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Smithy



Member Since: 25 Jul 2010
Location: Monmouthshire
Posts: 21

Alive springs and Bilstein B6’s
Just had my Alive lowered springs and Bilstein B6’s removed from my CSK 90 after 80k miles, the B6’s were still ok.
Just fed up with the crashing ride so replaced with Alive standard height Comfort springs and Bilstein B6’s again.
This is my sixth Defender so great to back at the correct height. My 2.2 has the 25mm ARB so no problem with rolling. After a couple of hundred of country miles and it’ s only my opinion the ride is rubbery but positive and controlled the way Defender’s should be and now enjoyable again so stay away from lowered springs and revert to standard height with B6 shocks, the Alive comfort springs are good and recommended but they are expensive so you could chance OME springs.
I have been looking at all the options over the last 6 months so I am truly satisfied with this setup.
Hope this helps!
Post #752706 20th Jan 2019 11:02pm
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nitram17



Member Since: 08 Jun 2014
Location: newcastle
Posts: 2261

Thanks smithy i was just going to ask about the alive comfiort springs full height .....you saved me the bother.How much better are they than the original set up?if you had 400 notes to spend would you spend it on the springs first or something else?
Post #752711 20th Jan 2019 11:28pm
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Swine&Small



Member Since: 20 Mar 2017
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 1223

United Kingdom 
Thumbs Up Thumbs Up Thumbs Up
For alive set up 1983 Series 3 Pick up in Marine Blue
1967 Morris Traveller
1966 Morris Convertible
2012 VW T5 Camper
Quod Abundat Non Obstat.
Post #752712 21st Jan 2019 12:08am
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MJN110



Member Since: 18 May 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 380

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 Landmark LE Montalcino Red
Thanks Smithy for posting your views most of us would not have the opportunity to compare the lowered and standard height Alive comfort springs.
I am surprised the ride between lowered and standard height comfort springs is quite different. 2016 Defender Landmark 90
2005 Defender CSW TD5 90XS
Post #752728 21st Jan 2019 8:18am
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WindyJ



Member Since: 18 Oct 2018
Location: France
Posts: 190

I have the Alive lowered springs. I don’t find them crashing at all, far from it. Compared to running the standard OE springs the ride is much better and the cornering....well that’s night/day difference. Still a bit “boaty” but the Bilstein sort that. Not my choice as an off road animal but I got the Defender for towing horseboxes and now, because i like it, an everyday road car. I’m fairly convinced the front isn’t lowered at all, just the back which sits 3/4 inch lower than front. Possibly by design, possibly wrong springs. Drives fine but looks odd. Unfortunately, Alive not very good at returning contact to find out Sad
Post #752777 21st Jan 2019 12:32pm
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Likeomg



Member Since: 29 Jun 2012
Location: Lake District / Newcastle
Posts: 2640

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Stornoway Grey
MJN110 wrote:
Thanks Smithy for posting your views most of us would not have the opportunity to compare the lowered and standard height Alive comfort springs.
I am surprised the ride between lowered and standard height comfort springs is quite different.



Are you are the lowered weren’t the alive ‘sport’ springs?

I have these and yes they are a lot different to the comfort springs but for me i prefer them
Post #752779 21st Jan 2019 12:57pm
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Swine&Small



Member Since: 20 Mar 2017
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 1223

United Kingdom 
My Alive setup resulted in a drop of 3/4' back and front. A much better ride on the road with the loss of that unstable feeling at roundabouts and the loss of ,in Small's case, the feeling of being seasick.
I think the car sits better, drives and corners better and now fits in the garage. Thumbs Up
No downside as far as we are concerned for our type of usage. Cannot comment on the effects on off road usage. 1983 Series 3 Pick up in Marine Blue
1967 Morris Traveller
1966 Morris Convertible
2012 VW T5 Camper
Quod Abundat Non Obstat.


Last edited by Swine&Small on 21st Jan 2019 1:41pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #752780 21st Jan 2019 12:59pm
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Likeomg



Member Since: 29 Jun 2012
Location: Lake District / Newcastle
Posts: 2640

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Stornoway Grey
I also think ditching the bfg’s made a huge improvement too,

Ride is so much better on cooper’s

Grip improved dramatically... don’t do any serious off roading but haven’t got stuck yet.
Post #752782 21st Jan 2019 1:02pm
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Co1



Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3674

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Loire Blue
FWIW, I recently fitted the B6’s and standard height comfort springs from alive on my 90 and it is very noticeably better on and off road. Significant step change in on the road manners and much more contact off road; no skipping or jumping. This is at the same tyre pressures in both instances.

If your around North Yorkshire and fancy a test drive, give me a shout.
Post #752873 21st Jan 2019 7:42pm
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Smithy



Member Since: 25 Jul 2010
Location: Monmouthshire
Posts: 21

I would recommend changing back to standard height springs for the best improvement to the ride quality with a H/D ARB.
I forgot to mention I had fitted the rubber isolation rings from a Disco on the top of each spring for obvious reasons after reading a post on this forum. The Alive Comfort springs are a quality product which comes at a price.
Post #753251 23rd Jan 2019 12:03am
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20359

United Kingdom 
I have the rubber isolators too, they are brilliant. Thumbs Up $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪
Post #753257 23rd Jan 2019 12:42am
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MJN110



Member Since: 18 May 2015
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 380

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 Landmark LE Montalcino Red
Just for confirmation Smithy were your lowered springs sport springs?
Which springs did you fit the rubber isolators to?
Thanks 2016 Defender Landmark 90
2005 Defender CSW TD5 90XS
Post #753269 23rd Jan 2019 6:03am
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nitram17



Member Since: 08 Jun 2014
Location: newcastle
Posts: 2261

custom90steve wrote:
I have the rubber isolators too, they are brilliant. Thumbs Up


Steve do you have the isolators top and bottom on all the springs? which ones did you use?If you use the isolators all round on the alive normal height springs won't you raise the height of the truck by a couple of cm?(not much I know)
Post #753272 23rd Jan 2019 7:11am
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deaallen



Member Since: 15 Feb 2016
Location: Basingstoke
Posts: 264

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Santorini Black
Yep I fitted the disco rubber isolators with my Alive comfort springs (they didn't do standard height springs then) and it basically negated any height change
Post #753339 23rd Jan 2019 12:19pm
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Smithy



Member Since: 25 Jul 2010
Location: Monmouthshire
Posts: 21

Just to confirm the 10mm thick isolators were fitted to the top of each spring to isolate the body.
The Alive springs were fitted in 2012 by CSK not sure if they were sports springs.
Post #753415 23rd Jan 2019 5:06pm
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