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Soulrider911



Member Since: 04 Jul 2022
Location: California
Posts: 108

United States 1989 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Chawton White
Need Help - Terrafirma Stock Height Suspension Kit
Hey friends. So I recently got my Defender 90 back from the shop as it needed new suspension. I ordered what was described as a stock-height Terrafirma kit. Turns out I get a call after the installation from my tech that the car is 2"+ taller Sad. I mean the shocks literally say "long travel on them" LOL.


Click image to enlarge


I contacted the retailer I went through and they were VERY direct in that the kit I got is stock height "as stock as it was the day it came off the line." Well, it's not as far as I can tell.

So I have a question where do I measure to be totally sure that mine is in fact 2"+ taller?

Next question, can anyone point me to a stock height terrafirma or other recommended kit?

I really appreciate the help. Thank you! 1989 Defender 90
2022 Defender 110 SE
DIY’er | Always learning
Post #967886 16th Oct 2022 4:12pm
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
This is a good description how to measure if your springs are standard height or not.
https://gwynlewis4x4.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...rments.pdf

Of course ensure that you do not have spacer blocks under/over springs, or under the spring seat. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #967888 16th Oct 2022 4:33pm
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Puddings 3112



Member Since: 05 Dec 2020
Location: Down South
Posts: 49

The spring sets the height not the damper - several of my friends run longer dampers because when driving off road, the extra length keeps the damper well with tolerance when working at extension.

As well as the point above about measuring plus spacers, also worth noting that very old worn springs will potentially sit lower as they lose 'spring'. You may also see different ride heights with softer or harder springs as the vehicle compresses the spring at rest (depends on how differnet the spring rating is)
Post #967949 16th Oct 2022 8:29pm
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Soulrider911



Member Since: 04 Jul 2022
Location: California
Posts: 108

United States 1989 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Chawton White
Ok measured my Springs, and here are the results. I think it's pretty clear this is a 2"+ Kit.
Front: 321.3MM
Rear: 355.6MM
 1989 Defender 90
2022 Defender 110 SE
DIY’er | Always learning
Post #967953 16th Oct 2022 9:11pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7905

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
I'm no expert, this is more spring lift but it may help as a guide https://gwynlewis4x4.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...rments.pdf James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #968036 17th Oct 2022 2:31pm
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Soulrider911



Member Since: 04 Jul 2022
Location: California
Posts: 108

United States 1989 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Chawton White
Thanks all. As I stated I did measure and the current springs are much longer than what the PDF states as stock length. I also reached out directly to Gywn Lewis to be sure, and they confirmed the springs I have are much longer than anything near stock. I am now trying to work with the seller that convinced himself that the kit he sold me was the stock height... We shall see 1989 Defender 90
2022 Defender 110 SE
DIY’er | Always learning
Post #968241 19th Oct 2022 1:52am
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
Soulrider911 wrote:
Ok measured my Springs, and here are the results. I think it's pretty clear this is a 2"+ Kit.
Front: 321.3MM
Rear: 355.6MM


Good morning California Thumbs Up

So, springs. Your D90 would have come out of the factory with:

Front

NRC9446 (Passenger) 15.19" (38.58cm) 175lb/inch
NRC9447 (Driver) 14.80" (37.58cm) 175lb/inch

Rear

NRC9448 15.31" (38.88cm) 225lb/inch
NRC9449 14.8" (37.59cm) 225lb/inch

or

NRC9462 HD 15.25" (38.73cm) 210/240lb/inch
NRC9463 HD 14.81" (37.59cm) 210/240lb/inch

This information comes from Red90.ca - http://www.red90.ca/rovers/springinfo.html

Unfortunately Terrfirma do not give the above information, but as you can see your springs are in fact shorter than the standard OE springs that would have come fitted to your 90. To be honest looking at those numbers it is almost as if you have -1" springs...

It is more than likely that your old springs had also sagged considerably over the years so the perception of added height is also to do with that. Possibly.

The only other consideration is spring rate. This not only controls how "soft" or "hard" the spring is, compliant it is, but also how much weight the vehicle can carry/tow. NB: the two different spring rates for the rear springs. I can see that the Terrafirma standard height HD front springs have 7 coils, compared to the 7.75 coils of the OE front spring. Indicating the coil bar is a thicker diameter and a higher spring rate if the same height as the OE spring.

Which Terrafirma kit did you buy? Link?

As has been said above, the fitting of longer travel shock absorbers is not a problem for road driving and will definitely help axle flex should you leave the hard top. Just to put you at ease standard height springs can be used with standard height, +2" or even +5" shocks. The only thing to consider with the latter +5" are the replacement of upper shock mounts and spring retainers/relocators to keep the spring in position and guide it back into the upper spring mount. In the "good ol days" it was a popular and cheap mod to fit -2" upper shock mounts and standard height shocks to achieve an effective +2" extra axle droop... So do not worry if the shocks you have are "long travel", to be honest that is probably a good thing Thumbs Up
Post #968255 19th Oct 2022 7:59am
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
Geobloke, but those spring lengths are the free lengths of the spring, once fitted they compress.
I think Soulrider measurements are with the weight on the spring as per the GwynLewis site, which gives the standard height between spring seat on axle and spring perch on chassis. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #968262 19th Oct 2022 8:25am
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
Yes you are right Dinnu I had meant to say the Red90.ca site quotes "free" spring heights.

Regardless, I doubt the OE springs compress by 6cm (a little under 2.5") at the front and 3cm (1") at the rear with the weight of a standard 90. Not even Miffy sagged that much with a winch on the front and OE springs...

Soulrider said he measured his springs. Nothing about whether they were fitted or not... Clarification needed?!
Post #968283 19th Oct 2022 11:17am
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
I have fitted NRC2119 at the rear of my 90 (it has the weight of the forward facing seats and glass side panels). Their free length should be 409.7mm.. Last time I measured them fitted (unladen except what stated earlier), they were at 280mm - almost an inch lower. So they compress by 129.7mm (or 5"). Given their rate at 150lb/inch, means I have a weight if 1531lb (694kg) on the rear axle which sounds about right or perhaps even a bit low. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #968294 19th Oct 2022 11:48am
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Soulrider911



Member Since: 04 Jul 2022
Location: California
Posts: 108

United States 1989 Defender 90 2.5 TD SW Chawton White
Thank you for the help everyone. Correct I measured the Springs on the car. I can guarantee you all the car sits MUCH taller to the point it now looks funny unless I were to add larger tires which is not an option as it then will not fit in my garage.

Unfortunately, the part number I have in my invoice is not what was actually sent to me, so honestly, I have no idea what I got. I have reached out to the seller and will report back when I get the proper part number for the kit I currently have.

Here is the Kit TF197 https://www.lrparts.net/tf197-terrafirma-a...ssic.html, interesting as this states "stock Height" but the springs are HD for when carrying 300kg+ of gear, winches, etc... which I would NEVER do... no wonder I bounce around like a pop-corn kernel. But, visually this does not match with what is on my car.

I did find this kit and ordered it, as it appears to be a true stock height kit, which includes OEM speck springs (I can always send it back):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/302345628286?mkev...cdb9154d3e 1989 Defender 90
2022 Defender 110 SE
DIY’er | Always learning
Post #968332 19th Oct 2022 4:13pm
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
A lot of people also fit Discovery spring isolators. They do not really improve the ride, but they reduce some of the road noise.
Front: RBC100111 (double as turret fixing plate)
Rear: ANR2938
Both go between the spring and the chassis perch.

They increase the ride height by a few mm, but not enough to notice. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #968502 21st Oct 2022 7:21am
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

United Kingdom 
Soulrider911 wrote:
Thank you for the help everyone. Correct I measured the Springs on the car. I can guarantee you all the car sits MUCH taller to the point it now looks funny unless I were to add larger tires which is not an option as it then will not fit in my garage.

Unfortunately, the part number I have in my invoice is not what was actually sent to me, so honestly, I have no idea what I got. I have reached out to the seller and will report back when I get the proper part number for the kit I currently have.

Here is the Kit TF197 https://www.lrparts.net/tf197-terrafirma-a...ssic.html, interesting as this states "stock Height" but the springs are HD for when carrying 300kg+ of gear, winches, etc... which I would NEVER do... no wonder I bounce around like a pop-corn kernel. But, visually this does not match with what is on my car.

I did find this kit and ordered it, as it appears to be a true stock height kit, which includes OEM speck springs (I can always send it back):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/302345628286?mkev...cdb9154d3e


That second kit looks like what you want.

Stick up a before and after shot of your 90 with the HD kit and then this kit. It might also help others following you if you could measure the free heights of the 8 springs etc.


That red90.ca sight is fantastic, but out of date now...
Post #968534 21st Oct 2022 11:12am
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