Suspension Recommendations

[Rugrat]

Ok its time for the Puma to get a lift put in.
Due to the extra gear we have (winch, bar, Batteries, draws etc) she is no where near the original height, and seems to be a tad tired / sloppy in the handling.
So the question is what would you put in (yes its a never ending list) - do I go Long travel shocks? She is taken off road to some hard places and LTRs may be beneficial, do I stock her with Koni's and kings or Lovels and Bilsteins or do I use OEM H/Duty springs and procomp shocks?

Really what I'm after is personal experience in 110's, as the last car I updated was a Troll so weighed heaps more and had different requirements, before that the pwado was different again..

So what would you put in the Defender that has those extras, is a daily drive but still goes and plays in Walhalla and tours the centre towing a camper?


Cheers

[Lightweight]

In my previous 110, i put HD King Springs in the front and back, to cope with extra load. They where fantastic. I also put adjustable Rancho 9000, and had a fair bit of trouble....

The ride was vastly improved when towing, and with 500Kg in the back on trips. I really think that wheel travel was decreased with the Rancho's. Overall i would be keeping clear of the Rancho's again.

I did fell sometimes like throwing a few bags of cement in the back to soften it out a bit... Just keep that in mind if you go the HD in the back.

[Allan]

I did an OME 2 inch lift on my Puma when I had all the extras fitted and had all sorts of problems. The transmission sounded like a bag of spanners and it would howl like a wolf on coasting. I was advised to put it back to standard hight as ther's a propshaft issue when lifting this model LR. This fixed the problem. The only parts from the lift I kept were the shocks. Mine is a little low in the front now so I am thinking of fitting a set of 130 standard springs to rectify this. This was an expensive lesson.

Allan

[rainman]

Hi Rugrat. There is some really good info, before and after dimensions, pics, etc on this thread. This Puma has just about every accessory known to man on it and it goes into some really tricky spots with 31s on it. Simply just uprated springs with cones on the back - relatively inexpensive exercise with excellent results.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/76163-07-defender-2-lift-cones.html

[Chucaro]

Did you considered the Delphi De Carbon Shock Absorbers ?
I got a set from justinc and they are superb in my Defender.
The ones that I have are standard high
Cheers

[Rugrat]

Did you considered the Delphi De Carbon Shock Absorbers ?
I got a set from justinc and they are superb in my Defender.
The ones that I have are standard high
Cheers

No I havent considered them - but I am only just starting to look into it. I may even just keep it STD height but put in the H/Duty springs so as to return it to 'original' spec.

[wisey110]

I've been looking for a 2inch lift and i've asked alot of people, so far i've come up with kings springs, i can get them cheap and if you talk to the right person they are easy to get to how YOU want them (rate and length all that). Shocks on the other hand is anyones guess, some say toughdog some say OME and list goes on. My brother works for a suspension company and he said RAW shocks but then when talking to a work mate who had a defender said leave the springs go Bilstein shocks.... http://www.replacementshocks.com/ check this site out might help.

What sort of camper is that?? lookind at a hard top one for the family to go away with. Is it anygood??

[one_iota]

A slight diversion forgive me.

I visited that shock absorber site and wondered why a Land Rover search didn't reveal Defenders...then I realised that it is a US site. Not to be deterred I searched on and came across this: :eek:


Have your Land Rover shocks been acting funny ever since you walloped that kangaroo? No worries, mate. New Land Rover shocks are in stock and ready for immediate delivery! Every Land Rover shock absorber we sell is designed to meet the unique needs of Land Rover shocks. The Outback is waiting—make sure your Land Rover shocks are up to the challenge.

[Sith]

I have Kings springs in mine , they are crap , mainly due to wrong rates in the front and rear totally odd numbering . Having said that once sorted out and professional input not back yard idealists it should be spot on.
I also have Tuff Dog shocks they are crap .


I have just ordered my springs from a Landrover shop over here in WA , pricey but unreal quality . $500 all four with a 65 mm lift
Shocks , there really are only 2 worth considering ... KONI or BILSTIENS .

I got nothing but BAD things to say about Lovells , they have a good product but the service I recieved was absolute rubbish .


Most springs OME , TUFF DOG , ULTIMATE, and whatever are usually re painted KINGS or Dobinsons

[TwoUp]

As Sith said about manufacture, so do you really want the lift or better performance?

I remember putting in the nitro and OME and thinking that perhaps the lift was secondary to performance! I know I will get slammed for this but it is true.

Regards,
PeterW

[Rugrat]

What sort of camper is that?? lookind at a hard top one for the family to go away with. Is it anygood??

Pioneer ArgyleSE - and yep it goes everywhere, tows nicely - only issues i have had is a stuffed tap on the sink (kids broke it) and a sink plug that is cr@ppy :D
Would I buy again - definately - but maybe the budget would stretch to an updated model :angel:
2nd hand purchase - AJthomas in Vic. Only used twice before we got it - and once was by us on a two week Flinders Ranges trip.

[Rugrat]

As Sith said about manufacture, so do you really want the lift or better performance?

I remember putting in the nitro and OME and thinking that perhaps the lift was secondary to performance! I know I will get slammed for this but it is true.

Regards,
PeterW

True - the "lift" is not that important, the performance is. I havent 'bottomed' out to badly yet :angel: So a lift and bigger rubber isn't the be all for me.

The minimum of what I want is back to Standard height - so yes I could just get H/Duty springs and that would get me there. However as I'm changing springs and as the shocks have had some abuse (60 thousand ks worth) it may be beneficial to change them over also.

I wanted feedback from thouse who may have lifted their Pumas as there have been some issues but I suppose I need to talk to the experts and see what they say. I work near LRA in thomo and also annoy Stu at Rovacraft so I figure these guys should be switched on.

[Allan]

I was talking to a LR expert in Perth today re wider wheels and tyres for my bus and he recond Pumas have real issues when lifted unlike early defenders. Front propshaft angle different to early models

Allan

[wisey110]

I've just been on the Koni and bilstein sites think the koni's sounds the better, without seeing the price. Think if you know someone that can hook you up with a good set of kings springs wouldn't have any worry's(Sith) think you could even get dual rate springs.

Another thing i've been thinking about, defenders have pretty good travel on each wheel standard, the bigger question is how much more do you get by lifting it say 50mm with a longer shock or what ever?? Becuase they always say you can get more travel outa a lift but how much????
Always good to keep all your feet on the ground.....:D

[mimmo321]

I was talking to a LR expert in Perth today re wider wheels and tyres for my bus and he recond Pumas have real issues when lifted unlike early defenders. Front propshaft angle different to early models

Allan

do you know what has to be done to fix these problems after lifting.. i owned a 06 defender and had 3 in lift in it and never had a problem and have been hearing anything near 2 in lift on new puma defender which i have just ordered is bound to have problems such as vibrations and so on

[Allan]

After market prop shaft I am told. End of warrenty job. LR dont like mods done to Pumas according to dealers. I did the 2 inch lift OME shocks, caster kit the lot. The vehicle was undriveable The vibration felt like the it was going to shake to bits. It also sounded like the trans had been filled with spanners whan coasting. I removed all but the shock absorbers and it fixed it. The front has sagged a bit due to bar and winch but I think I may have dealer fit standard 130 springs to fix this. I hope this helps and you dont have the expensive troubles I had. Almost sold the vehicle , my wife had had enough.


Allan

[jake]

G'day Everyone,

Just been reading past posts and would be interested in outcomes that members have had for the Puma. I do not want to raise my Puma. Had a bad time with this on my TD5. I certainly want the best and most reliable suspension. Has anyone had to change their front springs to compensate for Bull Bar and Winch.

I personnaly think the current ride height of the Puma seems adequate for what we want to do but those that have travelled this path your views and experiences are worth noting.

Jake

[Brid]

I have to say that 130 front springs have worked well on my 07 puma with bull bar fitted...no more bottoming out as before. The rear has now sagged. I have fitted PolyAir bags which i'm very happy with. It has compensated for the sag. I have a Flinders Ranges trip coming up, and have been looking at replacing the rear springs with standard again. It's done 107,000 kms now, and I'd prefer to keep the good ride I have rather than go HD rears.

Brid