steering. It is a well-known issue that worn suspension bushes can give the handling you describe.

The steering (therefore the stability of the vehicle) can be affected badly by worn wheel bearings, worn swivel bearings, worn Panhard bushes, worn A-frame bushes & balljoint, worn trailing arm bushes.

None of these issues is difficult or expensive to resolve, it's just a matter of having a plan and working through it. At the age of the vehicle I would be checking bearings first and replacing as necessary.

Good luck

Dave