03 Disco HSE Susspesion

[Nigger]

I have an 03 V8 Disco HSE with ACE susspecion and all the bells and whistles. The ride on this thing is like sitting in a box trailer. Can anyone tell me what the best solution is to get this softened without sacrifising any other susspension characteristics?

[Owen]

You cant go past bilstiens and quality springs with a 50mm lift BUT you will have to accept no more warranty and look at replacing the front drive shaft with a more robust design that incorporates GREASABLE unis otherwise you most likely will end up with a shaft flailing around and destroying the gearbox as well. The kits are about $1200 for the suspension and another $550 for a drive shaft modification.

[Nigger]

cheers Owen. I am a Bilstein fan and just stuck a steering damper on the truck. I have heard (from Coopers is Sydney) that the Bilsteins with the ACE susspension makes little or difference. Have you heard this?

[Slunnie]

The shocks perform a different role to the ACE, and it depends on the valving of the Bilsteins as they come in different specs.

If you're not happy with the ride, its probably the front suspension crashing through to the bumpstops as there isn't a great deal of bump travel in the front. Especially when you add accessories like bullbars, winches, duel batteries etc it makes the problem significantly worse, especially as the springs then continue to drop in ride height. Aftermarket suspension with lft may be an option, with warnings already stated, but if the front ride height is the problem, I'm pretty sure LRA have a factory heavy duty spring for the front for trucks with bars etc.

[Nigger]

good points. The problem is the ride is very harsh on city streets, let alone off road. I have no bar or winch either. Perhaps I should speak with Mr Cooper on this again. It was one of his staff who told be about the Bilsteins not making any diference, perhaps the boss will be more knowledgeable.
Do you know of any LR experts on this out there?

[one_iota]

Re Graeme Coopers,

A mate of mine a year or so back went to GC's to have his Disco 2 lifted fitted with new shocks (Bilsteins). It took several attempts to try and get it right. Eventually he gave up and he took it to ARB (just down the road from GC's) and is very happy with the results (OME gear I think). ARB had experimented with various combinations and had found a suitable set up for the D2. GC's may have done so as well since then.

I hasten to add that this isn't a criticism of GC (they are a good mob) but ARB at the time had a formula that worked. I have heard that the D2 is not easy to set up particularly with gas shocks like Bilsteins.

[Reads90]

Originally posted by ******
I have an 03 V8 Disco HSE with ACE susspecion and all the bells and whistles. The ride on this thing is like sitting in a box trailer. Can anyone tell me what the best solution is to get this softened without sacrifising any other susspension characteristics?

mmmm does not sound right to me. i have driven loads of SE's and HSE's over the past 2 months and they are a lovley ride. It is under warrenty so send it back to them.
And ask them to let you drive another one and see how it compairs to yours