Measuring Suspension Lift

[Tyke]

Is there an easy way to measure the actual effective suspension lift on the Discovery?

Cheers guys.

[Greybeard]

Yeah, measure before you lift it and then measure it after you have lifted it. Dont forget to measure the same points both times and have the same payload ... :lol:

[Tyke]

Thats no good if the lift has already been done by previous owner/s.

What I want is some datum point to measure to based on standard suspension components . . . . say deck to height of rear bumper or something like that.

[Wanderer]

Have a look under your sun visor and see if the height figures are there.
They are on mine.

Ed

[Tyke]

Oh yes - forgot about those - that will be a start - cheers  

[Wanderer]

Don't forget they'll differ if it hasn't got the standard tyres on.
You'll need to add half or take off half the diameter of the extra on the tyres.

IE A 2" lift with tyres that are 2" larger in diameter isn't a 4" lift but a 3" lift.
I never add the extra on the tyres when I measure the lift. I measure centre of the wheel to the top of the wheel arch before and after.

[TimM]

Before I fitted my lift I measured from the floor to the highest point on the front wheelarch (the top of the curve) which I'm sure was 32", at the time it had 235/70x16 tyres.

[Wanderer]

32" it must have been a bit "tired" Tim. Aren't they usually around 33-34" ?

[bambamjj]

Mine was 32" before lift as well.  whne i fitted 2" lift it gained about 3.5 - 4" in total

[Wanderer]

In reality though it's only a 2" lift due to the tired springs.

Fitting brand new standard springs can give at least 1" of lift.

Otherwise I've got a 6" lift on mine :)

[Range Rover Blues]

A more accurate way is to measure the eyebrow height, ie centre of wheel to wheelarch eyebro (highest pint).  Another is to measure the distance between spring seats, but involves lying on your back.  As a rule of thumb the front panhard rod should be about horizontal, so the height between the RH end of the rod and the redundant eye on the RH end of the axle should give you an idea of the amount of lift fitted.

[Tyke]

Thats great guys and it gives me a few pointers to start from.

Been looking at a couple of vehicles for a mate and I think the biggest problem with older and used vehicles is sag in the standard kit. It can be very deceptive when someone tells you the plot has been lifted and there is nothing to reference it by.

Cheers.

[TimM]

32" it must have been a bit "tired" Tim. Aren't they usually around 33-34" ?

It could have easily been tired, the shocks were certainly on there way out so I wouldn't be suprised if the springs were too.

Not sure about what they usually are (this is my first Disco).

[muddyjames]

I think my suspension is saggy too as if I get hold of the roof bars and rock the disco it is easy but on muddysteve's rangie with new 1" lift kit on it is firm and hard to rock.

Maybe it would be cheaper just to buy new springs? I am seriously considering it. No idea how easy just the springs are to change mind you!

[Range Rover Blues]

Bear in mind that most lift kits involve HD springs though, so it's more than they are just 'new'.

Replacing the front springs involves removing the damper anyway and it's easier to do the back springs with the damper disconnected.

[Bulli]

I can change rear springs in about 10 minutes but as RRb says the fronts are much more time consuming. I wouldnt be happy if i had little movement and rock hard springs would give a crap ride and poor flexibility off road.