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proloForêt



Member Since: 16 Mar 2017
Location: Montereau
Posts: 248

France 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
Comforting springs, the review by me.
Hello,
I know all the UK watchers are recovering from a crazy election time so to change the story in the head I give now my reviewing of the Alive Comfort Springs that finally I pose to my Defender yesterday after some help from Alive even though I am not their customer directly Thumbs Up

Rear is easy job, anybody can do this job with just 1 jack like I do no problem. Disconnection of ARB let falling the axel under jack power after wheels off far enough for springs to fall out at top. Take off plate below and remove. I also changed the searing plate for galva version in this moment. Put new spring. Put back wheel. Put down vehicle on ground. Job on rear finished.

Front more complex, but following advising commentry on this forum help you with that. 3 hours to do correctly.

Now review.

First these are saying "lowering springs 1 inch or 1.5 inch". I can not be confirming that they do indeed do that. For me my Defender is moving down not. Perhaps 1cm. What spring quality before the change is necessary consideration I imagine to explain this. The Alive springs are different sizes than the land rover ones that came off but the vehicle hardly move stance.
This is not my objective so not concering of that.

For driving the difference is immediately noticeable even upon my short courtyard to road outer my house. Indeed the comforting effect is there as is the publicity from Alive. My defender is more stable and feels not the undulation holes in the road. In my village we have a road which the translation is "cobbled". For me this does not seem correct by I describe the road as constructed from small piece of stone and not asphalt. Normally it is like a Disneyland ride to take the Defender on this road. All the vibrations and combined with feeling of boat in rough sea. No longer! For this these springs construct a very different proposition. No it is not a normal calm car or Range Rover but it is taking this direction.

For my small drive to the forest there is some corners that belong on a race track. With speed you all know the attitiude of normal Defender in this but with the new springs the change is remarkable. Like a car. Not too fast please but no issue to do the under steering effect. All gone. Sit calmly on firm brake too. All plus points.
For bumps this is very good improve.

Now at forests. I say not extreme off road but more extreme than flat farm track. In the beginning I notice no real difference until I take on some boulders. There is disadvantage here. For sure and certain the position of differential and axels are not change for the clearing and articulation but for the first time on exact course I take 100 times my side sliders touch the ground at one part. I say the most extreme part and only just but it prove to me that in fact the body must be more low. I will reattach my side steps slider to protect this in future and adjust away from this rock. I clarify this is a big articulation and not a concern if the vehicle is not for extreme off road in my view.

Rain arrive for return to home and on wet road I feel no change. Perhaps I am travelling 5 or 10% with more speed without notice as I arrive quickly.

In conclusion I must now recommend or not these springs. I do not take the cost of these as they were gifted from previous owner with vehicle. So I consider would I accept to charge me 550euro to take these if not?

For if 50%+ off road use of vehicle life...I think no. It is not practiable or of reason.
For like me less kms off road and more in travelling on road then for certain yes I take this cost and recommend.

I sometimes mock a little bit those who want to make a sport Defender or turn their car to a Range Rover Sport as it can never be and is incorrect car for this choice but with the springs the Defender is more balanced and correct of road driving. More comfortable I am sure with longer routes.

I hope you like this review. it is positive.
Post #630111 9th Jun 2017 8:03am
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Allan c.



Member Since: 20 Mar 2014
Location: Aude
Posts: 27

France 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Zermatt Silver
Very good review.
I am about to change my suspension set up and have been considering these springs😀
Post #630112 9th Jun 2017 8:09am
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proloForêt



Member Since: 16 Mar 2017
Location: Montereau
Posts: 248

France 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
^
I can recommend you Alive in UK. They offer me help very quickly and ongoing into the future if needed regardless that I am not the direct customer, for me the springs are occasion. I would not expect this approach from a French company.
Alert: you must contact them direct in UK france is only country in Europe with no agent for them. I imagine anti-modification law is reason.
Post #630119 9th Jun 2017 8:19am
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Ads90



Member Since: 16 Jun 2008
Location: Cots-on-the-Wolds
Posts: 809

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Keswick Green
Thanks for the review, proloForêt - I'm pleased to hear they work as advertised.
But I wish they did them in standard height, not that I off-road much but I too would like to keep all of the height.
I would take a slight compromise in handling over the lower ones.
I wonder if there is such things as spring spacers, that would make up the inch or so?
Post #630133 9th Jun 2017 9:13am
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proloForêt



Member Since: 16 Mar 2017
Location: Montereau
Posts: 248

France 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
There is official solution, you can put these:
http://www.paddockspares.com/isolator-15.html
Some people say to me that some defender have these from factory. Mine no.
Post #630134 9th Jun 2017 9:23am
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20348

United Kingdom 
^^^^ I have those, top and bottom of springs on my 90.

Very good they are too, although I bought Genuine, $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó ´ó ¿ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ªðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸â›½ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°ðŸ’ª
Post #630223 9th Jun 2017 4:54pm
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apt100



Member Since: 05 Mar 2015
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 1547

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
Interesting review Thumbs Up
(and "cobbled" is correct. The small blocks are called cobble stones).
Post #630224 9th Jun 2017 5:18pm
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