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Rudski

Member Since: 13 Jul 2014
Location: Lake District
Posts: 141

Lowering suspension

I'm looking at purchasing some Bilstein springs and shocks to lower the vehicle 2" and give it a little less of the rolling feeling in corners, I have the sawtooth alloys 16" with the Goodyear wrangler MTR tyres, does anybody know if these will rub on the arches ?
Then I'm looking at a stage 1 re- map, if I'm not taking the car to the garage do you need a laptop to upload the new map or is better taking it to the garage so it can be put on the rolling road and set up properly?

Any advice welcome I'm pretty new to the defender, also does it need to have a minimum amount of mileage on the clock before re mapping them?

Thanks in advance
Mark

29th Nov 2014 5:03pm

Timo K

Member Since: 23 Aug 2012
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 171

Uhhmm... If you want less roll, lowering is not really the answer IMHO, better anti-roll bars is.

29th Nov 2014 5:50pm

grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4787

As above, anti roll bars is the way to go for less body roll, however, lowering it by 2 inches alters the castor angle and makes the steering much better

2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton

29th Nov 2014 6:09pm

Supacat

Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green

Lowering by 2" and leaving it on MTRs doesn't make sense - you planning different tyres?

29th Nov 2014 6:13pm

Rudski

Member Since: 13 Jul 2014
Location: Lake District
Posts: 141

Yes was looking at getting a bigger alloy with less sidewall, just trying to convince SWMBO, as I still have some 22" lowenhart alloys from my sport that I've not got round to selling.

Will just going for a mid range tyre and keeping it on the 16s look a bit out of proportion?

Maybe look at putting new anti roll bar bushes aswell.

29th Nov 2014 7:12pm

grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4787

16 inch alloys and lowered 2 inches in my gallery

Click image to enlarge

Edited to include picture 2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE
Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200
Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html
Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html
RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton

29th Nov 2014 7:18pm

Rudski

Member Since: 13 Jul 2014
Location: Lake District
Posts: 141

That looks spot on Grafty 99,

If I can keep the original wheels and tyres until they are ready for replacing then look at moving the alloys on for something slightly bigger 18" probably, and maybe add a few other bits and pieces In between.

Thanks for the quick replies, any info regarding the re mapping?

29th Nov 2014 7:24pm

grafty99

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: North Devon
Posts: 4787

Everyone has their preferences, I personally wouldn't go to anyone other than IRB Developments

29th Nov 2014 7:39pm

jomara

Member Since: 26 Oct 2009
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 1790

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

Hi Rudski

I'd recommend one of the tuning specialists for your remap, personally I have a stage 1 map from Gary at Alive which increased my power slightly but has given me a chunk more torque for towing.

There are various tuners to choose from including Alive Tuning, Bell Auto Services, IRB, &JE Engineering

Cheers
John

2014 110 2.2TDCi XS Station wagon
1971 Bowler Tomcat 88 4.2 V8 Auto
2022 110 D250 XS Edition - Gone
2024 110 D250 X-Dynamic HSE

29th Nov 2014 7:49pm

Rudski

Member Since: 13 Jul 2014
Location: Lake District
Posts: 141

I've read some good things about Pete from bell autos, he's about the closest as well, though still about 2.5 hrs drive From me, can it be done over the internet then or is it better to turn up at the garage. It's the new puma 2.2 so heard the ECU needs swapped, I think you might have already told me that jomara when I first joined the defender forum.

29th Nov 2014 7:56pm

Pickles

Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3786

2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green

Re: Lowering suspension

Rudski wrote:
I'm looking at purchasing some Bilstein springs and shocks to lower the vehicle 2" and give it a little less of the rolling feeling in corners, I have the sawtooth alloys 16" with the Goodyear wrangler MTR tyres, does anybody know if these will rub on the arches ?
Then I'm looking at a stage 1 re- map, if I'm not taking the car to the garage do you need a laptop to upload the new map or is better taking it to the garage so it can be put on the rolling road and set up properly?

Any advice welcome I'm pretty new to the defender, also does it need to have a minimum amount of mileage on the clock before re mapping them?

Thanks in advance
Mark

With respect to lowering your suspension, & without telling anyone how to suck eggs, I would say that a combination of things will enable you to achieve the desired result.
Lowering springs will be good, to achieve the ride height that you require. They may even be re rated, maybe a little bit stiffer to allow for shorter suspension travel. Bilstein shocks would be good, as would front & rear anti roll bars. You will need all of these to achieve a sensible lowered suspension, but which will also achieve a nice drive, better cornering, less roll & pitching etc.
There are different springs, different shocks, different anti roll bars, & even different bushes to compliment these items.
I'd suggest that you speak to some of the specialist companies mentioned on this forum to make sure that you achieve the right combination, because the wrong combination would not be a good driving experience.
Pickles.

29th Nov 2014 9:09pm

Rudski

Member Since: 13 Jul 2014
Location: Lake District
Posts: 141

Cheers pickles, been looking at the urban truck set ups in terms of suspension etc, as I said all advice welcome as new to the defender arena,

29th Nov 2014 9:19pm

jomara

Member Since: 26 Oct 2009
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 1790

Likeomg had lowered his 90 using Alive's -1" springs and fitted Twisted 18 inch wheels with 285 profile tyres and a whole host of other upgrades, one of the best looking 90s on here in my opinion

Worth having a search to see the full spec

His 90 is in this thread about wheels http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic33001.html 2014 110 2.2TDCi XS Station wagon
1971 Bowler Tomcat 88 4.2 V8 Auto
2022 110 D250 XS Edition - Gone
2024 110 D250 X-Dynamic HSE

29th Nov 2014 9:21pm

Rudski

Member Since: 13 Jul 2014
Location: Lake District
Posts: 141

Ah yes if money was no option

lovely looking truck, and a fella from my neck of the woods. Good to see how other people have modified their trucks thanks jomara.

Need to sell my old 22" inch wheels, and now my caravans been sold I've got a load of ancillaries to offload, awnings, water butts etc, I need to put the full list and prices up as soon as I get chance.

29th Nov 2014 9:46pm

URBAN TRUCK

Member Since: 24 Jan 2014
Location: Milton Keynes
Posts: 150

2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Santorini Black

We have had great feedback on our setup .. Sits perfectly level (some springs on the market don't), works really well on 18" Wheels (anything bigger is too big imho)

2" Lowering Springs + Bilstein Dampers gives a great ride and better handling.
Cost is £490 + vat for both

But doesn't look that great on standard wheel offset and 235 tyres so you may want to upgrade the wheels and tyres to 265/65/18

Next step , front and rear sport anti roll bars £550 + vat with the required clamps and bushes.

Click image to enlarge

30th Nov 2014 9:52am

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