Which suspension kit????

Hi all, im new to 4x4's but im looking at buying a Disco 300tdi once i get back from the IOM TT in June.

I intend on upgrading the suspension as soon as i get it an would like some advice on which kit is best? Ive seen on some threads that some makes of kits get a good slating, why is this?

I only want to lift it 2" or 3" and would like to know what you get in the kit and what else would i need once the kit is fitted, ie - will the prop drop out?, dislocation cones?, longer brake lines? I dont know if these are silly questions but im just keen to do it right.

Any info would be greatly digested.

the britpart yellow spring with gas shockers is good and around £200 for 4 springs and 4 shockers ,i fitted alot of them even my own never had problem ,you may need to alter front prop if noisy after but may not

if you want to do it right as you say you will need

the shocks/springs
front rear caster correction arms
front rear dislocation cones
extended brake lines
wide yoke props

if ya cant afford all that stick a 2" lift on and see how ya get on

never had any probs with a straight 2" lift on my fender

I went down this road recently and in the end I decided on a Bearmach standard height HD kit. I kept the tyres standard sizes and just put MT's on. I have been out many times in lots of different conditions and have never failed to keep up with any of the Defenders or lifted discos etc, in fact I've made it through some very dodgy sections of lanes where others have needed winching out. So my advice, is keep it standard and use the money you save on some decent tyres.

Thanks for the replies gents,

I thought i might need what Wiltshire Landyman stated but thought i would make sure as it is will be my first off roader. I dont mind spending the money on gear, so long as it does as it says on the tin!!! I will also be putting wheels and tyres on it so hopefully i will have a good start by uprating the suspension first. Can you reccommend a brand of kit Wiltshire Landyman???

deanog said:

Thanks for the replies gents,

I thought i might need what Wiltshire Landyman stated but thought i would make sure as it is will be my first off roader. I dont mind spending the money on gear, so long as it does as it says on the tin!!! I will also be putting wheels and tyres on it so hopefully i will have a good start by uprating the suspension first. Can you reccommend a brand of kit Wiltshire Landyman???

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Do yourself a favour and don't do any mods until you have learned to drive it. Too many peeps buy and modify before driving then find out that what they have done doesn't work for what they do with the vehicle.

If the suspension is tired then buy standard height either britpart yellow medium duty or Terrafirma medium duty. Again lots buy heavy duty cos they think thats what they need only to find that off tarmac it bounces and crashes around making it really uncomfortable and often getting stuck because the wheels arn't in touch with the ground, they are bouncing all over!

Suspension needs to be flexible offroad to keep wheels in touch with the ground. Dislocation/relocation cones have their place but think about this, the wheel drops so far that the spring dislocates, what actual ground pressure does the wheel then have to give drive? very little if any! Much better to keep it all in place to start with and the weight of the vehicle will tip over and assist in giving ground pressure to the wheel.

If then in time you find that a lift would be helpful then 2 inch spacer blocks can be fitted for about £70 which will give the lift but retain your standard springs. Also remember that a lift does not help with ground clearance! the diff is still the lowest part which only gets more clearance with bigger tyres! The lift helps to accomodate these tyres but does not give better ground clearance in its own right! What is does do is lifts the front and rear bumpers higher so giving better approach and departure angles but worse road handleing! you need to slow down a bit if you are running with a lift!

Fit extended brake lines and standard shocks and springs, then if you need it you can use shock dropper mounts to lower the standard shocks to allow them still to be used with the lift blocks. a much more sensible approach to my mind and one that will not empty your wallet as quickly or make your vehicle undrivable.

A two inch lift is generally accepted as OK to do without having to castor correct anything or fit wide yoke props.

Spend your money on tyres, with new suspension (even standard height) you will be OK with 235.85R16 size which will give you about an extra inch under the diffs, and only on extreme articulation will you come near to causing a body work problem, but a camel cut and front bumper trim can sort that easily, then if you do lift it in time then the tyres will not need replacing as they will look fine and do the job still.

crazymac said:

Do yourself a favour and don't do any mods until you have learned to drive it. Too many peeps buy and modify before driving then find out that what they have done doesn't work for what they do with the vehicle.

If the suspension is tired then buy standard height either britpart yellow medium duty or Terrafirma medium duty. Again lots buy heavy duty cos they think thats what they need only to find that off tarmac it bounces and crashes around making it really uncomfortable and often getting stuck because the wheels arn't in touch with the ground, they are bouncing all over!

Suspension needs to be flexible offroad to keep wheels in touch with the ground. Dislocation/relocation cones have their place but think about this, the wheel drops so far that the spring dislocates, what actual ground pressure does the wheel then have to give drive? very little if any! Much better to keep it all in place to start with and the weight of the vehicle will tip over and assist in giving ground pressure to the wheel.

If then in time you find that a lift would be helpful then 2 inch spacer blocks can be fitted for about £70 which will give the lift but retain your standard springs. Also remember that a lift does not help with ground clearance! the diff is still the lowest part which only gets more clearance with bigger tyres! The lift helps to accomodate these tyres but does not give better ground clearance in its own right! What is does do is lifts the front and rear bumpers higher so giving better approach and departure angles but worse road handleing! you need to slow down a bit if you are running with a lift!

Fit extended brake lines and standard shocks and springs, then if you need it you can use shock dropper mounts to lower the standard shocks to allow them still to be used with the lift blocks. a much more sensible approach to my mind and one that will not empty your wallet as quickly or make your vehicle undrivable.

A two inch lift is generally accepted as OK to do without having to castor correct anything or fit wide yoke props.

Spend your money on tyres, with new suspension (even standard height) you will be OK with 235.85R16 size which will give you about an extra inch under the diffs, and only on extreme articulation will you come near to causing a body work problem, but a camel cut and front bumper trim can sort that easily, then if you do lift it in time then the tyres will not need replacing as they will look fine and do the job still.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the response, theres loads of info i didnt consider here, i was just thinking 'buy it all and you cant go wrong', but at least i can look at cheaper options first now. Going off the age of the Disco i would probably buy the medium duty springs and shocks along with the spacers and then maybe the shock dropper mounts. That's saved me a bit of cash cheers.

just bear in mind if you intend on fitting winches at a later date you need to consider the rating of the lift kit,a medium duty lift may well sag with the extra weight put on it

terrafirma do some good kits at a fair price

my fender had tuffback shocks and bearmach hd blue springs never ever had a prob with it

wiltshire landyman said:

just bear in mind if you intend on fitting winches at a later date you need to consider the rating of the lift kit,a medium duty lift may well sag with the extra weight put on it

terrafirma do some good kits at a fair price

my fender had tuffback shocks and bearmach hd blue springs never ever had a prob with it

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I've got a 12000lb winch and a Guardian winch bumper with my Britpart yellow medium duty and no sagging still after 3 years or so.