 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Suspension upgrade - mixed use |
 
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5641  
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2 bits of advice.
Talk to Gwyn Lewis about suspension. (Think his explorer setup may work for you) And Avoid anything terrafirma. It’s poo. |
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1st May 2024 5:02pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20265 
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Agree to avoid Terrafirma, yellow springs aren’t great either. (Britpart I think).
I’d look at Gwyn’s options or D44. Last edited by custom90 on 1st May 2024 6:14pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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1st May 2024 5:14pm |
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| Epicurus1992 Member Since: 28 Apr 2024 Location: Wantage Posts: 8 
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Thanks landy andy and custom90.
Very good to know on terra firma- it did seem a bit suspiciously cheap! Have you used the Gwyn Lewis explorer set up yourself? I'll give him a call. Cheers |
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1st May 2024 5:36pm |
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| bankz5152 Member Since: 02 Feb 2017 Location: South London/North Kent Posts: 2142 
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Avoid terrafirma at all costs.
Speak to Gwne Lewis or use the calculator on Old Man Emus website in Australia. Instagram @defender_ventures Empire Tuning - Agent |
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1st May 2024 6:04pm |
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| andylee Member Since: 29 Jun 2016 Location: South East Posts: 92
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Old Man Emu Nitroshocks and standard springs works for me, would recommend as very happy with them for road and offroad.
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1st May 2024 6:08pm |
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| 8619simon Member Since: 04 Nov 2016 Location: North Wales Posts: 245  
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I’ve got the Gwyn Lewis explorer kit on my 300Tdi 110. Same use as you, overlander, daily and horse trailer towing duties. Been very happy with it in all situations and terrains. Suspension is always going to be a compromise but as has been said talk to Gwyn and explain what you use the vehicle for and he can advise.
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1st May 2024 7:03pm |
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| Naks Member Since: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Stellenbosch, ZA Posts: 2625  
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Avoid Terrafirma.
For your use case, I would go for LR heavy-duty springs and Bilstein dampers, or Koni adjustables if you can afford them. -- 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 |
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2nd May 2024 7:22am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7979  
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Spot on. Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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2nd May 2024 9:09am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7979
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OME shocks with std genuine springs and air bags in the rear to help when shes is loaded up.
if you use progressive springs it will help comfort when lightly loaded. Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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2nd May 2024 9:10am |
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| Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 707
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Do you have a budget in mind? Also what sort of lanes and off road, do you have traction control or anything like LSD or locking diffs? Standard suspension is a pretty good balance all round, you'll be hard to top it in every category. However it is still easy to cross axle a standard vehicle, so some +2" shocks can really help out off road, although if you have traction control or other traction aids, then keeping all 4 wheels on the ground isn't quite so important. I'm guessing it is a 110 you have based on the link? Defenders already sit pretty high, so you shouldn't really need to lift them. Compared to other 4x4s its like Land Rover included a lift as part of the basic design. Although a 110 does have a poorer breakover angel compared to a 90, so a small 1" lift might help here. I wouldn't have thought yours is really "sagging", that isn't really how coil springs work. If you do go for longer shocks you'll either need longer springs or dislocation cones to stop the springs falling out of the spring seats. But I personally probably wouldn't go for HD springs unless you plan to be loaded most of the time, as the ride will be bouncy and harsh when lightly loaded. If you want a more budget shock, look at the Britpart Celluar Dynamic shocks, they are a twin tube design, so will work very well when loaded. https://www.paddockspares.com/off-road/sus...mpers.html I quite like the Flatdog springs: https://www.flatdoguk.com/def%2D110%2D%2B1%2D%2F%2Dhd%2D1%7E637 You might also want to consider new bushes while you are at it. They can make a big difference to ride and handling if the old ones are worn out. Polybush offer 3 different grades (comfort, performance & dynamic): https://www.polybush.co.uk/polyurethane-su...2-onwards/ As you are sometimes loaded with weight up high, you might also want to consider anti roll bars if you haven't got them currently fitted. Or the air spring assisters that fit inside the springs. https://www.devon4x4.com/air-suspension-aid-110.html For standard height or +1" you won't need anything like castor correction kits or new radius arms. I would suggest fitting some open style turrets on the front though, makes things so much eaiser next time round. https://gwynlewis4x4.co.uk/product/front-s...rs-gl1056/ |
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2nd May 2024 10:44am |
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| Will.I.AM Member Since: 16 May 2013 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 405 
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My 130 is very simular to yours in ass far as i use it for a 14 mile daily commute, towing light and heavy, light greenlaning and then for instance we are about to leave next week for a 3000mile trim into france and spain loaded up.
I have gone throguh 3 sets of terrafirma suspension and i am on my best set up yet. I got spring coil in sheffield to make the springs to the terrafirma 2 inch light duty spec on front and 2 inch medium duty on the back (i would do light for both on yours being a 110 for the most comfort) but made them for a 5 inch lift as mine is lifted so needed to base the spec on a spring that worked previously but with the extra lift. I have tried terrafirma shocks on but they are all crap in all honesty - i now have OME medium duty shocks from Glyn Lewis and they are perfect. if you dont have a budget then i would go for an air set up from Onair - i have done a 90 myself and air is the best as it gives you serious comfort and height or lowering for off road or kerb crawling and these come with fox shocks - otherwise next best would go for Glyn Lewis springs and then fox shocks or if this is still above budget and as in my case (i didn't want to spend the money on fox) got the OME shocks firstly as they are good for a 5 inch lift and secondly are decent and offer a good ride. Defender 130 HCPU TD5 |
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2nd May 2024 10:54am |
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| Scotm Member Since: 28 Feb 2014 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 666  
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Second this - along with superpro bushes and sumubars. Mine gets used for camping trips, minibus using the seven seats, towing scout trailers and carrying two Canadian canoes on the roof with bike rack on the back. |
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2nd May 2024 11:54am |
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| Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 707
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Running +5" shocks is probably un-needed for most. You'll be needing new upper spring mounts, extended brake lines and custom wide angle props. Only real benefit would be for extreme flex off road on technical terrain.
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2nd May 2024 12:03pm |
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| MarkBrown Member Since: 03 Oct 2022 Location: Mid Wales Posts: 442 
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I’ve put Gwyn Lewis +2 inch kit on the front of my 110 only, so far. They were a big improvement over both the britpart and monroe shocks fitted before with improved ride and damping. Rear kit to follow!
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2nd May 2024 1:01pm |
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