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quentin



Member Since: 23 Jul 2012
Location: on tour
Posts: 119

Australia 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Alpine White
polyair rear springs / Puma
with referance to the post about lifting a Puma here http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic14623.html
the general consensus it is not a good idea to raise the ride height of a Puma

But there are times you need to carry a large weight & the standard suspension is not adequate.

Thats where Polyair Springs or Firestone Coil-rite springs come into their own. Once fitted the Defender rides as if on original suspension until you jack it up by filling the airbags from a regular schraeder valve.

Im no engineer but the top retainer plate that comes with the Defender polyair kit is a JOKE,

Image below shows standard polyair top retainer plate that comes with the kit (on LEFT) It is supposed to bolt to the TOP of the spring support - which is stupid, It should go underneath. (Plus the spring would rub thru the bolts)
My idea is to cut out a plate that sits under the top mount using the 130 inner spring retainer as a template, You can tell I'm no engineer by the way Ive hacked at the retaining plate with an angle grinder (where theres a will theres a way)

Click image to enlarge


Step 2

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Test fit

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All fitted up

Click image to enlarge


For all intents & purposes Polyair Springs & Firestone Coil rites are the same thing, but Polyairs are REd & Firestones are Blue, they sit inside your standard Defender coil spring.

Click image to enlarge


schraeder valves on rear, pump up with a normal tyre pump

Click image to enlarge


for about $250-$300 its much cheaper than a lift kit and wont wreck your puma.
you dont have to drill any holes in your car either

(you might have noticed my Salisbury & realised I don't have a Puma at all but for the argument everything else is identical to my Td5 )
Post #163721 22nd Aug 2012 3:03pm
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farmer giles



Member Since: 09 Feb 2011
Location: worcestershire
Posts: 1299

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Cairns Blue
i really like that idea.

i do agree that lift kits only make sense on comp vehicles in my opinion, but stiffening the suspension when a heavy load is being carried make a lot of sense.

i don't believe that any commercial users have lift kits in their fleets - mod; utility companies; forestry commission etc - and they can be carrying heavy payloads on difficult terrain.
Post #163897 23rd Aug 2012 7:19am
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Naks



Member Since: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Stellenbosch, ZA
Posts: 2640

South Africa 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Alpine White
You can also cross-link the airbags with a manual tap for better off-road performance.

This way when you're on a trail and the left wheel is pushed up, the right will be forced down.

Friend of mine has done this and is very happy. --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ
Post #163911 23rd Aug 2012 9:42am
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Surrey Rover



Member Since: 20 Dec 2010
Location: Surrey
Posts: 360

That might be useful:


Click image to enlarge

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Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated Mr. Green  Nick

2.2 110 Tipper
Post #163916 23rd Aug 2012 10:20am
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mrandmrsh



Member Since: 31 May 2010
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 692

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
Re: polyair rear springs / Puma
quentin wrote:
schraeder valves on rear, pump up with a normal tyre pump

Click image to enlarge


Off Topic but is that the Land Rover AU standard 2" receiver set-up you have there?

Regards
Craig 2015 110 USW XS in Santorini with premium contrast leather seats in tan/black, black headlining and with Dual Finish alloys (in the garage, now on Wolf rims with Goodyear MT/Rs)

2012 '62' 2.2 X-Tech 110 USW now gone ...
1984 90 soft top with full roll cage, 200 tdi engine etc now sold
2012 USW XS 2.2 "FUU" now gone....
Post #163945 23rd Aug 2012 12:32pm
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quentin



Member Since: 23 Jul 2012
Location: on tour
Posts: 119

Australia 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Alpine White
Re: polyair rear springs / Puma
mrandmrsh wrote:
quentin wrote:
schraeder valves on rear, pump up with a normal tyre pump

Click image to enlarge


Off Topic but is that the Land Rover AU standard 2" receiver set-up you have there?

Regards
Craig


Yes thats the Landrover AU supplied tow bar, The other common style is the Hayman Reese which has a straight 2" square bar going across under the tank instead of the curved round LR version. For some reason when you look up LR Australia website & look at current model towing options they show the UK version which does not get fitted here, Meybe it dosent meet the Au standard ?? are the UK bars rated at 3500kg ??
Post #163946 23rd Aug 2012 12:43pm
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BigWheels



Member Since: 21 Mar 2010
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1405

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
The OP mentioned Firestone Coil-rite springs. Are they better than Polyair? More expensive? Land Rover Defenders. 67 years heritage, minimal appearance changes, still going strong all over the world. Not a fashion vehicle, but fashionable to own. Made for the needy, not the greedy. Ta ta Defender
Post #164709 27th Aug 2012 12:28pm
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