Articulation is it worth the effort?

My 90 (300 tdi) runs on 35” tyres with +2” springs, +2” front Shocks and +3” rear Shocks.

I decided to check how much articulation I was getting on the rear so I stuck a hi lift under the rock slider and at-
+5” the spring just started to move from the top spring mount.
+8” and the rear wheel just started to be lifted off the ground. At this point I removed the shock to check it still had movement and it has.

So to get more articulation I need to start thinking about rose jointed trailing arms but this leads to lots of other issues prop shaft ect.

My question is, is it worth the effort?, there is no weight on the wheel so it wont give you much grip/drive anyway.
Another option this
X Springs for Land Rover Defender 90, Disco 1 & RR Classic (Pair)

Interested to see what you think.

I'd go for lockers next if I were you. I wouldn't expect a standard prop to last that long with your setup anyway if it's used off road alot.

I have seen the x-spring in use before and it certaily was impressive. Though with only +2 and +3 inch shocks, I would think they're going to start limiting you soon if you try and get much more articulation.

Diff clearance will stop you before anything else

SteNova said:

Diff clearance will stop you before anything else

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with 35" tyres, I'm sure he doesn't have many issues

Put it this way the top challenge trucks have 14-16 inches of travel and no dislocation and they go everywhere

Lockers are your friend

Crazy articulation like the WKD kit is good for nothing other than showing off.

Lockers or a suspension kit you have to decide for ya self.
I went for suspension kit and glad I did to be honest,
Lockers are next on the list but as a single ashcroft locker wich is what you want they are £1000 odd a pop,
So your looking at £2k for just the diffs nevermind another £1000 atleast on shafts cvs flanges etc.

So 3k for full locker set up, or £600 odd for a full twist kit and jointed arms etc from RAC for full articulation.

Lockers would get you further obviously but can you warrant spending that much or for a fraction of the cost get a flex kit and get nearly as far.

Hope this helps

Ps, most challenge trucks run 16" travel same as my set up on my twist kit. I have no idea what you mean by no dislocation 200tdi ayre as proper ones like one I've just built with my mate don't run springs just on the shocks, ones that do run springs still (a lot of em do) of course they dislocate, otherwise it wouldn't articulate if the springs are held in lol.

MaxyMan said:

Ps, most challenge trucks run 16" travel same as my set up on my twist kit. I have no idea what you mean by no dislocation 200tdi ayre as proper ones like one I've just built with my mate don't run springs just on the shocks, ones that do run springs still (a lot of em do) of course they dislocate, otherwise it wouldn't articulate if the springs are held in lol.

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You can't dislocate coilovers or airshocks which is what the top guys use

Plus thise shocks are huge overkill for a challenge truck

200tdi ayre said:

You can't dislocate coilovers or airshocks which is what the top guys use

Plus thise shocks are huge overkill for a challenge truck

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Ah I see what you mean, thort you ment with springs still lol,
And there only terrifirma 16" travel mate, really not overkill honest!
Just the way mounted them looks extreme lol, Built it for KoV but never got round to it, now just used odd winch challeneges and going thru maccy D's drive thru

MaxyMan said:

Ah I see what you mean, thort you ment with springs still lol,
And there only terrifirma 16" travel mate, really not overkill honest!
Just the way mounted them looks extreme lol, Built it for KoV but never got round to it, now just used odd winch challeneges and going thru maccy D's drive thru

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Whats the suspension set up on the front ?

steve999 said:

My 90 (300 tdi) runs on 35” tyres with +2” springs, +2” front Shocks and +3” rear Shocks.

I decided to check how much articulation I was getting on the rear so I stuck a hi lift under the rock slider and at-
+5” the spring just started to move from the top spring mount.
+8” and the rear wheel just started to be lifted off the ground. At this point I removed the shock to check it still had movement and it has.

So to get more articulation I need to start thinking about rose jointed trailing arms but this leads to lother issues prop shaft ect.

My question is, is it worth the effort?, there is no weight on the wheel so it wont give you much grip/drive anyway.
Another option this
X Springs for Land Rover Defender 90, Disco 1 & RR Classic (Pair)

Interested to see what you think.

Click to expand...

See this is what I have never understood about it.. surely rather than keep the wheels on the ground at all cost it would be better to just lock all the diffs and make sure that the bits that do touch are driving.. would be less ground clearance with all the wheels down and might be handy to have a wheel lift up sometimes anyway no..?

blackstrat said:

See this is what I have never understood about it.. surely rather than keep the wheels on the ground at all cost it would be better to just lock all the diffs and make sure that the bits that do touch are driving.. would be less ground clearance with all the wheels down and might be handy to have a wheel lift up sometimes anyway no..?

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Yep this is my theory

You can use brakes as lockers in some situations

Loving that tray back, this is mine

I get what you say about a full articulation kit and it looks good, what I don’t understand is that wheel is just resting on the ground so you wont get much drive from it so is it all for show and no go or am I just no understanding it?.

200tdi ayre said:

Yep this is my theory

You can use brakes as lockers in some situations

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I think we would all agree lockers would be the answer but to do front/back + all the other bits you are probably approaching 3K.

SteNova said:

Diff clearance will stop you before anything else

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Don't I know it..... and that's with both axles flat

Had trouble with some ruts last weekend..

Articulation is for bragging to your mates lockers are for going past your mates

Lockers HD shafts drive it hard and then suspension

PS ask how the MIB kit fits (bolt on kit) it took one guy a day to cut and re weld so it actually bolted up and fitted as it shoikd of.

DIFFLOCK66 said:

Don't I know it..... and that's with both axles flat

Had trouble with some ruts last weekend..

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With lockers you wouldn't have dropped into the ruts in the first place and driven out

steve999 said:

I get what you say about a full articulation kit and it looks good, what I don’t understand is that wheel is just resting on the ground so you wont get much drive from it so is it all for show and no go or am I just no understanding it?.

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exactly ,lockers are money better spent

steve999 said:

I think we would all agree lockers would be the answer but to do front/back + all the other bits you are probably approaching 3K.

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Good value