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Steve.N



Member Since: 18 Sep 2011
Location: Co-Meath
Posts: 4

Ireland 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Indus Silver
2" Lift Advice for My 110 Puma
Hi,
I fitted new bilsteins springs last week so as to lift my truck by 2".
Although the ride seems a bit hard on the tarmac it is great over rough terrain (pity I couldn't get both though!).
Whilst in at my local LR dealer getting my EGR value replaced under warranty, the mechanic told me that the lift on the shocks will put stress on my driveshaft/ diff and I need a spacer kit.

Is this true?
Has anyone got any links for the spacer kit?


Thanks
Steve.
Post #163617 22nd Aug 2012 5:57am
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8578

United Kingdom 
Spacer kit??

2" lift you may or maynot needed extended brake hoses, just check them.

2" lift you should not need extra wide UJ s or any fancy prop shafts. If you were talking 3-4"+ yes extended brake hoses, wide angle UJ etc would be required.

Brendan
Post #163619 22nd Aug 2012 6:29am
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bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
i had a 2" drop on my puma and suffered from transmission vibrations at certain speeds, put back to standard and the vibrations stopped.

not sure what "spacers" are ?, but double cardon props would fix the vibration issue and put less stress on the drivetrain.
Post #163622 22nd Aug 2012 7:11am
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 7902

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Specific to puma there can be issues with a 2" lift that you dont see with other LRs due to the engine/axle alignment on the front i believe. others on here will no doubt post more.

springs normally give the change in ride height.

you only really need WA props for increase in droop with increased articulation.

you will prob get away with std brake pipes assuming flex is pretty much as std. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #163623 22nd Aug 2012 7:30am
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6074

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
There is/was a kit from LR (part # IVP000010 still showing up on the current microcat) for 4 cylinder 90's fitted with HD suspension, which was a triangle spacer that fitted behind the trailling arm bracket on the chassis, so it shortened the rear arms by how ever thick the spacers were, and this would alter the angle of the nose of the diff, thus helping the propshaft UJ problems.


Click image to enlarge
Post #163628 22nd Aug 2012 7:47am
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JSG



Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Did you change springs and shocks? You will alter the alignment with a 2" lift and may get problems with caster correction and double cardon props - I had a lift on my TR90 when I bought it and it felt so much better when I went back to standard HD set up. John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS
Post #163640 22nd Aug 2012 10:00am
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Naks



Member Since: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Stellenbosch, ZA
Posts: 2623

South Africa 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Alpine White
Re: 2" Lift Advice for My 110 Puma
Steve.N wrote:
Whilst in at my local LR dealer getting my EGR value replaced under warranty, the mechanic told me that the lift on the shocks will put stress on my driveshaft/ diff and I need a spacer kit.
Is this true?


Steve, just drive around for a while and be on the lookout for any vibrations. If you don't feel any, you're fine.

I did a 2" lift in Feb and initially there was some vibration at around 60-80kmh, sounds a bit like a muffled coffee grinding machine.

Then the clutch was replaced and all noise/vibration went away Smile --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ
Post #163675 22nd Aug 2012 11:50am
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quentin



Member Since: 23 Jul 2012
Location: on tour
Posts: 119

Australia 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Alpine White
Not recommended to lift a Puma even 2" you are asking for trouble. & not because of steering geometry.

The problem with the Puma is because of the taller Ford engine which is mounted higher so that the Sump clears the Diff.
(Which is why there is a hump in the bonnet)

The problem with raising the engine (and not the gearbox mounts) is that the Transfer case now points uphill.

So a Standard height Puma has its UJ's & front output bearings working to their limits, Lifting the suspension takes them beyond their limits. Wide angle UJ's dont fix the problem, You will need a Double Cardin front propshaft.

Now if you raise the suspension there is now enough clearance to drop the engine, which in my opinion is the right way to fix things, bring the TC back to level.

You will find that even standard Puma TC output bearings & front props dont last as long as earlier models.

Apart from the tosser effect why would you want to lift a Defender anyway, It stuffs up their excellent articulation and increases their Center of Gravity. You have to throw a whole heap more money at it to get the suspension working right once you start to modify it.
Post #163685 22nd Aug 2012 12:38pm
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Naks



Member Since: 27 Jan 2009
Location: Stellenbosch, ZA
Posts: 2623

South Africa 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Alpine White
quentin wrote:
Apart from the tosser effect why would you want to lift a Defender anyway, It stuffs up their excellent articulation and increases their Center of Gravity. .



Err, I have better articulation with the OME springs + Bilstein shocks combination.

I had to lift because the rear was sagging when overlanding (weight of tent, fridge, etc) --
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged



Defender Puma Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zZ1en9
Discovery 4 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zXrtKO
Range Rover/Sport L320/L322/L494 Workshop Manual: https://bit.ly/2zc58JQ
Post #163686 22nd Aug 2012 12:40pm
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quentin



Member Since: 23 Jul 2012
Location: on tour
Posts: 119

Australia 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Alpine White
Naks wrote:
quentin wrote:
Apart from the tosser effect why would you want to lift a Defender anyway, It stuffs up their excellent articulation and increases their Center of Gravity. .



Err, I have better articulation with the OME springs + Bilstein shocks combination.

I had to lift because the rear was sagging when overlanding (weight of tent, fridge, etc)


Apologies for going OT , not really 'cos if I can help the OP out with his ideas

When I bought my current Defender 110 it had Bilsteins all round , 130 springs front & 130 Helpers rear, Same reason as the Prev Owner was towing a camper around & its got Bullbar / winch ect up front.

I put it on the Ramp to compare the articulation with my Toyotas & was upset with the result. I expected the Defender to dominate

The Defender has no sway bars


Click image to enlarge


just for fun I put my old '79 BJ40 up the ramp (am I allowed to show Toyotas here ??) Result as expected


Click image to enlarge


And heres the 2006 105 series Landcruiser, clearly 2" further up the Ramp than the Defender & the Toyota was bog factory standard suspension complete with sway bars front & rear.


Click image to enlarge


I was horrified with this result. I knew from the past experience with my 90 that lighter springs would help so I replaced the 130 springs with original 110 springs front & rear & installed some Polyair springs inside the rear coils to help with the loads as I do a lot of outback expeditions. Heres the result


Click image to enlarge


and overall comparison


Click image to enlarge


In summing up the Defender 110 Standard suspension is basically best left alone. (but I did have to change the winch cable from steel to dyneema & change the heavy roller fairlead to an Alloy Hawse (saved 30kg) & removed my steel bashplate (saved another 15kg) to take the stress off the now standard front springs.

Different strokes for different folks, but just putting it out there for consideration, The thing I love most about the Defender is its great articulation and I dont want to compromise that for anything, once you do a lift you have to start stuffing around with dislocation cones or longer shockers, repositioning mounts / dc shafts caster correction , never ending saga, and for what - basically a higher Center of Gravity = Less capable 4x4 IMO but perhaps better looking at school pickup time
Post #163696 22nd Aug 2012 1:32pm
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Glynparry25



Member Since: 16 Feb 2009
Location: Miserable Midlands
Posts: 3015

Wales 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS DCPU Tonga Green
I agree with quentin on this. I am looking at upgrading all the suspension on my truck and lift was something to consider but everything points to hassle with the Puma and lift. Even Gwyn Lewis advises against a lift. If you want more articulation go for longer shocks but keep the same ride height.

Now I am running Bull-bar, winch protection on the front the standard 110 springs will need changing as they have dropped 1".

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

Glyn Dog Sheep
Post #163697 22nd Aug 2012 1:42pm
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Steve.N



Member Since: 18 Sep 2011
Location: Co-Meath
Posts: 4

Ireland 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Indus Silver
Thanks guys for the replies.
I should have checked with the forum before forking money out on springs and the local mechanic to fit them!!
I raised it due to the truck being quite often used through peat bogs to retrieve lost parachutes from the skydiving club. I recently added a new winch bumper, cage, ladder and chequer plate; with all the extra weight I thought giving her a lift and stiffening things up may be the way to go.

The LR mechanic told me about the position of the engine but suggested some spacer kit that he saw once. They just had a Puma in last week getting raised by 4" and was explaining the amount of work that had to be done to make things work.

So, I'll trundle back to the local mechanic and get him to fit my original springs - The wife will just love this (I'll never hear the end of it!! - Happy days).


Cheers
Steve
Post #163710 22nd Aug 2012 3:06pm
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quentin



Member Since: 23 Jul 2012
Location: on tour
Posts: 119

Australia 2004 Defender 110 Td5 SW Alpine White
Glynparry25 wrote:
....
Hopefully I will come into loads of money and get a air suspension kit from the air bag man in Aus Cool

Glyn Dog Sheep


I highly reccomend it, cant believe its not a common mod in the UK, surely an opening for some of Defender2 sponsors here, Polyair or Firestone coil rite springs are the go, very economical and easy DIY fit, I've yet to have any fail in any vehicle Ive fitted them to. Let them down to 5psi for original suspension and add air as you weigh down the rear, typically with a laden caravan and cargo area I pump then to 15psi .

just dont go with the reccomended upper retainer for the polyair its very badly designed, i'll post some pics on how it works in a new thread. here http://www.defender2.net/forum/post163721.html#163721
Post #163715 22nd Aug 2012 3:21pm
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BigWheels



Member Since: 21 Mar 2010
Location: Somerset
Posts: 1405

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Tonga Green
Raising ride height a wee bit without suspension mods is why I fitted 255 85 tyres. Not for off-roading so much as better view ahead & to the side for country jaunts. Land Rover Defenders. 67 years heritage, minimal appearance changes, still going strong all over the world. Not a fashion vehicle, but fashionable to own. Made for the needy, not the greedy. Ta ta Defender
Post #164706 27th Aug 2012 1:19pm
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pouf



Member Since: 05 Aug 2010
Location: Athens
Posts: 456

Greece 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Zermatt Silver
Post #164711 27th Aug 2012 1:33pm
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