In a nutshell the answer is no, not unless you have very deep pockets.... I looked into this very same thing a while ago and was unable to find an off theshelf kit containing longer springs/shocks/struts. However I did find one thing out, seemingly the Freelander struts bare a resemblence to ford focus struts, and seemingly it would be possible to make ford focus coilover units "Fit" a freelander, with a bit of precision fabrication...(read mega £££)
And another things I forgot to mention, part of the rational of doing the "body lift" spacers type of lift kit is that while you put the vehicle two inches higher, and improve ground clearance approach, departure and rampover angles not to mention the overall "stance" / appearance of the vehicle, you don't change the position on the springs and shocks that the vehicle rides on so you dont actually change the day to day driving characteristics all that much. you literally have only made it higher up - assuming you use the camber pins the vendors of these spacers recommend to put your camber back to rights so as to negate the lifted vehicle's new found negative camber and its disastrous effects on handling and tyre wear.
It will probably surprise you just what a freelander - even at standard ride height - with bigger knobbly tyres is actually capable of. My freelander runs 225/75/16 (29" diamater) Kumho KL71 very agressive very sticky mud tyres [Standard wheel size on a freelander 1 is 215/70/16 - 26" diameter] - so theres an inch and a half of extra ground clearance not to mention the improve capabilities of the tyres compared to the standard road tyres the vehicle comes with. With just the tyres I can get my freelander places that her discovery 1 300tdi wtih BFG all terrains can't get even with centre diff lock engaged....
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
The limiting factor for fitting large wheel/ tyre combos is the spring seat on the shocks. There isn't much clearance, even when stand wheel sizes are used. To over come this problem, wheel spacers are sometimes fitted.
I've thought about cutting the spring seat off it's welds and rewelding further up the tube. There is however an element of risk as the struts are gas pressurised.
I've thought about cutting the spring seat off it's welds and rewelding further up the tube. There is however an element of risk as the struts are gas pressurised.
