Lift kit help

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JasonTd5IRL

New Member
Posts
5
Location
IRELAND
Right hopefully some one has seen this or knows how to fix it.. I bought a 2inch lift kit with 3inch travel shock from terrafirma.co.uk it's a 2001 land rover discovery td5... everything bolted in but the problem I'm having is when I raise up the jeep on the 2post lift the springs are loose and ready to fall out... alot of head scratching but I presume my problem is the the extra inch of travel on the shocks is causing my problems... any solutions anyone... 3inch springs... taller shock towers ? Any help appreciated
 
Wont pass road worthy test with dislocation cones...and front will still be an issue...
I assume this is local legislation? Curious by why not?

Ultimately what are you trying to achieve? Is the vehicle used off road?

Longer shocks should allow more total wheel travel, although without relocating the upper mounts, you will actually be gaining some droop but getting slightly less up travel/compression. As the shock is more at risk of bottoming out, unless you have fitted extended bump stops, which do limit compression.

The Net gain however should be more travel. What you are finding however is, you now have more travel than the uncompressed length of your springs.

There are several options here.

-Run longer springs. Not necessarily stiffer or lift springs, just ones that have a longer uncompressed length. These should remain seated at full droop. This may end up lifting the vehicle still or impacting road handling.

-Limit the downward droop, such as a check strap or a shorter shock. But of course this will reduce your off road flex gained by the kit in the first place.

-Retain the springs. There are kits for doing this or simply strap/tie the top of the spring to the upper spring seat. Depending how far the fall out, cable ties might work, jubilee clips for more strength or even small exhaust clamps. This too will limit downward travel however and in some situations will try and pull the wheel up as the spring is being stretched. If it stretches the springs a lot it may also damage them long term.

-Fit some kind of relocation device. i.e. allow the spring to fall out by retaining it at either the top or bottom and have some device to relocate it again. However you've said this isn't allowed. And ultimately may not be the best thing for off road ability.

-alter the spring seat to make the distance less between the upper and lower at full droop. You can do this by adding spring packers/blocks. However this will also make the vehicle taller when rested by the same amount.

-Alter the upper shock mounting point so that you can attain full up travel and allow only the down to not exceed the spring length. In theory you should be able to increase total travel over stock, but this may not be easy to achieve and may require fab work.


Are you sure you are getting enough droop on the front for the spring to fall out? Typically the front end flexes a lot less than the rear, even on a Disco2. The rear Watts setup also tends to flex less than the A-Frame on a D1/RRC or Defender.

I'd suggest the springs you are using are not appropriate as a first course of action.

TBH I don't know if the D2 uses the same springs as the D1/RRC/Defender does, as in the same physical size. If so, there are lots of springs to choose from, just select the spring rate and length that suit what you want to achieve.

https://www.flatdoguk.com/search.asp?types=FD+SPRINGS

If the D2 spring isn't common to the other models. Then you may have to look at an alternative options though.
 
Wont pass road worthy test with dislocation cones...and front will still be an issue...
How will front be an issue they do cones for front also but spring is fastened to spring seat and shock runs inside the spring so it can’t go anywhere
 
How will front be an issue they do cones for front also but spring is fastened to spring seat and shock runs inside the spring so it can’t go anywhere
Yes correct shock runs inside the spring but my problems is when the jeep goes off road and starts to flex springs are coming loose and not sitting back correctly and also the annual vehicle inspection will also cause me problems because when jeep is raised and on foil suspension drop the springs become loose and will fail....
 
I assume this is local legislation? Curious by why not?

Ultimately what are you trying to achieve? Is the vehicle used off road?

Longer shocks should allow more total wheel travel, although without relocating the upper mounts, you will actually be gaining some droop but getting slightly less up travel/compression. As the shock is more at risk of bottoming out, unless you have fitted extended bump stops, which do limit compression.

The Net gain however should be more travel. What you are finding however is, you now have more travel than the uncompressed length of your springs.

There are several options here.

-Run longer springs. Not necessarily stiffer or lift springs, just ones that have a longer uncompressed length. These should remain seated at full droop. This may end up lifting the vehicle still or impacting road handling.

-Limit the downward droop, such as a check strap or a shorter shock. But of course this will reduce your off road flex gained by the kit in the first place.

-Retain the springs. There are kits for doing this or simply strap/tie the top of the spring to the upper spring seat. Depending how far the fall out, cable ties might work, jubilee clips for more strength or even small exhaust clamps. This too will limit downward travel however and in some situations will try and pull the wheel up as the spring is being stretched. If it stretches the springs a lot it may also damage them long term.

-Fit some kind of relocation device. i.e. allow the spring to fall out by retaining it at either the top or bottom and have some device to relocate it again. However you've said this isn't allowed. And ultimately may not be the best thing for off road ability.

-alter the spring seat to make the distance less between the upper and lower at full droop. You can do this by adding spring packers/blocks. However this will also make the vehicle taller when rested by the same amount.

-Alter the upper shock mounting point so that you can attain full up travel and allow only the down to not exceed the spring length. In theory you should be able to increase total travel over stock, but this may not be easy to achieve and may require fab work.


Are you sure you are getting enough droop on the front for the spring to fall out? Typically the front end flexes a lot less than the rear, even on a Disco2. The rear Watts setup also tends to flex less than the A-Frame on a D1/RRC or Defender.

I'd suggest the springs you are using are not appropriate as a first course of action.

TBH I don't know if the D2 uses the same springs as the D1/RRC/Defender does, as in the same physical size. If so, there are lots of springs to choose from, just select the spring rate and length that suit what you want to achieve.

https://www.flatdoguk.com/search.asp?types=FD+SPRINGS

If the D2 spring isn't common to the other models. Then you may have to look at an alternative options though.
Thanks for taking the time I never tought of spring retainers this would possibly be the best option as I cant see any other solution without buying different parts... also I am building a Overlander and jeep will be used for off road camping but also a road jeep.. il give the retainers a try thanks for the information
 
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