Suspension help please

[RIN03]

Hi everyone

I am looking into lifting my Freelander 2 and I have a few questions about how to best go about it.

There are others who have successfully lifted by about 25mm using spacers on top of the struts. But I have decided not to go this way as I do not want to play with the geometry. There is one company that is willing to help by using all existing components and just installing a stiffer spring that will give me the lift I am after (I am only looking for around that 25mm). This will just provide that little bit extra to stop me scraping so much.

Measuring from the wheel arch to the centres gives me roughly 90mm of travel between resting and fully extended.

My question is will this be beneficial in terms of towing. I only have a camper trailer 750 ATM. Or would I be sacrificing too much in the way of handling and make the ride too harsh.

Any input would be appreciated

Thanks James

[Dougal]

The geometry change is by ride height. So no matter how you change the ride height, you still get the same geometry change.

Stiffer springs will completely ruin the ride. I'd look to longer springs at the same spring-rate.

[RIN03]

Sorry when I said geometry I meant changing the angles outside of what they come from factory. So not changing the fully compressed to fully extended length. Just making the car sit a bit higher within those limits

Would a longer spring with same spring rate require changing shocks as well to a longer shock

[Dougal]

Sorry when I said geometry I meant changing the angles outside of what they come from factory. So not changing the fully compressed to fully extended length. Just making the car sit a bit higher within those limits

Would a longer spring with same spring rate require changing shocks as well to a longer shock

Gotcha, yes that makes perfect sense.

A longer spring won't *need* a longer shock. But if a longer shock was available it would work with one.

[RIN03]

So I go a longer spring at same spring rate?

And this will give me my desired height still limited by the standard shocks without the feeling of bouncing all over the road and still have no ill affects on a fully loaded car with trailer going camping.

[RIN03]

Sorry about all the questions but I know absolutely nothing about suspension and nothing is available this is all custom made stuff

Ps would a longer spring cause the shocks to fully extend and bang more often. And does this do damage on the few times it might happen ie a pothole in the sand where the wheel drops out

[RIN03]

Does anyone else have any suggestions or advise?

[Grimace]

Hey James,

Do you know currently the static position and the amount of extension you have from this position to fully extend the shock?

I understand you have approx 90mm of travel so need to find out how much of that is in compression and the rest is extension.

Also be interested to know if the vehicle is utilising the full travel available from the strut or not already compressing the springs to their limit in order to work out what your best option may be.

Unfortunately I do not know anything about the FL2 suspension so can't comment further.

[frantic]

If you fit a longer shock, it will travel down more but as the fully compressed body is now longer you will either need to fit longer bump stops or raise the shock mounts.
I don't know how the spacers work, but if they lower the shock and spring by 25mm you will have the same travel in both directions, just need to still check where and how they stop the shocks from compressing to much.
In my defender I fitted longer shocks with a 2in lift and raised the mounting points so still have the travel up to standard bump stops and more down travel.

[ADMIRAL]

Hi everyone

I am looking into lifting my Freelander 2 and I have a few questions about how to best go about it.

There are others who have successfully lifted by about 25mm using spacers on top of the struts. But I have decided not to go this way as I do not want to play with the geometry. There is one company that is willing to help by using all existing components and just installing a stiffer spring that will give me the lift I am after (I am only looking for around that 25mm). This will just provide that little bit extra to stop me scraping so much.

Measuring from the wheel arch to the centres gives me roughly 90mm of travel between resting and fully extended.

My question is will this be beneficial in terms of towing. I only have a camper trailer 750 ATM. Or would I be sacrificing too much in the way of handling and make the ride too harsh.

Any input would be appreciated

Thanks James

Any change to the ride height is going to change the geometry. A common lift will be from using a higher spring rate,( read stiffer ) which is probably good if you are intending to tow. A soft long travel suspension is not going to be a good match for towing duties, unless you have some way of stiffening it up for heavier loads.
I would simulate your intended lift by jacking the vehicle, and checking the suspension and drivetrain for excessive angles. Better to be satisfied with little bites of change, and not alter the character of the vehicle too much. What you will probably suffer from is a lack of options, as the Freelander won't have too much aftermarket product in Oz. Why not check out what is available from the Uk ?

[Slunnie]

If you don't want to change the range of travel, spring rates etc etc, then spacing over the top of the struts makes a lot of sense to me. The relationship between the springs, shocks and bumpstops if they have them isn't changed, so should work the same. The spacers just lower the entire strut assemblies down. The geometry change will come from the increased angle at the lower... link is probably the best words for it, but with a 25mm change in ride height, I doubt it will be an issue and might potentially even still be within specification. It's also probably the cheapest way to do it incidentally. Check brake line lengths and link/linkage travel for binding and clearance.

When you get into spring rate changes someone will need to start doing calculations to produce a stiffer spring to which gives increased ride height with the same spring free length. I personally wouldn't run a longer spring with the standard shocks because it will eventually break the shock over time because of the additional load of holding the spring even more captive, and with reduced drop travel it will shock the shock more often as the suspension tops out at full travel.

[RIN03]

Thanks I might just save my money and put it towards something like a discovery

[Grimace]

Thanks I might just save my money and put it towards something like a discovery
Don't be silly. Get a rangie! :D

[Slunnie]

I think buying another 4wd might not save you money compared to spacing struts!

[Alex 110]

Talk to a suspension specialist. The Ultimate Suspension have always been really good for me matching springs & shocks to axle weights & the lift wanted.
So far they've done my 300tdi defender (sadly missed), td5 discovery 2 (dead but not yet buried) & my prado (shock horror:eek:)

FYI with the ifs on the prado they pre-assembled the struts so I could just bolt them on.
Give them a call - it can't hurt


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