lifting questions

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J

jim cummings

New Member
Posts
134
Location
Norway, Lillehammer
Hi Just bought a disco 1, has a bit of a saggy arse and want to run 245/75/16 tyres so thinking about new springs/shocks. Thinking should I go with a 2" lift. If I buy the springs what else will I need as essentials. For example do I need longer shocks, do I need longer brake hoses, do I need dislocation cones (are they to help the spring reseat under extreme articulation), do I need longer bump stops, or new spring retainers?? Just want to know what I'm getting myself into, to see if its more hassle then its worth....essentially I just need to get rid of the saggy arse so is shopping some new springs all I should do, or should I pimp the rest whilst I'm at it. I live in Norway and do a bit of offroading, and allot of gravel roading on the mountain, Thanks for the tips, Jim
 
tbh unless your gonna be doing some serious off roading, then i would forget a 2" lift and just do the following buy a new set of hd standard height springs and dampers. fit some 235/85/16 tyres (A/T OR M/T) your choice. do the camel cut on the rear fender and trim the front as well fit extended bump stops and adjust your steering stops accordingly. do a search on here to advise on the cuts if your unsure and imo that would suit you fine. but again thats only my opinion but i'm sure others will agree it saves alot of hassle and expense and saves putting extra strain on other componants thats associated with a 2" lift.

hope this helps
 
SHORT ROUND said:
tbh unless your gonna be doing some serious off roading, then i would forget a 2" lift and just do the following buy a new set of hd standard height springs and dampers. fit some 235/85/16 tyres (A/T OR M/T) your choice. do the camel cut on the rear fender and trim the front as well fit extended bump stops and adjust your steering stops accordingly. do a search on here to advise on the cuts if your unsure and imo that would suit you fine. but again thats only my opinion but i'm sure others will agree it saves alot of hassle and expense and saves putting extra strain on other componants thats associated with a 2" lift.

hope this helps
Click to expand...

235/85-16 is nearly 32" tall, and really should be done "with" a 2" lift.
 
Urban Panzer said:
235/85-16 is nearly 32" tall, and really should be done "with" a 2" lift.
Click to expand...

Why so, when the suspension is fully compressed onto its bump stops on one side of the car, it will be no different to if it were not lifted in the first place. Or do you mean "should be done with larger bump stops" (which isn't the same thing)?
 
Well its too late now I've ordered the kit, maybe I should have stuck with normal, though it does look a bit of a girl next to my girlfriends pajero! I just thaught as I was replacing the suspension I should go for the mild 2" lift. I have had a string of LC's and Nissans and whenever you replace the suspension as standard you allways replace with a 2" lift to improve handling both on and off the road. Maybe allthough the Disco is low and has small tyres its capable enough without this, and the japs do need it.... only one way to find out. All I know is the handling seams pretty bad at the mo, I certainly dont want to build a monster truck, but I just thaught 2" is nothing and I've never had trouble with such mild lifts upseting anything before. We will see what happens. Fingers crossed the old discos joints can handle it!
 
A lot of the stuff I see these days is advertised as 40mm lift. I wonder if this goes a little way towards reducing the stresses etc?
 
nathan5346 said:
Improve handling with a lift? :confused:
Click to expand...

x2

Like-for-like, any lift will make handling worse. BUT if you're comparing old (ie worn out) springs and dampers for new, albeit mildly lifted stuff, it will improve the handling. I had a non-LR for a while, fitted a 2" lift kit (which was more like 2 3/4") and the handling was better, but only because the previous dampers were dodgy.
 
paul_c said:
Why so, when the suspension is fully compressed onto its bump stops on one side of the car, it will be no different to if it were not lifted in the first place. Or do you mean "should be done with larger bump stops" (which isn't the same thing)?
Click to expand...

Have you seen that size tyre on a D1 with no lift ? for 1 it looks ridiculous (my opinion) as it completely fills the arches, of which are not that big on a Disco 1,

It will probably need more "trimming" as the tyres will be a lot closer to the arches.

If you then go fit extended bump stops with no lift, you reduce the amount of articulation you "had" to stop the huge tyres stuffing themselves in the wheel arches.

Fit the extended stops "with" a lift, the vehicle looks better balanced, and will have a good proportion of the original articulation it came out the factory with, although this is also dependant on longer travel shocks etc.
 
I agree, but its worth pointing out that suspension lift doesn't increase the arch clearance, extended bump stops do. I have 265/75R16, I needed to trim the arches but don't need to fit extended bump stops. If you fit extended bump stops then a suspension lift is also a good idea to restore articulation. Tyre size relates to the carcass not the tread hence why my tyres fit and eg insa turbo special tracks probably don't (larger diameter once tread is also included, because from new they have about 1 1/2" of it).
 
Urban Panzer said:
Have you seen that size tyre on a D1 with no lift ? for 1 it looks ridiculous (my opinion) as it completely fills the arches, of which are not that big on a Disco 1,

It will probably need more "trimming" as the tyres will be a lot closer to the arches.

If you then go fit extended bump stops with no lift, you reduce the amount of articulation you "had" to stop the huge tyres stuffing themselves in the wheel arches.

Fit the extended stops "with" a lift, the vehicle looks better balanced, and will have a good proportion of the original articulation it came out the factory with, although this is also dependant on longer travel shocks etc.
Click to expand...

I run 265/75 with no lift and no more than standard arch cutting and have had no problems with rubbing articulation etc. but decided not to post it on here before because every know it all thinks it wont work, will rub......... :blabla::blabla::blabla:

the main reason for rubbing imo (tried & tested personally and not read from some other forum ;) ) is the wheels you choose to use.

using standard wheels 265/75s didnt cause a major problem for me although i lost steering lock thanks to the larger rolling radius. Using wellers/modulars give the steering lock back but thanks to the larger offset they tend to rub the arches on articulation.

and before anyone says my current tyres are colway macho mts with between 12-17mm tread so they have plenty of life left :)
 
I have lifted my disco 2, and it handles better than it did before. I went for the heavy load kit with shocks and the disco rolls less and smoothes out the bumps better. The car has 140k on it and touch wood all seems well. I would recommend some extended brake hoses as well, especially if your ragging about off road. Different people will have differen experiences, but mine has been for the good. Plus you can find spaces in a car park easier! :cool2:
 
Ok so quite the mixed response from people on lifting the landy....well its certainly giving me cold feet. I must admit I have had numerous very capable jap offroaders and lived in africa and oz and done allot of expedition and bush work. With all these vehicles when we have replaced the suspension its allways been for slightly more travel, 2" mild lift and this has been no problem whatsoever in fact very normal. Is it such a big deal on land rovers as they just are not man enough engineering wise to handle the extra stress of being slightly taller. My main reason to upgrade the suspension is because the old is worn out, but I must admit it doesnt seam to have very much articulation on the stock springs, and sits much lower then other vehicles I've had and in fact the pajero my GF owns has more rear articlulation as standard! So thaught it would be an upgrade to improve the suspension.

How much clearance should there be on a standard setup between the wheel centre on a 235/70/16 and the wheel arch front and back, mines 19 and 18. If for example I go gor standard HD can I improve this, I definately want the vehicle at least level, if not higher at the rear. Is it possible to get 1" lefted springs, or spacers. Also can you run longer shocks with standard springs.....definatley thinking of changing my order tomo now!

Thanks for the advice no point doing what others have allready done, surprised how fragile the transmission is though for such a small mod.
 
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