Thread: Suspension Advice Needed

Originally Posted by TimNZ

What??? Since when? That is a very arrogant statement.

Yeah it may be, It was said because I am sick of people who's advice is just leave it standard land rovers are perfect standard.

Originally Posted by Summiitt

Interesting comment, defenders are designed to carry loads, if you take a defender off road with less than 400kg on board, they will be harsh and won't flex as they are designed to do. I did 120,000km hard off road driving in my 110 puma and the suspension was stock and performed brilliantly. My current 130 single cab tray tops stock suspension will be left as is for the time been. If it's not fully loaded it rides harsh and is uncomfortable, it has to be loaded above 3t gvm to settle it down and make it work off road...it's common knowledge in commercial applications that a 79 cruiser will need heavier rear springs from new or by 30k, I am expecting at least 150k out of the defenders standard setup before they start looking tired...just my 2 bobs worth.

Yeah so it depends on what your using the vehicle for. I would still prefer my 3 inch lift over standard any day, for one a standard car wont be as capable off road. I have a 130 and I have no problems if you want to compare the two, but I know you wont keep up in the bush. I am in Sydney.

What are you talking about as hard off road driving, corrugations? If so I would still prefer my lift as it handles bumps better and less likely to hit the bump stops.

The lift just has to be done right.

Originally Posted by Summiitt

Interesting comment, defenders are designed to carry loads, if you take a defender off road with less than 400kg on board, they will be harsh and won't flex as they are designed to do. I did 120,000km hard off road driving in my 110 puma and the suspension was stock and performed brilliantly. My current 130 single cab tray tops stock suspension will be left as is for the time been. If it's not fully loaded it rides harsh and is uncomfortable, it has to be loaded above 3t gvm to settle it down and make it work off road...it's common knowledge in commercial applications that a 79 cruiser will need heavier rear springs from new or by 30k, I am expecting at least 150k out of the defenders standard setup before they start looking tired...just my 2 bobs worth.

This is so true. My 110 Puma with a 400 kg payload rides well. The cruisers at work all have aftermarket suspension from new, at great expence. The ride is terrible !

Originally Posted by lambrover

Yeah so it depends on what your using the vehicle for. I would still prefer my 3 inch lift over standard any day, for one a standard car wont be as capable off road. I have a 130 and I have no problems if you want to compare the two, but I know you wont keep up in the bush. I am in Sydney.

What are you talking about as hard off road driving, corrugations? If so I would still prefer my lift as it handles bumps better and less likely to hit the bump stops.

The lift just has to be done right.

and 90% aren't, especially off the shelf kits, which is what Pat was talking about.

Reading this thread,I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone
Sooooo glad I stayed out of this one

Originally Posted by LowRanger

Reading this thread,I feel like I am in the Twilight Zone
Sooooo glad I stayed out of this one

......................................... coming back to the real wold.

Like the OP I need some suspension advice.

I've spent a fair bit of time and effort in bringing a somewhat dillapidated 130 single cab Tdi back to good repair including replacing various suspension rubbers, bushes, ball joints (all the usual suspects) etc.

The springs are OK as are the shockers which have been replaced at some stage. Don't know what brand but are white and Made in USA.

What I am after is info on what I can do to enhance off road performance without going all out. I would prefer to keep my 235/85's even though I have a set of 255/85 KM's, as they rub on full lock and with 130" wheelbase screwing the stops out tends to make a already 'large' turning circle worse.

So what can/should I do to 'improve' matters. I have sway bars front and rear, should I remove them? I've already replaced the pretzel like track rod and drag link with HD ones. Should I remove the inner springs on the rear ?

Without going all out and spending thousands, is something like Les Richmonds $750 kit worth doing ?

Performance Suspension Kits

The 130 is/will be my 'toy' and as such is not a daily driver that has to double as a work or commuter vehicle.

I've got the front end in partial bits at the moment replacing the radius arm rubbers so now is a good time to change things.

The front anti-sway bar is a bit bent, sort of trapezium shaped, but not seriously so. Should I leave it as is, replace it with a HD version or give it the flick all together ?

I'm not building a rock climbing comp vehicle, but whilst in bits what relatively simple things can I do to improve off road capability without opening a whole can of worms. (already have HD rear axles and flanges).

Say for a budget of $1K what can/should I do.

Deano

Originally Posted by lambrover

Yeah it may be, It was said because I am sick of people who's advice is just leave it standard land rovers are perfect standard.

I'm sick of blokes saying you need to modify Land Rovers because they are no good when I've driven all over Oz in standard Land Rovers without an issue.I think people change things for no good reason other than it's fad to have HD 2'' lift kits and twin rear wheel carriers etc. Pat

Ditch the sway bars to start with! Good shockers will control body roll and your flex will increase dramatically.