Suspension Upgrade Question

[Disco Bristol]

Hello! I am very keen to upgrade my suspension, prompted by the fact my Disco seems to be sitting a little lower at the back than it should.

I would like to lift it by 1 inch; apart from that I have no idea about what suspension to go for.

Can anyone please recommend me a commonly accepted decent suspension kit.

I would be kidding myself if I said price was not an issue, but I am happy to pay a bit more for better suspension.

Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Christopher

1997 Discovery 200tdi

[denviks]

hi mate. i fitted a set of heavy duty springs with procomp +2" shocks. mine actully went up by 1.5" on the rear as the old stuff had sagged so much. the front went up by just over an inch. i think it cost me about 270 for the lot. that inc dislocation cones ect......

[Disco Bristol]

hi mate. i fitted a set of heavy duty springs with procomp +2" shocks. mine actully went up by 1.5" on the rear as the old stuff had sagged so much. the front went up by just over an inch. i think it cost me about 270 for the lot. that inc dislocation cones ect......

Hi there, thanks for that, I will also have to look at if + 2" will effect my insurance. Was that £270 with fitting? And where did you buy them from?

[Disco Bristol]

On the procomp website it has this, much more than you paid.

1989-98 Discovery 200/300 - Tdi Series I
   Four coil springs, ES9000 shock absorbers & boots

Lift F/R = 2.0"/2.0"  

Price:   £343.00  !!

[denviks]

hi mate.....the 270 was just for the kit. i got it all from paddocks. it wasnt a lift kit i fitted to mine as i ddnt want all the hassle of insurance ect. plus i tow alot, so i went for the heavy duty springs, but still gained alittle hight as the old springs ect had sagged alot.

maybe just an option for you mate  

[denviks]

On the procomp website it has this, much more than you paid.

1989-98 Discovery 200/300 - Tdi Series I
   Four coil springs, ES9000 shock absorbers & boots

Lift F/R = 2.0"/2.0"  

Price:   £343.00  !!

i did buy mine early last year mate but its been sat on my dinning room floor for over a year  :oops:  much to the misses annoyance  :lol:  :lol:

[Richie_EB4]

2" lift with shocks..........but you will have to fit it yourself...........its not a bad job and there are loads on here that have done it.

http://www.paddockspares.com/pp/OFF_ROAD/Coil_Springs_and_Kits/Plus_2_Inch_Lift_Kit_for_Disco_1_and_Range_Rover_Classic_(without_winch).html

[Budgie]

Before you start thinking about "How High" I would think "What do I want it for?"

What condition are your shocks in? If they are good then why get another set?
If the springs are shot then a new set of standard springs may give you the extra inch lift and they are about £20 a corner.

If you want original ride height but better road holding then a set of standard springs and gas shocks will set you back around £220 for the parts.

If you want to go for a little more height, heavier springs & shocks then MM 4x4 do a 1.5" lift kit (springs & gas shocks only) for £174+VAT. Just remember that these are heavy duty springs & shocks so the ride will be stiffer than what you have now and you will feel more of the bumps on the road.

The trouble is, when you start lifting a motor then the lift may start to effect other parts of the steering & suspension.  
If you take it off road then a +2" lift will need extended brake hoses on the front & rear axle to be on the safe side, there's nothing worse then going to full articulation and snapping a brake line!  
+2" lift may also effect the caster angle of the steering meaning that the steering will feel lighter, tend to follow lines on the road and may set-up vibrations in the vehicle.

You may also find that parts such as propshaft U/J's, rear A-frame ball joint, suspension bushes and steering arm ball joints will fail soon after the lift as the originals are working at different angles to what they have been used to.
Some have lifted a Landy and had no problem, others have, so it's best to think about all this before deciding on what you want to do.  

[Colin 009]

wise words there. Listen to the bird.  :lol:

[Sheddy]

Don't worry too much about the effect on your insurance.

When I fist got the Disco Adrian Flux were one of the expensive insurers so I went with another.  When I did the mods to mine, I informed the insurers and they said that thier insurance wasn't for modified vehicles.  I re-contacted Adrian flux and am now paying less for the Disco moded than I was for standard!

[DurtyDisco]

I've just done a suspension change, including 2" lift kit, Procomp ES9000 Dampers, 200Kg heavy duty springs, Disclocation cones front and rear and on recomendation a new set of extended braided hoses, Red polybushed all the way though. Didnt realise how bad the old supsension was till I drove home.

Bit bouncy now, but offroad its awesome!!

My only advice would be, determine what it's going to be used for, as with the kits, you get some stuff that you just dont want/ need like anti roll bars etc. I spoke with the experts and got all the bits to do what I wanted and it worked out really reasonable!!

 :lol:

[dminto69]

hi i have just done a 2 inch lift friday on mine bought the kit from paddocks 1.5 inch heavy duty springs on the front due to having a winch and 2 on the back i also bought in the kit dislocation cones front and back and the clamps that hold the springs at the bottom sorry dont know the name of them still waiting for the hoses to come , this is my opinion only buy the cones etc as when i went to do mine it was that siezed up i ended up using that spanner that fits all (grinder) so was glad i had everything there it took a few hours and alot of swearing but its worth it .

[toger]

Before you start thinking about "How High" I would think "What do I want it for?"

What condition are your shocks in? If they are good then why get another set?
If the springs are shot then a new set of standard springs may give you the extra inch lift and they are about £20 a corner.

If you want original ride height but better road holding then a set of standard springs and gas shocks will set you back around £220 for the parts.

If you want to go for a little more height, heavier springs & shocks then MM 4x4 do a 1.5" lift kit (springs & gas shocks only) for £174+VAT. Just remember that these are heavy duty springs & shocks so the ride will be stiffer than what you have now and you will feel more of the bumps on the road.

The trouble is, when you start lifting a motor then the lift may start to effect other parts of the steering & suspension.  
If you take it off road then a +2" lift will need extended brake hoses on the front & rear axle to be on the safe side, there's nothing worse then going to full articulation and snapping a brake line!  
+2" lift may also effect the caster angle of the steering meaning that the steering will feel lighter, tend to follow lines on the road and may set-up vibrations in the vehicle.

How about just fitting suspension spacers to start with?

[Budgie]

For the price of a set of 25mm spacers you can have 2 new rear springs.

Sure they raise the motor but spacers don't sort out any problems associated with worn shocks or tired springs. Plus they limit articulation on the rear if used with standard height shocks (unless you buy drop plates for the top of the rear shocks - more money) and they can do the same on the front unless you get the ones that are machined to secure the bottom of the shocker to the spacer. That's assuming that the bottom nut on the shocker will undo in the first place.

For me, I don't like them. Much better to fit the springs & shocks that are made for the purpose.  

[Xtremeteam]

For the price of a set of 25mm spacers you can have 2 new rear springs.

Sure they raise the motor but spacers don't sort out any problems associated with worn shocks or tired springs. Plus they limit articulation on the rear if used with standard height shocks (unless you buy drop plates for the top of the rear shocks - more money) and they can do the same on the front unless you get the ones that are machined to secure the bottom of the shocker to the spacer. That's assuming that the bottom nut on the shocker will undo in the first place.

For me, I don't like them. Much better to fit the springs & shocks that are made for the purpose.  

got to agree  :D

[toger]

Okay budgie me old mate.
LAst year I had fitted De Carbon shocks and Blue springs, everything standard size, all round.
Have decided to copy you and fingers a bit (should I go to a 4"cher :D )
What do I do to give myself a 1.5 or 2.0 inch lift please????

[Budgie]

With mine, I went up in stages.
I needed new shocks when I got the Disco, so I got a set of standard height De Carbons. Then the springs needed doing plus I wanted a lift so went for Scorpion +1" springs that are OK with the standard height De Carbons.
Then I cut the arches and wanted larger tyres but I needed more lift so I ditched the springs & shocks & fitted +3" Bearmach springs & ES9000's which are still on there now.
I removed the anti roll bars which made the rear a bit bouncy so a second set of ES9000 are now on there making 4 rear shocks!  

The old De Carbons went on Ebay and the Scorpion springs are now on the Rangie so they didn't go to waste.

If I were in your position I'd bite the bullet and go for a new set-up but, as your springs & shocks are not that old and if you don't fancy forking out for another new set so early, then you could go with the spacers & drop the top shocker mounting on the rears. Don't forget the brake lines, you'll need extended ones put on if you going to +2" higher than standard, just for safety sake.  

In Chris's case, it sounds like he's got OE spec springs & shocks so a new set of both is the best way to go if you don't know how long the originals have been on there and how worn the items are.  

[Disco Bristol]

Thank you all very much for your input! It is a great help.