D3 Low Ground Clearance

[101RRS]

Parked my Freelander next to a base model D3 today. When coming back to the car it was clear that my Freelander (225/70 tyres) had just a bit more ground clearance than the D3. On having a closer look the clearance under the front diff was about the same, but the D3 was a little worse at the rear. I know it is superior on paper but looking at the cars would indicate otherwise.

Looking at a few other brands the D3 clearly has worse clearance than other full on 4x4s and about the same as most softroaders. I appreciate if optioned with air suspension - ground clearance can be great but the standard car seems awfully low for a full on 4x4.

Clearly the D3 is marketed as a fully capable offroader but given its low clearance this would seem to be a bit of a stretch for the base model. It would be certainly less capable that my old D1 and on about on par with my Freelander when the D3 was in high range.

Any one with a base S D3 care to comment on how they find ground clearance in the real offroad world.

Garry

[LandyAndy]

Hi Garry
The D3 sinks to park height with motor off,has a "normal" running height,grows a taller for off-roading,and when your stuck it will go taller still.
The diffs on the D3 are tucked up in the chassis so the have HEAPS more under clearance than a normal off-roader.
The coil sprung versions are basically D2 suspension,but with the added undercar clearance as the diffs arent under there.
If followed Gordons D3(GGHaggis) offroad on several trips,the clearance is very good for a stock standard vehicle.
Im guessing you parked next to a D3 with air suspension,yes when parked they are lower than normal offroaders.
Andrew

[loanrangie]

The spare wheel location is the real downfall in the clearance department, wheel carrier would be first on my list.

[101RRS]

Hi Garry
The D3 sinks to park height with motor off,has a "normal" running height,grows a taller for off-roading,and when your stuck it will go taller still.

Andrew

The car I was parked next to had coils so that ride height is fixed - I understand that a standard D3 has only 185mm ground clearance - a standard Freelander has 200mm and mine about 210mm.

The rear tyre seemed to be mounted up higher - certainly was higher than the rear diff mounting framework - the rear shocks also seem to hand down low as well.

Garry

[LandyAndy]

Fair enough Garry
Only seen Gordons and Jamos D3s in action,both have air suspension,BLOODY GOOD VEHICLES!!!!!
Andrew

[Jamo]

Coil sprung D3 does sit a bit low, but wheel travel would be far superior to the Freelander.

[PCH]

Some of the coil sprung D3 owners I've heard about have fitted aftermarket springs like King Springs to give it a lift.

The D3 S with coils was tested in some of the 4WD mags and it has far less ground clearance than the air suspension versions and had a tendency to drag it's belly on the ground.

Chris

[camel_landy]

The air sprung versions have an awsome amount of clearance.

Even after you put it into off-road mode, there's 2 other further height settings available. These settings are not intended for general use but are designed to get the vehicle out of difficulties (or further in depending on how you look at it... :angel: ). As such you can't manually put the car into this mode, it has to detect that it is bottoming out... From there it will raise the height further. Once raised, there's a sequence which you can follow to raise even further. ;)

HTH

M

[harry]

yep, I have to agree,
my d3 coiler has **** clearance.
I need to find a way of giving it a bit of a lift.


not interested in your comments re air suspension, this thread isn't about those cars.


are there any d3 coiler owners that have raised their cars?

[bob10]

yep, I have to agree,
my d3 coiler has **** clearance.
I need to find a way of giving it a bit of a lift.


not interested in your comments re air suspension, this thread isn't about those cars.


are there any d3 coiler owners that have raised their cars?




Perhaps you should try the D3/D4 section, plenty of info there, Bob

[ramblingboy42]

Hi Garry
The D3 sinks to park height with motor off,has a "normal" running height,grows a taller for off-roading,and when your stuck it will go taller still.
The diffs on the D3 are tucked up in the chassis so the have HEAPS more under clearance than a normal off-roader.
The coil sprung versions are basically D2 suspension,but with the added undercar clearance as the diffs arent under there.
If followed Gordons D3(GGHaggis) offroad on several trips,the clearance is very good for a stock standard vehicle.
Im guessing you parked next to a D3 with air suspension,yes when parked they are lower than normal offroaders.
Andrew

I don't understand this.

Diffs are at the centre line of the axle .....aren't they?

axle height is only determined by wheel/tyre diameter.

how can the diffs be 'tucked up' in the chassis?

I can understand this if there is a portal drive.

interested, not being argumentive.....

[BMKal]

I don't understand this.

Diffs are at the centre line of the axle .....aren't they?

axle height is only determined by wheel/tyre diameter.

how can the diffs be 'tucked up' in the chassis?

I can understand this if there is a portal drive.

interested, not being argumentive.....

That would be the case if they had solid axles. They don't. ;)

[rar110]

I don't understand this. Diffs are at the centre line of the axle .....aren't they? axle height is only determined by wheel/tyre diameter. how can the diffs be 'tucked up' in the chassis? I can understand this if there is a portal drive. interested, not being argumentive.....

It took me a while to get my head around the idea of a diff that was fixed solid to the chassis or motor etc.

Very different to beam axle housing. Every wheel has its own CV and is independent.

[ramblingboy42]

something to learn every day.

sooooo, are owners lifting their d3's/4's?

if so , what effect does that have on cv joints?

are their any cv joint problems with these vehicles?

[LandyAndy]

We have a selection of ride heights at our fingertips,then there are the GOE improvements or LIAMS improvements.
Then press the button and normality resumes for factory on road performance.
No need for suspension lifts;);););););););)
Andrew

[Hoges]

something to learn every day.

sooooo, are owners lifting their d3's/4's?

if so , what effect does that have on cv joints?

are their any cv joint problems with these vehicles?

Because they are "true" CV joints there should be no problem. If they were el cheapo Hooke joints (the normal UJs) ...these are not true "constant velocity" when the angle of alignment is outside a very narrow range, hence vibration and other problems. That's why serious lifts do better with "double cardan" joints (two UJs joined together) in the drive shaft...

[rar110]

After reading GG Hagis' GOE manual it seems driveline failure is less likely on a D3/4, RRS, RRV with TR than a defender or earlier disco/RR. The electronic wizardry works the TR, air suspension , TC & variable centre diff lock/control to prevent excessive stress on a particular point on the driveline, and continue forward/reverse motion.

[TerryO]

The answer your seeking Harry is yes, quite a number of D3 coiler owners have lifted their Disco's with very good results off road. One good thing about it is its pretty affordable to jack them up with a spring kit.

The downside is its always jacked up.

I will PM you with the contact details of a member who has done this, he might be able to point you in the right direction.

I do agree with Bob it would be a good idea to ask this question in the D3/4/RRS section, if you like I will move it for you?

[harry]

We have a selection of ride heights at our fingertips,then there are the GOE improvements or LIAMS improvements.
Then press the button and normality resumes for factory on road performance.
No need for suspension lifts;);););););););)
Andrew

Noo, if you have a d3 coiler you don't, didn't you understand this thread is about coil sprung d3 only?

[harry]

Thanks Terryo, this thread should be moved, and thanks for the pm.
Downside of a lift is permanant, as it is with D1/d2, only air owners get that luxury, thanks.with this car I have no desire to go off road, but I do want to be able to go where a commodore can't!

[rar110]

something to learn every day. sooooo, are owners lifting their d3's/4's? if so , what effect does that have on cv joints? are their any cv joint problems with these vehicles?

I keep forgetting this is about coil suspension.

I've only heard of land rover making a D4 with coils once, and that was in Africa. A new AULRO member posted details of it just recently.

[Leroy_Riding]

yep, I have to agree,
my d3 coiler has **** clearance.
I need to find a way of giving it a bit of a lift.


not interested in your comments re air suspension, this thread isn't about those cars.


are there any d3 coiler owners that have raised their cars?

Lifted My D3 S on coils and fitted new tires.
photos below.
springs are KRFR-13HD and KRRR-14HD
and used Maxi Trac (i know I know cheap ass) extended travel HD shocks

tires are 265/70 r17" Sailun Terramax AT's

Measurements: (center of hub to bottom of wheel arch)
Before:
front- 455mm
rear - 485mm
After:
front - 540mm
rear - 560mm

Tire size change was 23mm in height tot he car also (46mm rolling diameter change)

so I picked up about 110mm overall clearance gain if you look at it that way. . damn front left tire scrubs on full lock under power too. .

Leroy.

[harry]

that looks very good Leroy,
thanks for the spring numbers and shock details.
110 mm sounds good, I just need to measure the garage door clearance!


thanks

[Leroy_Riding]

that looks very good Leroy,
thanks for the spring numbers and shock details.
110 mm sounds good, I just need to measure the garage door clearance!


thanks

Probably worth noting, the car would likely sit more level that mine without a bar and winch one it, for reference my winch is running synthetic rope also not steel cable.

Id dare say too, that the springs will settle in a little bit after a month or so, Ill take new measurements in another couple of weeks.

Leroy.