Glynparry25 wrote:

Hopefully I will come into loads of money and get a air suspension kit from the air bag man in Aus

Glyn

pouf wrote:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=defender+air+lift&_sacat=0
if it that, it is not so expensive

JSG wrote:

If you don't think the standard Defender is suitable for what you need then I'd suggest HD springs. Why does everyone want to lift a Defender just to carry a load and tour - it's what they were designed for

X2

Exactly !!

I go on 3 month expeditions in mine, ARB bullbar , XD 9000 Winch upfront, Fully loaded with gear & provisions plus Towing a 1600Kg Caravan on standard Duty original 110 Springs, I just put a bit of air in the rear polyairs to make it ride level.

Lifting it might add pose value but wont help in the rough. The diffs remain the same height off the floor.

Granted a set of 255/85's could be a good thing, but in my case with the Load, sometimes I wish for a lower gear as it is so I'm not upping the tire size.

AndyS wrote:

A novice like myself can only go on what we're advised and it seems common to want to get the standard springs out when leaving the beaten track. But they don't say it needs lifting, that complication comes in when you look for HD springs, they almost always say +2". I don't need ground clearance, just the removal of a potential weak link.

Thanks for the advice.

quentin wrote:

Apart from the tosser effect why would you want to lift a Defender anyway,

jst wrote:

to enable you to fit bigger tyres which will improve your ability across rough terrain whilst also giving better axle clearance whilst retaining axle articulation and not rubbing.

jst wrote:

another reason you may wish to lift it is to maintain a std ride height when heavily loaded, which means when empty its lifted slightly.

Springs are designed to work at a certain weight- therefore if you counter the weight problem with extra height (which then compresses to standard height) you are oveloading your springs and they are more likely to fail.... most likely on a remote rough road just when you don't want it to.

Yes, if you fit a set of heavy duty standard height springs it will end up lifting the vehicle a little (less than an inch) when unloaded. But that isn't classified as 'lifting your vehicle' it is just a by product. Plus you won't want to drive it unloaded as it will be a right bone shaker if you tour with heavy loads (try driving a 110 DC XS with the HD springs on the rear and no load).

Glyn

Hey James, I'm the guilty party that suggested that you'd be a Tosser to lift a Defender.

All due respect, your right there is a place for lifts and big tyres but the original post was " 2 inch lift advice for Puma " the consensus is DONT DO IT .

The Tosser effect that im talking about is most action lifted 4x4's get is at the local school pickup queue , no perhaps theyre not tossers , I'll rephrase that, lets call them .

heres my 2 bobs worth,
if you want max articulation , as I do, you get more with standard springs than you do with hd springs or 2"+ springs , unless you take out a mortgage and replace every other suspension component and propshafts as well, then you end up with a lifted truck that does have articulation, but laws of physics dictate its got a higher center of gravity and a lower roll over angle, making it in fact a LESS capable 4x4.

jst wrote:

<snip>

air spring helpers give a lift when unloaded and extra support to maintain a std ride height when heavily loaded allowing the spring to work as it should.

.....