Question on 32" tires and gearing...

[KCJones]

Hey Guys and Girls hope you can help me out here...

I have a 96 300tdi manual and I'm looking at getting it set up for touring. I have grand plans for the old girl when the funds and time allows however the current hiccup lay in what size tires will work.

I'm set on a 2" lift which will be in before I order the wheels. after trawling through so, so, so many posts I'm pretty set on 235/85R16 in an AT (either ST MAXX if they come down in price or BFG's). They will be going on the standard disco alloys if they don't fowl up to much with the steering components.

My question is will the standard gearing be OK for touring or will I need to look at changing it? She is a sluggish beast at the best of times and I think that the wheels may push it over the edge....

Uprated Allisport inter-cooler is on the cards but I would like to get the tires sorted first to start getting out and seeing more of the country.

Cheers,

KC

[Rezley]

I've used 235/85/16s on both a Diesel and Petrol and IMO wouldn't bother changing gearing.

The Diesel was an auto
Petrol a manual, both handle it fine.

Rez

[vogue]

If its mainly a touring vehicle, then a Defender transfer case will bring your high range back to standard, low range stays the same. You can also buy the transfer gears from Ashcroft.

[KCJones]

I was looking into a defender transfer swap but seems quite involved. I'm trying to do as much work as I can myself to keep the costs down and learn about the car...

Would it just be a matter of replacing the ratio gearing or does the whole box need to come out and be replaced?

[CU55TM Disco]

I have 265/75-16 on my 96 300TDI. Its no race car, but i wouldnt say its a slug. with a bit of gear in her it may be a differnt story tho i suppose.



PS. On standard rims, with 2" lift, the tyres foul on the radius arms at full lock, and small chop of the rear guards was also required.

[auf_wiedersehen_pet]

Uprated Allisport inter-cooler is on the cards

I fitted a full width one to my TGV (2.8) engined Disco - you won't be disappointed.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

[discopete]

Have you had any adjustments made to the fueling or turbo? This will help without the intercooler upgrade. I ran 235/85s on my 200tdi and it handled them reasonably well with the turbo and fuel pump adjusted and a larger free flow exhaust. It was a bit sluggish on steep hill starts in high range and I never carried a full touring load so I can't comment on that. I'd only bother changing gearing if going 33s or larger.

Pete

[SSmith]

its up to personal opinion

some think it is ok. i hated mine on 235/85/R16 with standard gearing.
if you are set on that tyre size, give it a try. do a short trip and then decide about the gearing.

[DiscoMick]

I've just fitted 245/75/16 MTRs on steels on my D1, which has a 50mm lift, and haven't noticed any difference to the gearing, but they are rubbing slightly on full lock. It never was a rocketship, of course. When I got the front wheels balanced today the tyre shop advised that 245/70/16s shouldn't rub, if I go that way in future.

[KCJones]

Have you had any adjustments made to the fueling or turbo? This will help without the intercooler upgrade. I ran 235/85s on my 200tdi and it handled them reasonably well with the turbo and fuel pump adjusted and a larger free flow exhaust. It was a bit sluggish on steep hill starts in high range and I never carried a full touring load so I can't comment on that. I'd only bother changing gearing if going 33s or larger.

Pete

I didn't see the point in tweaking the fueling before adding an intercooler... does it really make that much of a difference to performance? Not that I want a rally car but I would like to join traffic without the fear of being T-Boned!

[KCJones]

its up to personal opinion

some think it is ok. i hated mine on 235/85/R16 with standard gearing.
if you are set on that tyre size, give it a try. do a short trip and then decide about the gearing.

Double post I know but what did you do to remedy it? Change down a size or play with the gearing?

[discopete]

I didn't see the point in tweaking the fueling before adding an intercooler... does it really make that much of a difference to performance? Not that I want a rally car but I would like to join traffic without the fear of being T-Boned!

I can't do a direct comparison because when I purchased the disco the adjustments had already been made. I did drive a 300tdi some years back and thought what a slug. The tweaked 200 tdi on the other hand was very driveable, not a V8 but pretty good. Ask about on the forum, may others have done it. A lot cheaper than the intercooler and it might be all you require.

Pete

[DiscoMick]

Our fuel pump on the 300tdi has been adjusted and it made a significant difference, but adding a larger intercooler than standard would mean it would need to be adjusted again, I'm told.

[SSmith]

Double post I know but what did you do to remedy it? Change down a size or play with the gearing?

I went to 285/75/R16 tyres and 4.11:1 diffs.

[flyreels]

I went to 285/75/R16 tyres and 4.11:1 diffs.

What rims are you running?

[SSmith]

16x8 -25 offset dynamic, i think, is the brand

[flyreels]

16x8 -25 offset dynamic, i think, is the brand

Would you be able to measure the track width for me?
Regards Peter

[SSmith]

1820mm to the outer edge of the tyre tread.
is that the right place to measure it to

[flyreels]

1820mm to the outer edge of the tyre tread.
is that the right place to measure it to

Thanks, for all your help, the right place is centre to centre

[2_door]

This is mine with 265/75/16 cooper STT s on factory 16x8 alloys with 2 inch lift

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/10/1352.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/09/314.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/09/315.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/09/316.jpg

Mines a V8 so it still drives very well and isnt sluggish in the least

[SSmith]

1600mm track
wow that is a very nice looking disco 2_door, that a respray or very well kept?

[2_door]

1600mm track
wow that is a very nice looking disco 2_door, that a respray or very well kept?


Just babied mate ;) hasn't seen any hard work, it's a tourer :p

[damo79]

2 door,
Love your truck, you wouldnt happen to know what offset your wheels are by any chance?
Cheers,
Damo

[2_door]

2 door,
Love your truck, you wouldnt happen to know what offset your wheels are by any chance?
Cheers,
Damo

Thanks mate, they are factory 16x7 alloys with a +30 offset.

Cheers

[CU55TM Disco]

This is mine with 265/75/16 cooper STT s on factory 16x8 alloys with 2 inch lift

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/10/1352.jpg


Mines a V8 so it still drives very well and isnt sluggish in the least


2Door, is this JUST a 2" spring lift in ur disco, or has it got body lift as well? I dug through ur build thread, and at one stage U had a BL in there. Did U keep it or remove it? If so, why?


this is a schmick looking rig!
Cheers Mate,


Rob.

[2_door]

Hey Rob, no mate, it's just a 2 inch coil lift. This is a different disco to the one in that old build thread, I've had another disco and rangie since then :p

The old disco had a 2 inch coil and a 2 inch body lift with 245/75/16's and was a bit of a mud pig. This one is a tourer so I don't need the body lift but it sure is tempting, they are so easy to do ;)

I have a few little things to finish on this one and I will put up some pics and build up info on it here :)

Hey Smally, Where are you, your van has been gone for eternity :p

Cheers

[motoafro]

Hi there 2_Door,

Totally agree with previous posters, your truck looks great :)

It looks to me like you have had a camel cut on the rear quarters, is that the only mod you have made to fit the coopers in ?

Cheers

[2_door]

Hey motoafro, yes the rear camel cut is the only mod so far. To be honest I haven't flexed it up totally to see if they rub anywhere else, but mine won't be used for extreme offroading, more gravel roads and along the beach etc so I can't guarantee that they won't rub.

I have some new shocks here to go on it in the next few weeks and once they are on I will flex it up just for giggles and see if they rub :p

[flyreels]

Hi 2_door, what shocks did you get?
Cheers Pete

[DiscoMick]

Hi mate, I see you've got the 245/75/16s on factory alloys - do they rub on full lock? If so, would putting them on LR steels make any difference? I ask because mine are rubbing on full lock on steels and I wonder if transferring them to alloys would make any difference.

[flyreels]

Hi mate, I see you've got the 245/75/16s on factory alloys - do they rub on full lock? If so, would putting them on LR steels make any difference? I ask because mine are rubbing on full lock on steels and I wonder if transferring them to alloys would make any difference.

They both have the same off set +33 so there would be no difference
Cheers Peter

[DiscoMick]

Ah thanks, I didn't know that, so that rules out that idea.

[2_door]

Hi 2_door, what shocks did you get?
Cheers Pete

Hey Pete, I went with the Procomp shocks. I've had them in the past and I like the ride they give. I got the long ones for the back just for the extra wheel travel if I ever need it.

Let me know when you up in town next time and we'll try to catch up ;)

[flyreels]

Hey Pete, I went with the Procomp shocks. I've had them in the past and I like the ride they give. I got the long ones for the back just for the extra wheel travel if I ever need it.

Let me know when you up in town next time and we'll try to catch up ;)

Thanks for that mate, I will let you know when I am coming up next mate and I will make sure we can catch up.
Cheers Pete

[loanrangie]

Hi mate, I see you've got the 245/75/16s on factory alloys - do they rub on full lock? If so, would putting them on LR steels make any difference? I ask because mine are rubbing on full lock on steels and I wonder if transferring them to alloys would make any difference.

Factory steels are the same width and offset so wont make any difference - and they dont rub, only 265+ width will on stock rims.

[DiscoMick]

Well mine are certainly rubbing on full lock.

[flyreels]

Well mine are certainly rubbing on full lock.
From What I have found models before 95 rub with 245/75/16 and after do not.
What year is your?

[DiscoMick]

1995.

[flyreels]

1995.

Well there goes my theory then

[DiscoMick]

I seem to recall there was some kind of update mid-1995, but I don't remember the details.

[2_door]

Just to add to the confusion, my first disco was a 97 model and it had 245/75/16s on it and they rubbed on full lock too, only needed minor adjustment of the steering stoppers. My 99 with 265/75/16 needed a lot more adjustment of the steering stoppers...

[Judo]

My 95 Disco, standard suspension and wheels with 245/45/16's needed camel cut and steering stop adjustment. I only checked the steering with the wheels on stands (didnt want to wreck my new tyres) and it looked mighty close, so I just did a minor adjustment.

[flyreels]

That's interesting as I had some reply's that the 245/75/16 on standard rims were not rubbing on full lock and they all were after 95 so I thought that they may have changed something when they did the update in 95, it now looks like it may just be the tyres different brands have different widths for the same size.

[Judo]

That's interesting as I had some reply's that the 245/75/16 on standard rims were not rubbing on full lock and they all were after 95 so I thought that they may have changed something when they did the update in 95, it now looks like it may just be the tyres different brands have different widths for the same size.
I would say the tyre brand is most likely explanation. Not that it matters. Fit the tyres, check if they rub and if so just do a minor adjustment. Mine were only border line, but I wanted to play it safe.

[DiscoMick]

That's very interesting. Can I ask a probably dumb question? Just exactly how do you adjust the steering stoppers to stop them rubbing? Can anyone explain it in mug's terms please?

[Judo]

http://imageshack.us/a/img809/6383/photooct12095730.jpg

The bolt in the middle sticking out is the steerig stop, just above the swivel housing oil level (small) plug.

To adjust the right hand steering stop turn the wheels to left full lock. Check the clearance between the left tyre and the radius arm (rear of left wheel). Official spec is 20mm. If its less than 20mm undo the right hand steering stop bolt and use the nut to lock it in place.

Swap left and rights and repeat.

[2_door]

I found the easiest way to do it is put the transfer case in neutral and put the front diff housing on axle stands so both front wheels are off the ground, then you can swing the wheels left and right and spin them by hand so you can see easily how much adjustment is needed while our lying unde the car. Saves turning them lock to lock with the motor running and leaving big black marks in your driveway ;)

[DiscoMick]

Thanks for that, especially the pic. So, I've had a go and managed to stop it rubbing on full right lock, but its still rubbing on full left lock, so I obviously need to fiddle some more.

[Young Angus]

Old thread but finally I found something simple that tells me how to adjust my steering stops...albeit I wasn't searching for that but it was a nice accidental find for something I've needed to do for years :)

[460cixy]

Mines on 245/75/16 auto 300tdi and its slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww pull a trailer with a bit of stuff in it like dirt bike swags fuel ect and its faster to walk

[DiscoMick]

Ours was definitely slower to accelerate on the bigger tyres.

[460cixy]

Mines got no center muffler no resonator tuned pump pump timing set and yawn its painfull. Empty is pretty reasonable but nowhere near as good with standard tyres

[Young Angus]

Mine is pretty good on the 245/75/16s but it's had an injector pump tweak (I think) and it's got a D-Gas conversion done by one of the lovely gents on this forum. I haven't really towed much before except for a trailer full of dirt but it seemed to go fine on that, didn't have to go up any hills though.

I'd be more worried about the brakes haha