Thread: Longer front shock towers

Originally Posted by Wal Rat

I am about to fit 5 inch longer front shocks,2inch longer shock towers ,cones and spring retainers to my defender the question is what do I do about the drivers side shock tower that is below the expansion tank. I think it is going to hit, so do I get an alloy expansion tank made with a hole in the middle or has some one out there got a better answer.

I suspect it would be much easier to relocate the expansion tank. There should be plenty of room to move in a Defender engine bay.

I suspect it would be much easier to relocate the expansion tank. There should be plenty of room to move in a Defender engine bay.

Problem is there is not a lot of room as forward of expansion tank is power steering tank,and behind is the master cylinder.

Originally Posted by Wal Rat

Problem is there is not a lot of room as forward of expansion tank is power steering tank,and behind is the master cylinder.

This is exactly why the system that Terrafirma "borrowed" from Gwyn Lewis isn't complete,as they left out a few details.

When I fitted my Gwyn Lewis +2" towers,they came with approx 2" standoffs to space the expansion tank off the inner guard,just enough to clear the towers.
All you will require is a couple of pieces of threaded rod approx3" long, some washers and nyloc nuts and a couple of pieces of metal tube approx 2" long that will fit over the threaded rod.Mine is 6mm threaded rod and approx 10 mm tube.Just need to drill a couple of holes in the inner lip of the guard (right near where the original mounts are) and fit it up
I think the longest part of the job was getting the tools organised to do the job.
And make sure that you check the bonnet stay doesn't hit the expansion tank when you close the bonnet.I found that I had a fair amount of movement (laterally) in my bonnet stay,and needed to add a couple of washers to the bottom mount to stop it moving sideways and fouling on the expansion tank.

Hope this helps

Wayne

Thanks that is just the answer I was hoping for you have made my day will pick up the bits tomorrow . Thanks again

Originally Posted by Wal Rat

I am about to fit 5 inch longer front shocks,2inch longer shock towers ,cones and spring retainers to my defender the question is what do I do about the drivers side shock tower that is below the expansion tank. I think it is going to hit, so do I get an alloy expansion tank made with a hole in the middle or has some one out there got a better answer.

Why?

Is there enough compliance in the radius arm bushings to take advantage of the longer dampers?
Wagoo.

Originally Posted by IGL002

Why?

In the landrover world there are some who think they a perfect and need no modification, by the sounds of it you may fit into this category.

Then there are owners who are looking for more out of there landy, mods not only make the vehicle more capable but more reliable as the upgrades are stronger than standard. With suspension mods the benefits are longer wheel travel, this gives better stability offroad and due to the longer wheel travel you don't need to push the car as hard as a standard car. I know this from experience as I have just sold my county with long wheel travel and my new defender is standard and to go over the same ground I have to push the defender as the wheels come of the ground.

I hope this helps people understand why people mod there cars

Originally Posted by wagoo

Is there enough compliance in the radius arm bushings to take advantage of the longer dampers?
Wagoo.

I had longer shocks in my county and I had more travel than standard but to get that extra little bit more you would need cranked radius arms