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LoveB

Member Since: 14 Apr 2013
Location: Uk
Posts: 38

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Orkney Grey

Should I +50mm lift or no??

Essentially I just want a bit more flex. I've never actually found myself in a situation where I thought 'gee I wish I had a bit more flex'... even with wheels in the air I dont really think wish that tyre was on the floor lol but I wouldnt mind it.

was thinking koni raids or something. what do you guys suggest? have been told TF is no good but the ones that came with my disco 1 seemed ok. dont want to go more than 50mm/2 inches. I might just be wanting it cause of the 33's I just put on but I suppose the main question is, is it worth doing anyhow?

13th Aug 2015 10:34am

K9F

Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

Do you offroad/greenlane?

I also have large wheel/tryre combo which equates to 33" and have thought the same as you. Ultimately 6 years later having spent the money on other things it is a decision I did not regret not having it done. Are you considering it 'because you 'need or rather want' it? Mine was a desire for the latter. You may also wish to consider castor correction which can inflate the cost further with a 2" lift?

Very much a personal choice I feel.

Click image to enlarge If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!

13th Aug 2015 10:39am

need4speed

Member Since: 23 Nov 2012
Location: Kilmarnock
Posts: 746

It depends what your trying to achieve.

If it's a lift mainly in order to fit larger wheels/tyres, then a 2" will not only suffice but be a lot cheaper. A 2" lift is within the range of standard trailing/radius arms. A 5" lift is most definitely not.

The main point to remember here (and a point a lot of people forget) is the fact that no amount of suspension lift gains you clearance under the axles. Only larger tyres, or a portal axle conversion does that...

13th Aug 2015 10:53am

LoveB

Member Since: 14 Apr 2013
Location: Uk
Posts: 38

Yes I do a bit of offroading. but heck, before I put my tires and snorkel on (ive not even found the use for the snorkel yet LOL)

my only mods were a 2nd hand set of side steps.

moreso want than need then. I wouldnt mind more flex - but at the same time I dont get my wheels off the ground every time.

I know I'll need to atleast change springs at one point. i want to add a winch in time which will sag the front. hence why I thought should I get a 50mm lift or should I jsut get HD springs or something.

even when I fit 33x12.5 wheels/tyres it didnt rub unless it was on full flex.

and the funny thing - the only time ive been bogged was when I had 33x12.5 on.. when I drove through the same hole earlier with my standard wheels and did it again and again

Maybe I shoudl just go crazy and get portals? I'm not sure how much livers sell for these days though!

but yes, all in all, more need than want. I dont thin kthe 33's will wreck anything. would be good to get more downward travel. so maybe just HD springs and longer travel shocks or?

13th Aug 2015 10:54am

K9F

Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

need4speed wrote:
...... A 2" lift is within the range of standard trailing/radius arms. ...

Interesting how views differ.....here are a couple of responses from my thread on the same subject.......

A resounding "NO!"

big steve wrote:
simon from devon 4x4 would sugest you dont need any sort of castor correction on a 2 inch lift ?

regards steve

Followed by a "YES YOU DO!"

BigMike wrote:
K9, what's the reason for the lift? If you already have HD springs etc what will it achieve? in terms of degrees it wont neccessarily be 3 degrees, it ll depend on how you lift it using what components. Are your HD springs OEM or aftermarket? if the latter, you may find already that you have a lift. It's easy to tell, just measure from the top to the bottom of the spring. Standard (on a unladen 90 anyway) when on the vehicle itself are 300mm. If yours are any longer that's the amount of your lift. Not sure what they are on a 110

and yes, you will need correction arms.

No idea where Simon from Devon 4x4 is coming from with that steve, there is a marked difference in the arms, you can just kneel down and see the change in angle and its effect on the bushes. Plus, 2" on the front and you'll probably need a double cardon prop, depends on if you feel vibration of not but at 2", its likely.

ETA - your radius arms might need doing as well. It's a lot of money really just to lift your truck a bit unless there is a good reason (a good reason to you of course)

I suppose the confliction may have been a contributing factor why I binned the idea. Both comments were made by respected and knowledgable forum members.

Forgot to add about extending brake hoses it all soon adds up to a considerable amount!

If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!

Last edited by K9F on 13th Aug 2015 11:08am. Edited 1 time in total

13th Aug 2015 10:58am

need4speed

Member Since: 23 Nov 2012
Location: Kilmarnock
Posts: 746

People who own/run businesses are always going to push for the sale.

I'm only going by personal experience whereby 2 of my friends both have 2" lifts in order to fit larger tyres. 1 is an OME lift and the other is a Terrafirma light duty lift. None have experienced any trouble regarding accelerated ware in the trailing/radius arm bushes.

1 experienced prop vibration but it turned out that was due to a worn UJ.

13th Aug 2015 11:07am

K9F

Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

need4speed wrote:
People who own/run businesses are always going to push for the sale. .

Really?

The "NO" came from someone at Devon 4X4 if you read it correctly who was obviously not pushing for any sale whatsoever?

If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!

13th Aug 2015 11:09am

need4speed

Member Since: 23 Nov 2012
Location: Kilmarnock
Posts: 746

Lol fair point regarding Simon

My personal view would be try without. It's no biggie if you find you do need to fir castor corrected arms in the future..

13th Aug 2015 11:12am

LoveB

Member Since: 14 Apr 2013
Location: Uk
Posts: 38

might elave it out for now. maybe HD sprigns when I get a winch.. then lose my mind and find portals lol

13th Aug 2015 11:13am

K9F

Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

Agree...trial and error to get the evolved perfect result. I couldn't be faffed when it was a want, not a need! Potentially it could have cost a damn sight more than I had budgeted for (think about £750 if memory serves at that time.) Also I realised that my 08 XS came at that time with HD springs fitted as standard that gave me a 1" natural lift over non XS spec anyway.

If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!

13th Aug 2015 11:14am

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20302

Might get a little extra height but HD's are designed for weight aren't they and probably limit flex.
I need new springs so I guess I'll have to measure the free height of my current springs seeing as I don't know what they are.

They aren't standard though.

Remember top and bottom spring isolators can give you some slight slift without any issues with anything else.
I was thinking of HT softer 2400kg springs with top and bottom isolators.
So softer spring with touch of height from the isolators too. ( and dampened vibrations)

I suppose it depends what I'm running on now though, they don't seem like HD springs to me.
They were yellow though.

Agree on the point above that it's a common misconception that the axles are lifted by suspension by some.
Indeed, only portal axles or larger tyres do that.
Portals and bigger tyres might end up being easier in the grand scheme of things.
As Mal mentions above the cost does mount up quickly.

Last edited by custom90 on 14th Aug 2015 10:09am. Edited 1 time in total

13th Aug 2015 11:32am

LoveB

Member Since: 14 Apr 2013
Location: Uk
Posts: 38

portal axles nearly 25k to do... Think I'll just drive around the ruts

13th Aug 2015 11:27pm

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5672

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

Talk to Gwyn Lewis.

Plenty of flex, handled better than standard setup, lasted, and didn't fail, no massive lift required.

Click image to enlarge

14th Aug 2015 7:16am

K9F

Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

Landy nice pictures but scant on detail, how much was the final outlay if you don't mind me asking and what was done and with what parts please? If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!

14th Aug 2015 10:08am

Hufflepuff

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 727

Boys boys boys!

This is of massive interest to me - as I'm about to push the button and order a lift kit myself.

I've also fitted 33" tyres on alloy Mach 5s, and they do rub on the arches (although it seems only just).

There is a lot of discussion about whether a 2" lift warrants all the extra bits or not. It seems 2" is about the limit - so you 'can' get away without the extras if you want to.

Fortunately I've been putting the pennies into the piggy bank for a while and can now afford to get all the gubbins including:

Wide angle propshafts
A-frame ball joint
Extended brake lines
Castor correction arms

... But my nagging doubt is if I do this how will the vehicle drive afterwards?

A 90 is no sports car - but it currently handles fine on the road (XS spec to anti-roll bars front and rear). If I lift by 2" am I going to be creating a wallowing leviathon?

Landy Andy you said that the Gwyn Lewis setup handled better than standard - was that with a 2" lift? If so, did yours have anti-roll bars prior to fitting?

14th Aug 2015 12:38pm

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