King Springs

[mike_beecham]

Hi All,
I understand King springs are a good fit with the Defender. Looking for 2" lift ish.

Is this a decent price:
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/150742943829'ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

Looking at perhaps KONI or Bilstein shocks?

Recommendations welcome.

Mike

[CraigE]

Is an OK price. Try Covs (Coventrys) and see if you can get them at a better price.
Cheers
CraigE

[mike_beecham]

Thanks mate.

Mike

[Nomad9]

Hi Mike,
WA Suspensions know their stuff, other than that Suspension Stuff give a good on-line service, I have had some good service out of my Tough Dog shocks, not cheap but they are good, well that's in my opinion of course.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Hi All,
I understand King springs are a good fit with the Defender. Looking for 2" lift ish.

Is this a decent price:
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/150742943829'ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

Looking at perhaps KONI or Bilstein shocks?

Recommendations welcome.

Mike

Mike,
The King Springs are excellent. Ive used them on my vehicles for many years and sold many sets to customers over the years.

Word of warning on those particular springs though - If your vehicle is constantly heavily loaded then you will be fine, if its more of a standard car with a few extra bits added then you would be well advised to steer clear of the HD springs, that is use the suggested below instead:

Front - KRFR-03 or KRRS-02
Rear - KLRR-05

The 03's on the front are the standard King spring raised (approx 30 - 35mm front), the alternative I suggest will give you a slight bit more in the front end and will make the vehicle sit that bit more level front to back.

As for dampers - The Koni 90 series are sold as suitable for +60mm but this is incorrect and they are too short and allow for approx 5mm extension!!! I know people that run the Koni 80 series and they are most excellent.

Id also consider the Tough Dog Foam Cells. Some dislike them but I have found them to be very reliable over the years.

hth
J

[g2landyman]

Hi I have both hd and standard 75mm lift luv them, Gibb river road reg no probs and I use Rancho's ajustable's I think theyre ok, Tough dogs good too.

[Brad110]

I run the same and am very happy. The front cope with Bar and Spare on bonnet. Rear is harsh without a load but compensates for removed sway bar due to LR tank. I am trying Terra firma expedition shocks. impressively large but dont know about durability. well priced.

Replaced Bilsteins which are well proven but have a harsh ride.

[Debacle]

Suspension Stuff do a progressive rate +2 inch Kings springs for the RRC, so I would assume they would be available for the Defender. $600 for a set, but might give a better ride.

[tonic]

I got them with mine when I bought it. They were very hard untill I put correction radius arms and kinked trailing arms on. Improved the ride, speed bumps now feel normal and not like you just feel bum first onto concrete. This could mean that they are heavy duty springs, so dont just take my word for it.

I have old Bilstein in the back but had to replace the front. I went with Tough Dog Foam and have been happy thus far. Also have Tough Dog adjustable steering dampner.

Wish I could tell you which Kings I have but not sure as I did not fit them. Kings are not far from my home but my work hours have stopped me from calling in so far.

I have been through their factory before, you would be amazed who they make springs for. They come out of the factory in different colours in different branded boxes.

I also had to fit dislocation cones on the rear. But I understand from others threads on this forum that they may have fixed that problem with coil design. Cant remember what was said now.

Hope this helps, I'm not very knowledgeable on the subject can only talk on my own experiences with a second hand deefa with unknown model of king springs. :wacko:

[Yorkshire_Jon]

I got them with mine when I bought it. They were very hard untill I put correction radius arms and kinked trailing arms on. Improved the ride, speed bumps now feel normal and not like you just feel bum first onto concrete. This could mean that they are heavy duty springs, so dont just take my word for it.

I have old Bilstein in the back but had to replace the front. I went with Tough Dog Foam and have been happy thus far. Also have Tough Dog adjustable steering dampner.

Wish I could tell you which Kings I have but not sure as I did not fit them. Kings are not far from my home but my work hours have stopped me from calling in so far.

I have been through their factory before, you would be amazed who they make springs for. They come out of the factory in different colours in different branded boxes.

I also had to fit dislocation cones on the rear. But I understand from others threads on this forum that they may have fixed that problem with coil design. Cant remember what was said now.

Hope this helps, I'm not very knowledgeable on the subject can only talk on my own experiences with a second hand deefa with unknown model of king springs. :wacko:

IF you have King Springs on the car and not just yellow coloured springs on the car they will have black inject text on them that identifies the model number. Can be a tad hard to spot depending on how much care was taken to make the text visible when they were installed!

No idea what the link between King Springs and dislocation cones is - Ive never had a problem with King Springs not fitting and Defender.

If you have fitted cranked trailing arms I suspect you have been chasing wheel travel and thus found the need for the dislocation cones... this is something different to any issues associated with springs. Defenders do not need to have cranked trailing arms with the raised King Springs.

I have no association with KS, but I have fitted a lot of them to many vehicles over the years.

[tonic]

IF you have King Springs on the car and not just yellow coloured springs on the car they will have black inject text on them that identifies the model number. Can be a tad hard to spot depending on how much care was taken to make the text visible when they were installed!

No idea what the link between King Springs and dislocation cones is - Ive never had a problem with King Springs not fitting and Defender.

If you have fitted cranked trailing arms I suspect you have been chasing wheel travel and thus found the need for the dislocation cones... this is something different to any issues associated with springs. Defenders do not need to have cranked trailing arms with the raised King Springs.

I have no association with KS, but I have fitted a lot of them to many vehicles over the years.

Thanks Mate.

I can see King springs on them but have not really looked past that. The rear springs would not stay in at the top when flexing on fairly simple ruts so I put the cones in. I am more into to touring, the first time this happened was on my first outing after fixing road worthy issues from purchase. It was a club trip down a very simple bush track. Others in the club including comp guys said this was normal with this spring lift and to put cones in, which I did.

The arms were and attemp to stop some vibration and to get a better ride, this worked a treat.

[jimr1]

Hi Mike , I've got King Springs 2'' lift plus Bilsten shocks ,onmy 110 when i put my caravan on it drives ok , not to hard not to much roll . The only criticism i've got is i drive empty most of the time exept for a bit of recovery gear . Its a hard ride , i don't think it's the springs , but the shocks . I'm looking to change them for a softer shock with more travel . A mate of mine has Rypo shocks and springs on his Disco , it rides so much better than mine . Iwas thinking of going Rypo shocks . Iknow 110s have heaver rear springs . Maybe someone can add to this , as i would be interested in fifferent options ... ;) ...

[mike_beecham]

I generally dont carry constant load. I tow an off road camper also.
I am just chasing 2" lift or so. Level out the front and rear. I have a winch and steel bar on front.

Mike

[Yorkshire_Jon]

I generally dont carry constant load. I tow an off road camper also.
I am just chasing 2" lift or so. Level out the front and rear. I have a winch and steel bar on front.

Mike


Mike,
With a steel bull bar, winch and steel rope Id go for the KRFR-03HD, if plasma rope id use he KRFR-03, I'd use the KLRR-05 on the back.

If your not heavily loaded in the back all the time, the 05HDs on the rear will be too hard. The best compromise in this situation for when you do extended trips and are heavily loaded is to use airbags from the air-bag man.

Jon

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[mike_beecham]

Hi All
Anyone had experience with Tough Dog 2" Kit? Just thinking this may be easier to have my local 4wd workshop install. He can do for $1640 fitted.

???

Mike

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Why not buy the King Springs and whatever dampers you want and get the local mechanic to fit?

Ive never used the Tough Dog springs (though I was approached a few times by the disti's to sell them in the UK) - I believe however that they do not perform as well as the Kings.

R
J

[mike_beecham]

So:

King springs ordered. Pick up Tuesday.
Shocks. Looking at Shock Warehouse (US) based on recommended on here.
I am looking at the Bilsteins - but their website is hopeless. Does anyone have part nos l can just order with?

Apparently - delivered to door here in Aus for less than half the price of buying here........


Mike

[mike_beecham]

Rover Parts Plus (Ballarat) has the following deal:

COMPLETE VEHICLE SET - BILSTEIN HEAVY DUTY SHOCK ABSORBERS - DEFENDER '99 ONWARDS $770.00

[goingbush]

in my 110 I have Kings KRFS-03 in the front (ARB bar, XD9000 winch & plasma rope) , Bilsteins on front.

Standard springs in back with airbags. Had Bilsteins on back but they didnt last long, started leaking oil, replaced with Terra Firma BigBores 0-2" , far better than the bull steins they replaced (in every respect - esp price)

very happy with the Kings - ideal for my purposes (extended touring) and when the yellow shockers on the front fail TF big bores are going in,

[dcale]

Question: can I use lifted springs (KRFR-03/KLRR-05) with standard shocks? (can't afford the shocks at the moment)
Thanks in advance.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Question: can I use lifted springs (KRFR-03/KLRR-05) with standard shocks? (can't afford the shocks at the moment)
Thanks in advance.

The question is not really can you, but should you!

Can you yes, should you, NO. They will fit but are not long enough for anything other than pretty much flat ground.

I must confess I haven't read all the thread... What shocks are you planning on using?

R
J

Sent using Forum Runner

[Loubrey]

in my 110 I have Kings KRFS-03 in the front (ARB bar, XD9000 winch & plasma rope) , Bilsteins on front.

Standard springs in back with airbags. Had Bilsteins on back but they didnt last long, started leaking oil, replaced with Terra Firma BigBores 0-2" , far better than the bull steins they replaced (in every respect - esp price)

very happy with the Kings - ideal for my purposes (extended touring) and when the yellow shockers on the front fail TF big bores are going in,

I've also had very good experience with the Terrafirma shocks in the past. Purely based on price (a LOT less than the competition) my previous 300Tdi had a full set of Terrafirma suspension (coils and shocks) and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality, ride and longevity.

Cheers,

Lou

[Benny_IIA]

Why not buy the King Springs and whatever dampers you want and get the local mechanic to fit?

Ive never used the Tough Dog springs (though I was approached a few times by the disti's to sell them in the UK) - I believe however that they do not perform as well as the Kings.

R
J

I was under the impression that King make coils for tough dog.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

I was under the impression that King make coils for tough dog.

Just because King Springs make the Tough Dog springs it does not mean that they are the same!

J

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[d@rk51d3]

Just because King Springs make the Tough Dog springs it does not mean that they are the same!

J

Sent using Forum Runner

Yep.

They also make OME too. Would all be to different specs, I presume.

[MLD]

Why not buy the King Springs and whatever dampers you want and get the local mechanic to fit?

Ive never used the Tough Dog springs (though I was approached a few times by the disti's to sell them in the UK) - I believe however that they do not perform as well as the Kings.

R
J

King make tough dog springs and yes they are to different specs to the King off the shelf models. I was informed by tough dog that they requested a softer spring rate than the King catalogue.

To the post querying tough dog +2" lift kit. I have the tough dog shocks (foam cell) and springs 35mm kit. There are 2 kits: standard height or 35mm lift. They don't make a +2" kit as such. I've tried to research it but can't get a definitive answer but I suspect that the kits uses the same shock length and a different spring rate (but same spring height) for the 2 kits. I'm very happy with mine and it's well suited for touring. I get respectable articulation but not outstanding (limited by shock travel and standard trailing arms). I have a TJM bar and winch on front, and requested an all round medium spring for the rear. I don't tow and rarely carry heavy loads. The spring is reasonably firm and holds corners well, so long as you set up the weight transfer of the truck before the apex of the corner (ie no erratic manoeuvres). i live in an area that has lots of twisting roads and I keep up with smaller vehicles. The tough dog spring is not as soft as the Dobinson which will give you better articulation. The shocks have held up well to the punishment I've dished out. That said i haven't driven long distances on corrugations yet, which is the ultimate test. If corrugations are on your horizon, consider the 45mm adjustable shock or the Ralph 53mm shock for the rear. The Ralph won't fit in the front, not sure about the 45mm.

In summary, if you want a touring set up that you can fit and forget (no messing with castor correction, prop shaft angles, trailing arms, panhard rods etc) the tough dog kit is well balanced and well priced. If you want articulation, there are better combinations.

Suspension sets ups are, at the end of the day, subjective. We all justify our purchasing decision be based on budget, sales pitch, a mate's opinion, perceived need and requirements etc etc.

cheers MLD