Thread: DEFENDER 110 SIDE TO SIDE SWAY

Originally Posted by voltron

I remember watching a Landrover Vs Toyota video on youtube by a sth African lad, and he said he didn't like how the Defender sways side to side under rough conditions and stated it was quite harsh. I also recognise this as an issue and was wandering on people's opinions on whether this can be fixed or settled down. A suggestion by a friend that airbags could help, by stiffening up the rear springs a little, as he felt the reason the Landcruiser doesnt do it was because it's on leaf springs and they are more rigid.

Would this be the solution? If so Im going to order some tomorrow.

Cheers.

Firmer springs (or airbags), stiffer dampers or heavier sway bars will all reduce sway at the cost of articulation...

In my case I found getting the shocks right fixed this issue. I run relatively soft springs, 180lb front and 270lb rear with koni raids. Set on the factory rebound setting it was a bit like a drunk hippo and really harsh on rough/corrugated roads. Adjusted the rebound to its max setting at both ends and sway has all but gone, handling hugely improved and a dream to drive on crap roads.

I also run rear airbags and they help as well but not to the same degree as adjusting the shocks did.

I was also told shocks probably need adjusting but my bilstein are not adjustable, as far as I know.

cheers.

Leaf springs provide damping as they have a lot of friction between the leaves. Thus, as others have said, to match the handling of the Toyota, a Landy needs relatively more damping from the, uh, dampeners, aka shockies.
Going for heavier rate springs is a job not well done in my (cheap) opinion.

I think I remember that video. the situation was a steep hill descent with undulations causing the wheels to lift slightly and lose traction. The Landcruiser had diff locks front and back. The Defender just traction control. The issue was that when the Defender broke traction on one wheel it would unwind the drive train and cause a lurch forward and loud clunking. I think that's to be expected with open diffs.

The solution would be fit front/rear lockers - that's the best solution.

The other option would be to fit much softer and compliant springs or air bags which might reduce the number of times it loses traction on one wheel.

I also thought that South African guy was a bit clueless or a Toyota dealer.

Or simply giving the brakes a bit of pressure to stop the unloaded wheel wasting the engine braking.That video shows a bloke who couldn't drive,he drove down in first instead of second and let the vehicle run away,the idea of not touching the brakes going down an incline is idiotic,if your defender is swaying side to side I'd suggest better damping,what model defender is it?. Pat