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CarMan



Member Since: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 1862

United Kingdom 
Ride height advice needed
I've not been happy with the 300tdi and now I really have to deal with it, especially as it only just goes in the garage with 235's on so not a chance with 255's and just looks wrong.


Click image to enlarge


Measured from floor to bottom of wheel arch eyebrows is 855mm front and 915mm rear.

My 200tdi is 880mm front and 900mm rear and looks about right to me.


Click image to enlarge


Both truck on identical wheels and tyres.

The winch on the 300 is obviously dropping the front a touch (but how much?) and I'm contemplating removing it as it is unlikely to get used, but nice to have. The rear has new HD springs fitted by the previous owner, but would it drop it much to go back onto standard duty springs?

I'm not looking for an expensive solution and had originally planned to go HD on the front, but that clearly will not help garage clearance.

So, what's the best plan? Can I swap the fronts (not sure what they are) to the rear perhaps?

Thumbs Up Rob

1993 200tdi 90 hard-top
1998 300tdi 90 soft-top
2016 2.2 XS 90 hard-top (sold)
Post #809925 12th Jan 2020 1:28pm
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markb110



Member Since: 22 May 2010
Location: Guildford
Posts: 2644

England 2002 Defender 90 Td5 HT Epsom Green
Might be worth a call to some of the aftermarket specialists as they may have some as new take off springs for less money than buying standard springs from an LR dealer...

Good luck
Post #809945 12th Jan 2020 4:40pm
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CarMan



Member Since: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 1862

United Kingdom 
Well I’m going to kick off with standard duty rear springs for a start and see where I go from there Thumbs Up Rob

1993 200tdi 90 hard-top
1998 300tdi 90 soft-top
2016 2.2 XS 90 hard-top (sold)
Post #810237 14th Jan 2020 7:33pm
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L110CDL



Member Since: 31 Oct 2015
Location: Devon
Posts: 10784

England 
That was might thought due to i have never seen a Tdi 90 with the back end up as high like Millie's is, so i was thinking that someone has put different springs on the back Very Happy 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.

Keeper.

Clayton.
Post #810267 14th Jan 2020 9:32pm
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Zed



Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3319

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Softer rear springs.


Or put the Hulk in the back?

https://data.whicdn.com/images/333435044/original.gif WARNING.
This post may contain sarcasm.
Post #810273 14th Jan 2020 9:48pm
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CarMan



Member Since: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 1862

United Kingdom 
Thumbs Up Laughing
Post #810295 15th Jan 2020 8:15am
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
You could try "Coilsprings" in Sheffield. See https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic49065...oilsprings Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #810326 15th Jan 2020 10:15am
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8066

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
From the photo the body looks to be at an angle compared to the bottom of the chassis rails. The latter look parallel to the ground.

Hd rears on the front? Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #810446 15th Jan 2020 8:02pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8066

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
From the photo the body looks to be at an angle compared to the bottom of the chassis rails. The latter look parallel to the ground.

^^ del above, it's the fence! Crap phone!

Hd rears on the front? Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #810448 15th Jan 2020 8:02pm
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v8bob



Member Since: 14 Mar 2018
Location: Midlands
Posts: 319

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Nato Green
Hi Carman,
I had a 110 that from new, sat a bit low at the front. I then added a winch.
So I decided to level it.
I weighed each corner with one of the cheap things for trailer weight checking that caravan people use.
I then guessed at equal weights for wheel and axle for each corner. Of course these do not add to spring compression.
On the red90 sheet it gives the rate which is simply compression to weight.
Chose the springs to level it up.
Simple.
Worked well enough and got within 1/4”
Took a bit of thinking about at the start, but once you calculate e few you get to know which way to go.

You of course will need to think about how much load you may carry Very Happy
Post #810452 15th Jan 2020 8:24pm
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CarMan



Member Since: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 1862

United Kingdom 
Thanks for that.

It's a little better with the winch off (of course), but not a lot - so would these be any easier to fit up front than new springs Question

https://gwynlewis4x4.co.uk/product/1-inch-front-spring-spacers/

I gather front springs not as easy/quick to change as rears Rolling Eyes

Plus, I assume this would give a certain outcome versus guessing the result with a spring change Question
Post #816604 23rd Feb 2020 5:19pm
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CarMan



Member Since: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 1862

United Kingdom 
Just to confirm - can I fit spring isolators (ANR2938) top and bottom of front springs Question

Look like that should give me 19mm lift and I'm looking for 20mm so close enough given Defender tolerances Thumbs Up
Post #831727 18th May 2020 8:14am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

United Kingdom 
Yes although in my experience isolators only give a real world lift of 6-7mm. 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
Post #831731 18th May 2020 8:51am
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CarMan



Member Since: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 1862

United Kingdom 
Thanks, but disappointing as I measured them to be 9mm thick so guess they squish a bit Big Cry

Will probably go with the Gwynne Lewis spring lifters then at 25mm which should leave the back 15mm higher than the front using wheel arches as a datum

On my 200tdi it's 20mm difference which looks fine, so close enough I think
Post #831737 18th May 2020 9:05am
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DAZ110



Member Since: 06 Dec 2007
Location: East Sussex
Posts: 2041

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Barolo Black
Spring isolators top and bottom only gave my 90 a small lift, like as LandRoverAnorak says.
Post #831738 18th May 2020 9:10am
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