Disco 2 Shock and spring upgrade help needed!

hi,

I’m sure there’s a post on this exact topic on here somewhere (cue someone replying with a link) but despite the search functions being back online I can’t find it, so here goes....

I’m looking to “upgrade” the stock springs (rear was air, with ace but has been converted to spring & ace before me purchasing) and shocks on my 2002 discovery 2 to something’s more off-road capable. I only really use the car for light off-road (in woodland) at present but am planning to do more with it when I’m happy with condition etc.

I like the look/sound/reviews etc of the Terrafirma All Terrain shocks (any thoughts?) but don’t want to any more lift at the moment. So my very novice question is; which shocks and springs do I need to get to replace “like for like”?

Sorry for the potentially daft question and thanks for any help/advice.

Back refit air
Front new OEM?

MJI said:

Back refit air
Front new OEM?

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This. Air is far superior to coils, all day every day.

Front springs I agree with OEM - they are so cheap it's rude not to.

I have some terrafirma shocks ..... I wouldn't buy them again.

MJI said:

Back refit air
Front new OEM?

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OK, wasn't expecting that!

Happy to stick with OEM on the front as they're cheap and looks (fairly) simple to do.

On the back I'm not sure why the air was replaced in the first place. If its just the air "springs" then I can stretch to that but if the compressor has gone that sounds like an expensive fix to me. I'm guessing that only plugging it into a nanocom (which I don't have) or similar will tell me that won't it?

Thnaks for the help!

There is little wrong with the standard suspension.

I have not yet grounded or got stuck, only ploughed once with towbar.

Anything mild standard vehicle is fine.

If not sufficient try different tyres.

One problem with lifts is they do not change the ground clearance for diffs.

Slightly bigger tyres may need a lift, but best spread between body and suspension.

Original air was probably removed due to a minor fault that "someone" did not understand !

There is, literally, a mass of info on here about the system......

Disco1BFG said:

Original air was probably removed due to a minor fault that "someone" did not understand !

There is, literally, a mass of info on here about the system......

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Either that or a previous owner was told by "that bloke down the pub" that it was the thing to do.

Disco1BFG said:

Original air was probably removed due to a minor fault that "someone" did not understand !

There is, literally, a mass of info on here about the system......

Click to expand...

Based on the condition of the vehicle on closer inspection after purchasing the previous owner treated it to a healthy does of neglect fairly regularly!

I'll have a proper search on the forum as I really need to find out how to make sure that all the air components "will" work before I go down the route of buying parts and fitting .

I can honestly say I haven't missed air one bit since I switched to coils. It might be different if I was still towing our caravan or the horse trailer or needing 2" of lift off-road. But for 99% of everyday standard driving there is no difference between coils or air springs, apart from hissing.

brianconwy said:

I can honestly say I haven't missed air one bit since I switched to coils. It might be different if I was still towing our caravan or the horse trailer or needing 2" of lift off-road. But for 99% of everyday standard driving there is no difference between coils or air springs, apart from hissing.

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Most of my driving will be off-road, albeit not aggressive yet just woodland tracks so while I want it to handle on road it’s the off-road handling that’s most important.

That said the 12mm of rain today has left me with a very wet headliner (front under the visors and round to grab handles above both front doors) so think fixing that may be my more important task.... bloody thing!!

02Disco2 said:

Most of my driving will be off-road, albeit not aggressive yet just woodland tracks so while I want it to handle on road it’s the off-road handling that’s most important.

That said the 12mm of rain today has left me with a very wet headliner (front under the visors and round to grab handles above both front doors) so think fixing that may be my more important task.... bloody thing!!

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Check the drains and make sure still attached to the sunroof

MJI said:

Check the drains and make sure still attached to the sunroof

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Yeah that’s my plan but the sunroof is electric, and doesn’t work. So until I start taking it apart I’m not 100% sure how to tackle that obstacle! Everything I’ve read on the sunroof fix assumes you can open it!

02Disco2 said:

Yeah that’s my plan but the sunroof is electric, and doesn’t work. So until I start taking it apart I’m not 100% sure how to tackle that obstacle! Everything I’ve read on the sunroof fix assumes you can open it!

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They can be manually wound with a screwdriver, but if neglected possibly rusty mechanism

MJI said:

They can be manually wound with a screwdriver, but if neglected possibly rusty mechanism

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Ok thanks, will give that a go when this rain stops and Noah has sailed away in his ark!

MJI said:

Check the drains and make sure still attached to the sunroof

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Drains were lose and pipes snapped off Replaced with new metal drains, sealed pipes and added lots of silicone and a new sunroof seal! And fixed the "broken" sunroof motor with a Liberal coating of WD40 and grease

Come on rain....

02Disco2 said:

Drains were lose and pipes snapped off Replaced with new metal drains, sealed pipes and added lots of silicone and a new sunroof seal! And fixed the "broken" sunroof motor with a Liberal coating of WD40 and grease

Come on rain....

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Brilliant!

I ought to get new drains for mine but the exopy resin glued in plastic tube worked perfectly 4 years ago

Well sunroof is all good and not leaking anymore but a quick update to this thread, still relevant don't worry!

My lovely wife has decided to buy a roof rack and roof tent for the discovery and with that all weighing in at about 90kg I'm thinking that I need to get some more substantial springs, front and back.. (sticking with cool F&R at the moment )

Driving through the woods today (reasonably steep incline and decline) I managed to plough with the towbar a few times even without the towbar and me + 1 adult so having extra weight on top worries me.

I don't really think want get to get lifts but only because I don't want to change other parts to accommodate this (do I have to?). Assume I'd need to change at least shocks?

Can I get HD std height springs and would I need to change shocks?

Thanks in advance!!

02Disco2 said:

Well sunroof is all good and not leaking anymore but a quick update to this thread, still relevant don't worry!

My lovely wife has decided to buy a roof rack and roof tent for the discovery and with that all weighing in at about 90kg I'm thinking that I need to get some more substantial springs, front and back.. (sticking with cool F&R at the moment )

Driving through the woods today (reasonably steep incline and decline) I managed to plough with the towbar a few times even without the towbar and me + 1 adult so having extra weight on top worries me.

I don't really think want get to get lifts but only because I don't want to change other parts to accommodate this (do I have to?). Assume I'd need to change at least shocks?

Can I get HD std height springs and would I need to change shocks?

Thanks in advance!!

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That's a typical reason why the air suspension on the back is a good idea. You load up the roof rack and when you start-up the suspension reacts and levels itself. With a roof rack, most of the weight will be towards the rear of the vehicle anyway.

Just as the other members, @MJI and @Disco1BFG have recommended, refit the air system.

As long as you don't go over the gross vehicle weight of 2800 kg then there isn't any problem. The main problem being totally overlooked here s the weight the roof rails can support. I might be wrong but I seem to remember it is around 75kg. Above that you will need to fita roof rack system that fastens to the gutters. Might be cheaper to get a trailer rather than have all that weight so high up.

brianconwy said:

As long as you don't go over the gross vehicle weight of 2800 kg then there isn't any problem. The main problem being totally overlooked here s the weight the roof rails can support. I might be wrong but I seem to remember it is around 75kg. Above that you will need to fita roof rack system that fastens to the gutters. Might be cheaper to get a trailer rather than have all that weight so high up.

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Sorry, I probably should have been clearer re the roof rack. It does fit to the gutters, not the rails - bad terminology on my part