Defender 90 - How can I tell if it has been lifted

Hi

Not being the most mechanically minded person, how can I tell if my Defender 90 has had the suspension lifted.

I have recently purchased a 2003 Defender 90 TD5 and cannot make up my mind if it has been lifted.

Asking the previous owner is not an option.

I am assuing that if I know the distance for a Standard Defender 90 TD5 from the centre of the rear wheel hub to the bottom of the wheel arch, then I will be able to assess if it has or hasn't been lifted!

So anyone with a (2003) Standard Defender 90 TD5 care to get their tape measure out and post measurements.

Thanks in advance.

why not take a photo and post it? people could soon tell you.

if you have standard tyres on it the a lift will look strangly massive

I will do, but need to my camera sorted first!!

i have a defender and cant make my mind up if its red or white any ideas?
i cant post a picture




do you see the problem with the fred

wiltshire landyman said:

i have a defender and cant make my mind up if its red or white any ideas?
i cant post a picture




do you see the problem with the fred

Click to expand...

Does it go uphills???

wiltshire landyman said:

i have a defender and cant make my mind up if its red or white any ideas?
i cant post a picture




do you see the problem with the fred

Click to expand...

thought is was white/ brown ....

Thanks for your responses and I'm glad to see you are all being your normal kind and helpful LR enthusiasts to a newbie who is trying to find out a little bit more about a vehicle he is looking to buy.

Although I do not have any pictures, the measurement from the centre of the from wheel to the wheel arch is about 21.5", and the same measurement on the rear wheel is about 23".

So if anyone has a standard post 2002 Defender 90 TD5 (and a tape measure) that they could compare this with, I'd be very grateful!

what colour are the springs, could give it away if they are yellow or blue, even standard height heavy duties lift a lil as they are well heavy duty so they dont sag under the weight

I think they are blue! But there is very little colour and I can just remember seeing a bit of blue coating flaking off one of the front springs.

could you not measure spring length? int that the critical bit.

sj99 said:

Thanks for your responses and I'm glad to see you are all being your normal kind and helpful LR enthusiasts to a newbie who is trying to find out a little bit more about a vehicle he is looking to buy.

Although I do not have any pictures, the measurement from the centre of the from wheel to the wheel arch is about 21.5", and the same measurement on the rear wheel is about 23".

So if anyone has a standard post 2002 Defender 90 TD5 (and a tape measure) that they could compare this with, I'd be very grateful!

Click to expand...

my 1988 110csw is 48cm from the centre to the arch front & rear

I can do that tonight, but won't that depend on how compressed the spring is? As stated by Snow surely heavy duty springs will be longer as they are less compressed?

How long would a standard spring be when in place?

my point was that yu stated that it looked lifted. - an old saggy hd spring and a new "normal" spring may not be any different in height. by measuring the compressed spring length (and colour) it might help assess what you have.

OK, I see.

my lifted 110 resulted in ripped strides. Works non lifted didnt.Not very helpful, but i knew.

sj99 said:

the measurement from the centre of the from wheel to the wheel arch is about 21.5", and the same measurement on the rear wheel is about 23".

Click to expand...

That's the same as mine and I've got a lift kit on

Thanks Billy, how much of a lift do you have?

My 1990 90 has a 2" lift on it and measures 21" front (from centre of hub to wheel arch) and 22.5" on the rear.

Park it next to another Defender and see if it sits higher.

Trouble is ... it can be lifted with soft springs and sit at the same height .. or standard with stiffer springs and sit higher. The reasons for lifting and/or spring changes are many and varied, so the requests for colours of springs etc are valid as they give an indication of what's fitted. Your height check will do nothing of 'real' value. just measuring won't tell you anything other than the height it sits at.