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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665   
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Surely it must be possible to get the Defender to have as good a ride as a Discovery2 (coil sprung)?
My last Land Rover was a 2002 Discovery 2 td5, the on-tarmac ride was a lot better, and that's with coil springs (not SRS) and with ACE removed (i.e. pretty similar). Although the Defender ride is OK by me, it can get a bit choppy. The Disco did drive a bit better on rough tarmac. Not sure about the offroad ability tho, but I would guess broadly similar... Wouldn't it be reasonable to be able to find a shock/spring setup to make the roads a bit comfier without ruining offroad capability? My Mrs does keep asking, and I have been watching this thread hoping for a resolution...  Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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25th Nov 2011 7:10pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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I think that the problem with comparisons with a DII is that they are a heavier vehicle with a smaller payload. That means the suspension set-up doesn't have to allow for such wide gap between kerb weight and gross weight. My wifes' DII (admittedly with SLS and ACE) has a much more supple ride over things like speed bumps and doesn't roll as much in corners, but I'm much more conscious of the mass of the vehicle than in the 110.
The DII does feel more jittery over smaller surface irregularities, but I put that down to the fact it's done 141k and is probably on its' original shocks 
I've got a full set of Koni shocks to fit to my 110 as soon as I get the time, which on past experience I'm expecting good things of. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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25th Nov 2011 8:14pm |
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| bm52 Member Since: 04 Apr 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 2189 
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As i have mentioned before even over speed bumps standard road springs and quality shocks [koni for me] provide an overall good ride comparable to an FL1.
the only other thing i have been thinking about are the rubber rings that sit on top of RR springs etc, think they could be a good idea to soften some of the 'shock' but i don't know whether there are any for a Defender or whether they would work. Anyone? BM52 |
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25th Nov 2011 8:57pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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There's no reason why they shouldn't fit a 90, but 110 rear springs are of a larger diameter. Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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25th Nov 2011 9:04pm |
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| fishrider Member Since: 01 Dec 2010 Location: Cornwall Posts: 79 
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That's what I read too , for the 90 as the spring diameter is smaller than the 110. So it rules out disco or RR springs 110 HT TD5 - 110 XS SW Puma
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25th Nov 2011 9:12pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665
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My 110 USW seems to have a bigger problem at the back than the front. Loading seems to improve things (as does lowering the tyre pressures...but that decreases MPG). LandRoverAnorak - it would be really good if you were (a big ask I know) to fit the rears first, and then all 4, to see where the biggest improvement is...?
We drove 150 miles yesterday, and currently staying in Morroch Bay (the 4x4-accessible self-catering place http://morroch-bay.com/ ). The roads in SW Scotland are a bit rough in places...although we had a bit of load in (MTB's & weekend luggage for self-catering) the ride was still choppy...MrsK was moaning like mad about the ride quality by the time we got here I think I need to do something soon to ensure she stays happy to be in the Defender...  Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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26th Nov 2011 8:42am |
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| MK Member Since: 28 Aug 2008 Location: Santiago Posts: 2415  
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I got the Disco rubber isolators in front of my 110" for lifting purposes and honestly I don`t feel the difference in smoothness. Well, I use OME751 spings in front which a bit stiffer than OE springs. IMHO Defender`s suspension is great and behaves better off road than going-to-the-mall roads. Puma 110" SW ............................................................. Earth first. Other planets later |
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26th Nov 2011 9:23am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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Yeah, USW's are at the extreme end of what I was saying about the big difference between kerb and gross weights. I don't know, off-hand, if the springs are different to those on SW's, but even if not you're starting form an even lower kerb weight, particularly over the back axle.
I'll see what I can do It will depend on whether I have time to do them myself or have to pay somebody else. If the latter, they'll all go on at once.
One of the big advantages of Koni's, apart form the inherent quality, is that they are adjustable. They can be set on installation to be either soft, medium or firm. On my old 300tdi Discovery, I was advised to have the fronts set to soft and the rears to firm, which was with a view to being loaded for overlanding. I also fitted OEM HD rear springs. I found that when loaded in that way, it performed perfectly. When the back was empty though, it was a little bit crashy, but that was an acceptable compromise from trying to make it do everything. On the 110, I plan to set them soft on the front again (no heavy winch set-up) but on the rear I'm going to try them on medium with standard springs and see how it goes. Another advantage on the Disco was that body rollwas reduced, so I'm hoping to get a similar effect on the 110, too. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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26th Nov 2011 9:46am |
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| szracer Member Since: 10 Oct 2010 Location: Cotswolds Posts: 356  
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Well, from my experience with my 110 USW, it's the back springs that need the most tweaking to improve the ride when lightly laden. There's already a lot of weight at the front!
And, as has already been mentioned, tyre pressures make a huge difference. I ignore the LR recommended pressures of 36/48, and run mine on 30/40. Only downside to running them at this is slightly faster tyre wear.... 
2010 110 XS USW (the slow one) 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ (the fast one) 2005 Ducati ST3 1954 Sunbeam S8 |
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26th Nov 2011 12:21pm |
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| bm52 Member Since: 04 Apr 2010 Location: Kent Posts: 2189
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When i fitted my Koni Heavy Track i was advised to fit them front and rear at the soft setting and only adjust to medium or stiffer if they start getting weaker or if carrying very heavy loads!
i have front and rear on soft and they absorb potholes, speed humps etc very well. BM52 |
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26th Nov 2011 5:40pm |
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| df1 Member Since: 06 Aug 2011 Location: Ireland Posts: 221 |
I fitted Bilsteins to the back of my 110 recently and honestly could see no difference from originals.
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26th Nov 2011 6:54pm |
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| T1G UP Member Since: 08 Dec 2009 Location: Bath Posts: 3101 
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doubt you will, the springs are HD so unladen will be way to hard |
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26th Nov 2011 8:13pm |
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| Graham S Member Since: 26 Jul 2011 Location: Hampshire Posts: 3 
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My 110XS SW as supplied had triple rate springs on the rear and dual rate on the front. The LR HD's now fitted are I believe linear rate, which with the Bilsteins, for me are a class act and make the vehicle a pleasant long distance drive.
I believe its the non linear rate springs that contributed to what was for me a jittery ride when unladen, compounded by the dynamics of the standard shocks. I had a D2 fitted with ACE for some time. I changed the spring/damper set up for LR HD springs (F) and Bilsteins (F/R). Again a very good result. The D2 did have a more supple ride than the 110 has now, however that is probably because of D2's ACE and air suspension at the rear. Its also probably reasonable to expect a firmer ride on Defender 110 with factory anti roll bars fitted, as they increase the effective spring rate, compared to D2/ACE, which disconnects them when not needed, which is probably why ACE was invented...add in air suspension... watts linkage.... Just reminded myself...It was becauase of all that complexity that I went to a Defender! |
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27th Nov 2011 9:55pm |
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| BigMike Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2253
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Not really - the disco has bushes between the body and the chassis whereas the defender body is bolted straight to the chassis, hence the tough ride. There's only so much you can do with the suspension and you can't get around the body/chassis issue. |
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28th Nov 2011 12:39am |
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