Defender 90 with 2" Suspension Lift

[mos]

Just thought that I would post up a few photos of my 90 with the new suspension kit fitted.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/1344/1004114sf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/7814/1004118xf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

After a fair amount of research and advice from a few fellow AURLO members, I finally settled on a 2” lift using Lovell’s Springs and Bilstein shocks. I had M R Automotive fit the new suspension and as always they did a excellent job.

The front springs are RFR-26 (230lb 380mm) and the rears are RRR-8 (233lb 430mm). The springs were $150 per pair from a supplier in Brisbane.

I also fitted a set of genuine front rubberised shock tower rings and in the rear I used a pair of rubberised spring isolators which also give another 10mm of lift. (Both are standard fitment in a Disco II).

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/1210/1004107io8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/2039/1004117tk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


I decided to use Bilstein shocks after considering many other brands including Koni, Dobinsons and Pro-comp. It was just that I got the Bilstein’s for a great price from the US. All up the cost of the four shocks and a steering damper came to $580AU delivered to my door. Which works out to be less than $120 per shock.

Overall I am very impressed with the new suspension. The 90 is now lifted by about 40mm all round and the ride is fantastic. I was a little worried that the Bilstein’s would be a bit to harsh, but no they are great. I haven’t had a chance yet to see how the articulation has changed, not much I suspect as I have kept the sway-bars on for the time being to see how it goes.

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4416/1004119ub0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I may need some larger tyres now to fill out the guards just a little more....

Cheers
MOS

[Outlaw]

Very nice... as you've said, now just need some bigger tyres.

Then onto the next modification

[Phoenix]

Very nice B)

[FenianEel]

Nice bit of kit there mate.

[stevo68]

Very Horn :cool:

Regards

Stevo

[jik22]

Very nice. Is that light bar actually a Rhino rack, and if not, what is it?

[mos]

Hey Jeff.


Is that light bar actually a Rhino rack,

Yeah the light-bar is a Rhino Rack. I can’t remember what particular vehicle the rack legs are supposed to suit but after a few mods they seem to fit the defender okay. The proper defender ones were quite a lot taller and I didn’t want to increase the overall height of the roofline by to much.

I am fairly sure that the lights are Hella FF550.

Cheers
MOS

[goldrover]

looks real good. do want to share your bilstein source?

[jik22]

looks real good. do want to share your bilstein source?

My guess would be eshocks.com

[LandyAndy]

NICE!!!!!
Landies look real good in black.
Andrew

[tombraider]

NICE!!!!!
Landies look real good in black.
Andrew

No!!!

Landies look good in MUD :cool:

[wrex]

Nice looking Fender... I like the light bar too

[mos]

I ended up ordering the Bilstein’s from www.shockwarehouse.com (http://www.shockwarehouse.com/)

They had close to the best price and excellent service. My e-mails were answered quickly and they were very helpful. And the shocks only took about a week to arrive.

I looked at a number of other US websites that sold Bilstein, Koni as well as a few other brands. I looked at a set of Koni Heavy Tracks but compared to the price of the Bilstein’s I just could justify the extra $$$.:(

I am very happy with Bilstein’s for the price.:D

Cheers
MOS

[mos]

No!!!

Landies look good in MUD :cool:

Very true Mike....;)

It's raining up here again so I might have to go out and have play around Mt. Mee on Sunday.:p:p:p

Cheers
MOS

[LandyAndy]

The mud shows up better on BLACK:D:D:D
When I buy the Java Black paint for my trailer I will have to get enough for the Stage1!!!!!
Andrew

[Ken]

Sweet Ride ya got there Mos VERY NICE :)

[Defender=1st]

Very Very Nice Defender mate

[DirtyDawg]

Very ... er ..Clean Wow thats clean....Nice though Got any dirty pics;)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

They are definately Lovells!!!:p

[goldrover]

I ended up ordering the Bilstein’s from www.shockwarehouse.com

Thanks mos I'll give them a try

[Cameron_Def]

Are the shocks the same for the 110 as in the 90 ?

[defender90]

The front springs are RFR-26 (230lb 380mm) and the rears are RRR-8 (233lb 430mm). The springs were $150 per pair from a supplier in Brisbane.

I also fitted a set of genuine front rubberised shock tower rings and in the rear I used a pair of rubberised spring isolators which also give another 10mm of lift. (Both are standard fitment in a Disco II).

who in brissie did you get them from?:)

[mos]

Are the shocks the same for the 110 as in the 90 ?


Not 100% about this. I think that the fronts are the same but the rears may be different. I have B46 0243 fronts and B46 0253 rears. The Bilstein parts catalogue lists the same front shock for both the 90 and the 110 for all year models.

The rears that I have suit up to a 1999 model year 110 and the 90. For newer model 110’s the rear shock part number is different. Not sure if this shock has different valving or is longer in overall length. If there is a difference in the lengths then I don’t think that it would be that great.


The front springs are RFR-26 (230lb 380mm) and the rears are RRR-8 (233lb 430mm). The springs were $150 per pair from a supplier in Brisbane.

I also fitted a set of genuine front rubberised shock tower rings and in the rear I used a pair of rubberised spring isolators which also give another 10mm of lift. (Both are standard fitment in a Disco II).

who in brissie did you get them from?:)


The shock tower rings and spring isolators are genuine parts and I got them from the local north side stealer.:mad:
I got the idea of using them from a great US website www.expeditionexchange.com (http://www.expeditionexchange.com/)

As for the springs, I ended up getting them from a place in Enoggera. You will be able to find them on the Lovell’s website. ;)
If you can’t then please PM me and I will give you all the details. They were very helpful and good to deal with.

Hope this all helps

Cheers
MOS

[weeds]

I ended up ordering the Bilstein’s from www.shockwarehouse.com (http://www.shockwarehouse.com/)
MOS

geez pretty competitive prices, i just got a price back for a pair of fronts

now i just have to decide which way to go new or get mine rebuilt....rebuild is approx. $244 for the pair, i forgot to ask if the $44 for the dyno is included in the approx. $200 if you get them rebuilt or if its added on

[George130]

Looks good except it's to CLEAN!

[mos]

Looks good except it's to CLEAN!




Very ... er ..Clean Wow thats clean....Nice though Got any dirty pics;)


Well now I am getting a bit of a complex…:eek::eek:
Yes the D90 was clean in the photos. It is not clean now. ;)

Had a great day up on Mt Mee on Sunday with Twitchy, WhiteD3, roverfj1200, ho har and that other vehicle…

Here a couple of dirty D90 photos to appease you.:p:p:p

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/6729/pict0021um9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6247/pict0025gd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2148/1004141de3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks to Mark for the photos. For more pics and some video footage of the day have a look in the Qld Trips reports for Mt Mee.

Hopefully ho har will soon be able to post some of the photos and footage that he got on Sunday up as well.

Cheers
MOS

[CraigE]

Awesome ride MOS and you have saved me some dollars. My wife is getting me suspension for my 40th this month. Will be ordering from the US but will probablly go with ProAmAuto as ShockWarehouse have not replied to my emails.
Have you topped the shocks out at all yet??
The correct rear for TD5 110 Bilsteins is BE5 2779 (99 on)
Cheers
CraigE

[mos]

Have you topped the shocks out at all yet??
The correct rear for TD5 110 Bilsteins is BE5 2779 (99 on)


Hey Craig

When I was looking at to fit some new shocks I also became a little confused on what are the “correct” Bilstein shocks for TD5 Defenders (Particularly for a 90).

I spoke with the Australian distributor who couldn’t provide me with any technical differences between the B46 0253 and the BE5 2779 other than that they MAY be a slightly different length and they MIGHT be valved differently.:eek:

So not much help really.:mad:

The valving is great and I didn’t have any issues of the B46 0253 topping out with the 40mm lift, but I do think that they were close to their limits.

However the Lovells RRR-8 springs that I fitted sagged about 15mm after a couple of weeks so I replaced them with the longer and heavier RRR-27 which lifted the rear end a LOT more. So now I have fitted a set of lowered shock mounts from Equip 4x4 (who advertise on this site) and they have worked a treat with the Billies. No sign of topping out.:cool:

Hope this helps.

Cheers
MOS