Remote Adjustable Damping Idea!

I've been thinking about suspension all week for some reason and it has led me to this. Remote reservoir adjustable dampers for a Defender, unless I'm wrong this could be the ultimate shock set up for a Defender (please say if im wrong or mad ).

So Terrafirma do 'standard' shocks with adjustable damping, for a reasonable price, though not that much info about them plus bit of a pita to get in the wheel arch all the time to adjust the damping to suit the conditions you're in, especially if you're off road.

Fox/King/TF all do adjustable remote reservoir systems but you still have to adjust manually. Same issue as above just better suspension.

Bilstein do a "standard" set of remotely adjustable shocks, but they are not cheap and only have two settings soft or hard. Not ideal, especially considering the price!

However Tein do something called an EDFC, which from what I understand is a "bolt on" kit to adjust Tein coilovers. Which provides 16 - 32 levels of adjustable damping remotely.

Now here's my idea. Tein EDFC combined with Fox/King/TF remote reservoir shocks to give in cab adjustable damping at the touch of a button! Thing is no idea if the Tein system will fit anything else but Tein and it would be quite pricey to find out....

It may seem mad to do this to a Defender but I don't think so. Currently I've got +2 TF big bore shocks and their medium load springs, the shocks are brilliant on road. Greatly reduced body roll compared to standard and generally a very good ride, however when on bumpy terrain/speed bumps etc.. they are damn hard. So it would be nice to have softer shocks off road and harder ones on road.

If they work together probable be just shy of £1k for the shock set up alone but could give some excellent performance in all conditions.

So mental idea or decent one?

Very good idea.

I know a couple of people running adjustable shocks on Landies, none of them change anything after the initial setup. Why? you might ask. Ok, I'll tell you. 'cos they have to get to the remote adjuster, work it with a spanner or two, get back in and test the setting, then start again .. and they can't be arsed! A decent in-cab adjuster would be ideal if you're that way inclined, especially for a green laner, maybe less so for a racer.

Green laning often requires long road journeys, usually requiring harder suspension, followed by the soft stuff, usually requiring softer suspension. I know of no way to achieve this easily. People have tried with variable rate springs etc but they're a work-around at best.

Racing doesn't matter, you want soft suspension that increases rate so you don't bottom out, then it's set for the race, no point stopping just to change rebound (whatever) damping.

So yes, I'd consider a system for proper remote adjustable shocks, especially if you could also do something with the springs as a complete package!

Woooo I'm on to something!! Driving too and from P&Ps, Lanes and such is what made me think of this. I've tried soft suspension on road and its not pleasant, frightening sometimes, tried hard as as well and it is very uncomfortable. What I have now seems to be a decent compromise but still not ideal.

Currently trying to find out if anyone I know has the Tein EDFC system that I can take a look at see if they will fit Defender shocks.

As for springs am I right in thinking when you fit springs they should be able to take the entire load of the car without compressing too much if at all?

Yeah. An amount, <2" I'd say, of compression should be OK but so much depends on the load carried too. When I go laning, 'cos I'm usually leader and 'responsible' for the group, I carry a lot of kit, including about 40l water, spares, tools, etc. so a medium to hard spring works. A lighter vehicle or load can get away with surprisingly soft spring rates, so long as the dampers are in good condition and 'about right' ..

You do need some initial compression of suspension to achieve proper articulation of the suspension system .. Altering just one part isn't always a good idea, so considering 'just' the damping isn't a great option. That's why people like RAC exist, to change suspension geometry, for instance, or EMU to change spring rates.

Stand a shock vertically and it'll damp as softly as it can, lay it over a tad and it gets progressively harder ... similar to mounting the shocks further inboard or outboard of their usual mounts.

So much to consider ....

Very true! I've medium springs on the 110 based of good experiences with them on a medium loaded 90, (cage, sliders HD bits etc..) vastly improved the ride over standard. The 110 is a little "hard" at the minute as all the extra weight, cage mainly, hasnt been added. Though as soon as I put the swing away carrier & 285/75 spare on the ride was improved a fair bit. Much less bouncy!

It's a shame springs a such a pita to change! Or I'd try a different set every month! haha

I'd like to try some adjustable dampers I think @lightning is getting the TF adjustable ones shortly, be good to hear what he has to say. See it's worth the £800 set up!


Oooo! There are some Tein EDFC motors on ebay, used for £15, I shall purchase one to have a look. Then hopefully find some one with some adjustable shocks that wouldnt mind me having a good look!

The other way to go remote would be to make a bracket, bolt on some kind of a servo motor and a coupling connected to rotating switch gear, set to five functions in the cab, job's a good 'un ..

Good idea! Just building the bloody motor!

Bought the Tein motor, worth a punt to see if it will fit. Now to find some shocks to play with, hopefully someone will have some at the LRO Show.

bankz5152 said:

I've been thinking about suspension all week for some reason and it has led me to this. Remote reservoir adjustable dampers for a Defender, unless I'm wrong this could be the ultimate shock set up for a Defender (please say if im wrong or mad ).

So Terrafirma do 'standard' shocks with adjustable damping, for a reasonable price, though not that much info about them plus bit of a pita to get in the wheel arch all the time to adjust the damping to suit the conditions you're in, especially if you're off road.

Fox/King/TF all do adjustable remote reservoir systems but you still have to adjust manually. Same issue as above just better suspension.

Bilstein do a "standard" set of remotely adjustable shocks, but they are not cheap and only have two settings soft or hard. Not ideal, especially considering the price!

However Tein do something called an EDFC, which from what I understand is a "bolt on" kit to adjust Tein coilovers. Which provides 16 - 32 levels of adjustable damping remotely.

Now here's my idea. Tein EDFC combined with Fox/King/TF remote reservoir shocks to give in cab adjustable damping at the touch of a button! Thing is no idea if the Tein system will fit anything else but Tein and it would be quite pricey to find out....

It may seem mad to do this to a Defender but I don't think so. Currently I've got +2 TF big bore shocks and their medium load springs, the shocks are brilliant on road. Greatly reduced body roll compared to standard and generally a very good ride, however when on bumpy terrain/speed bumps etc.. they are damn hard. So it would be nice to have softer shocks off road and harder ones on road.

If they work together probable be just shy of £1k for the shock set up alone but could give some excellent performance in all conditions.

So mental idea or decent one?

Click to expand...

Sounds like a cool setup, but tbh I think it's over kill. Most people do not have the skill set, time, ability or inclination to set suspension up correctly. Plus you'd need to spend hours and hours on R&D by trial and error. 32 settings, sounds like that could take months to complete on various terrain types, temps, speeds and tyres being used.

I suspect something like 95-98% of the people who buy adjustable shocks for any vehicle, don't end up adjusting them. And half of the remaining people probably just go extreme to extreme thinking they are optimising their setup, but without the ability or tooling to measure the actual effects of the changes.

Very good point and very true.

16 or 32 settings, the Tein system comes with presets which can be used so at least youre not starting from 0 as it where.

Personally id want very soft, a nice middle ground (comfort) and a hard set up. Not that much work to set up. Plus you can adjust on the fly so makes life easier.

As PaulD said most people that have adjustable dont adjust them because they cant be assed. This idea removes that issue!

It is a bit OTT but its an idea. Id like to keep my 110 until I cant, so working on things to make it better in the long run.

I know people that have fitted £4k air suspension and the like so its not that mad! Haha

Paul D said:

The other way to go remote would be to make a bracket, bolt on some kind of a servo motor and a coupling connected to rotating switch gear, set to five functions in the cab, job's a good 'un ..

Click to expand...

You could rig the actuator through a laser terrain sensor so it automatically senses ground conditions. Its only a short jump then to a simple logarithm programme linked to a weather site and the car could set itself up for the week ahead.
If you then add servos to steering, brakes and accelerator, a simple cctv unit will render the drivers seat redundant as you can drive it via an x station boy console.
Not sure if the Flux mob would insure it mind

Bobsticle said:

You could rig the actuator through a laser terrain sensor so it automatically senses ground conditions. Its only a short jump then to a simple logarithm programme linked to a weather site and the car could set itself up for the week ahead.
If you then add servos to steering, brakes and accelerator, a simple cctv unit will render the drivers seat redundant as you can drive it via an x station boy console.
Not sure if the Flux mob would insure it mind

Click to expand...

Your not taking this seriously are you?

Col

Bob may have taken it a tad far