Lift Kit Measurements

Morning all... Hope everyone is keeping safe and well.

A while ago while looking into the much talked about (and tormented) freelander lift kits I came across a post that had the measurements to make said lift kit.

Now I've a lot of time on my hands at the min and fancied giving fabricating these a go but I can't find the link or original post anywhere. Could any of you lovely people point me in the right direction please

Ta very muchly indeed

Update... I found the post I was after which turned out to be for a Freelander 2 (bugger!!!) Now without like too much of a f***tard... Are the top of the shocks different for the FL1 and FL2?

Adwilko88 said:

I found the post I was after which turned out to be for a Freelander 2 (bugger!!!)

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You could always ask Warren of Muddy mods? Although he's more likely to want to sell you one of his lift kits.

Adwilko88 said:

Are the top of the shocks different for the FL1 and FL2?

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No. Completely different vehicle.

I had a feeling of that haha... Ive sourced a second hand kit off a fella on here then in going to get some new tyres and see what she can do haha. Currently trying to work out how much higher she will be

Adwilko88 said:

Ive sourced a second hand kit off a fella on here then in going to get some new tyres and see what she can do

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Don't buy the 50mm lift kit, unless you're good at cutting metal and re-welding. A 40mm kit just fits, without cutting the structure of the vehicle, but you will need to swap the steering arms side to side.

Adwilko88 said:

Currently trying to work out how much higher she will be

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The lift kit height plus any extra tyre height. Maybe 3 inches higher at a guess.

Swap the steering arms? Trying not to sound like a fool but what does that achieve? Im guessing maybe some kind or orientation?

As can see in my other thread I'm having more trouble with tyre size im thinking 235/70/16 or the 205/80/16.

Any ideas which would be a preferred method purely for height gain?

Adwilko88 said:

Trying not to sound like a fool but what does that achieve?

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Swapping the arms puts the track rod end locking bolt on the top, so it doesn't catch on the inner wing on full droop.

Adwilko88 said:

Any ideas which would be a preferred method purely for height gain?

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Why are you wanting all this extra height?
With something like a FL1, it's more to do with compromise, over super high height. The higher you go, the worse it is on the road, and the shorter the life of the suspension and driveshafts.

The Freelander works well in most situations the way it is, only needed decent tyres to maintain off road grip. There's little point in going with super sized tyres, if they're cheap rubbish.

Spend some money on a set of Yokohama Geolanders, which will get you where you want to go, without compromising the vehicle's on road ability.

Or keep it stock and put a good set of tyres on it.
@Hippo had good success offroad with his stock FL1.

Nodge68 said:

Swapping the arms puts the track rod end locking bolt on the top, so it doesn't catch on the inner wing on full droop.

Why are you wanting all this extra height?
With something like a FL1, it's more to do with compromise, over super high height. The higher you go, the worse it is on the road, and the shorter the life of the suspension and driveshafts.

The Freelander works well in most situations the way it is, only needed decent tyres to maintain off road grip. There's little point in going with super sized tyres, if they're cheap rubbish.

Spend some money on a set of Yokohama Geolanders, which will get you where you want to go, without compromising the vehicle's on road ability.

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I've got to be honest... Pure looks I'm afraid. I use my Freelander for going shooting as was a freebie when my parents got rid of it and I just liked the idea of making it bigger. I've looked into going offroad with it and I'd really like to give it a try I just don't really know how to get into it or know anyone who does it around me. I tried before to fond people but draw a blank.

It currently has Event ML698 tyres on it but there what my parents had fitted about 100 years ago by the looks of them but seemed to have a decent tread pattern so figured I'd fit the same just a bit bigger... If I got into offroading though I'd merit decent tyres. Being a Yorkshireman I'm tight as a bears arse when comes to spending money

The original BFG all terrains have the same tread pattern, but last a ridiculously long amount of time,I'm presuming the new ones will last as long? Might be worth ponying up for decent tyres, even being yorkshire kind of tight... A number of years ago a yorky rig sparky I used to work with, when arguing with management about them being tight, (oh the irony), used to tell our management " t' greedy man pays twice".

Haha... These my parents fitted have literally lasted about 4 years but then again the most terrain it saw was Meadowhall Car Park upper level so long as the weather was decent. Hint of rain and it went under cover doing laps until a space became available... Then I got it and the first thing I did was drive it over the field at the back of my house

Adwilko88 said:

I've got to be honest... Pure looks I'm afraid.

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If it's just for looks, then don't buy the 50mm lift kit, as fitting it is a PITA, with metal cutting and bashing needed, and then welding required to make good the cut steel, also fit longer brake hoses, and swap the steering arms.

You can fit the 40mm kit, but you still need to reverse the steering arms, and probably fit longer brake hoses too.

Also for looks, don't fit narrow tyres, as they look ridiculous. Go for 225 or 235 section tyres, but keep the diameter to 29" or just under.

I'm not a fan of 16" wheels myself with oversized tyres, preferring the 18" wheels with 235/55/18 tyres Cooper tyres. These give me a lots of grip (most important for me) and are also quiet on the road.
I can't be doing with noise, vibration and questionable wet grip, from aggressive AT or mud tyres, especially as a Freelander goes where I need, on decent regular tyres.

Nodge68 said:

If it's just for looks, then don't buy the 50mm lift kit, as fitting it is a PITA, with metal cutting and bashing needed, and then welding required to make good the cut steel, also fit longer brake hoses, and swap the steering arms.

You can fit the 40mm kit, but you still need to reverse the steering arms, and probably fit longer brake hoses too.

Also for looks, don't fit narrow tyres, as they look ridiculous. Go for 225 or 235 section tyres, but keep the diameter to 29" or just under.

I'm not a fan of 16" wheels myself with oversized tyres, preferring the 18" wheels with 235/55/18 tyres Cooper tyres. These give me a lots of grip (most important for me) and are also quiet on the road.
I can't be doing with noise, vibration and questionable wet grip, from aggressive AT or mud tyres, especially as a Freelander goes where I need, on decent regular tyres.

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Yeah I've seen a few posts on here saying the 50mm lift is a PITA and I found a bug in here selling a 40mm kit in hoping to make a deal on.

So would 235/70/16 fit without any problems for definite? If I get them and get fitted then need spacers ill not be favour of the month with the other half is all if I could get into going road id take your advise and maybe get the larger wheel and tyre set up but ATM I have 16inch wheels to coat in a rubber that will fit best haha

There is another recent thread about tyresizes elsewhere, but 205/80/16 or 225/75/16 or 235/70/16 are all ~29" diameter overall and do fit without spacers. I've personally ran the last two sizes on standard 16" alloy wheels without spacers without issues.

Hapoy days... 235/70/16 it is then. Made me nervous that on other posts people have said they rub but since you've run them with no issues I think an order for 4 will be placed shortly. Then suppose I best change the spare aswell

The 225/75/16 are ~1/4" taller, and clear fine, heres a picture of mine on 225/75/16 Kumho KL71's with lift kit, without wheel spacers.

We used the same wheel comparison chart haha... Don't suppose you have any pics with the 235/70/16 fitted? Getting spacers if really close isn't a problem just need them on and turning so have the use of both vehicles

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/how-to-fit-a-50mm-lift-kit.307452/
Nodge has mentioned longer brake hoses but I don't recall that being a problem, I had to replace some because they crumbled during the upgrade.
You may find the front drive shaft boots don't last long as they are much more strained, if so factor in the cost/hassle of replacing them and maybe also replacing the front drive shafts with OEM as aftermarket will not work. They are a poor substitute on a standard car but with a lift kit will give unacceptable vibration.

My FL1 was standard oft road. I did once change the tires to a rougher pattern but the FL suspension can't take out the rougher tread pattern so yer hear and feel the tread. Making a fantastic all round vehicle horrid to drive on road.

Never bothered with lifting as i personally don't agree with it on safety. Little gain for the effort anorl. Fitting larger tires next time they're due for replacement is the cheaper option. More options available in 16 inch wheel.

I got into oft roading by going to pay and play sites. Pay about £20 or £25 to get in and drive round for the day. I always checked them out on youtube first to see what they were like. Terrain varies. Pick the correct route and take it slowly and yer be surprised what a standard FL can do. Sadly a number of sites have closed. At a PnP day if yer get stuck theres others about to tow yer out. Don't ever go out on a lane on yer own as if yer get stuck its too difficult to pull out on yer own by hand

Standard FL1 with different tires, normal size:

Bala 4x4 Land Rover Freelander 1 v6 Off Road