 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > polyair rear springs / Puma |
 
|
|
|
| quentin Member Since: 23 Jul 2012 Location: on tour Posts: 119   
|
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 Click image to enlarge Test fit Click image to enlarge 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 ) |
||
22nd Aug 2012 3:03pm |
|
| farmer giles Member Since: 09 Feb 2011 Location: worcestershire Posts: 1299 
|
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. |
||
|
23rd Aug 2012 7:19am |
|
| Naks Member Since: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Stellenbosch, ZA Posts: 2638  
|
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 |
||
|
23rd Aug 2012 9:42am |
|
| mrandmrsh Member Since: 31 May 2010 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 692  
|
 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.... |
||
|
23rd Aug 2012 12:32pm |
|
| quentin Member Since: 23 Jul 2012 Location: on tour Posts: 119
|
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 ?? |
||
|
23rd Aug 2012 12:43pm |
|
| BigWheels Member Since: 21 Mar 2010 Location: Somerset Posts: 1405 
|
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
|
||
|
27th Aug 2012 12:28pm |
|
|
|
| All times are GMT |
< Previous Topic | Next Topic > |
Posting Rules
|
Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
