Thread: For anyone thinking about a suspension lift.

For those of you who are wondering whether to lift your suspension or not and what combination of Springs and shocks, maybe this will help you.

I wrote the following on Suspension Stuffs' website under "Review" but Shane is having website issues so it cannot be read at the moment. I am moe than happy to answer any questions that anyone may have that ar'nt answered here.

So I hope this helps!!

Review

Well, the truth is I am spoiled! Ten years ago I owned an old '73 Range
Rover with a 2" lift and Gas shocks. This car had the best ride of any
vehicle that I had ever been in! It was smooth, real smooth, on road as
well as off and not only did it spoil me it spoiled my wife!

So when we took our newly acquired '98 Discovery for it's first drive,
we both felt that the suspension really let us down on how we thought it
would ride. It was more like a Hilux than a car built on the old Range
Rover running gear. There is nothing quite as fulfilling when your wife
is trying to talk you into spending money on your car by "making the
suspension ride better". Admittedly, the shocks that were in the Disco were 160,000km's old, and quite near the end of their life.

So, I read a few forums and quite a few guys suggested asking Shane at
"Suspension Stuff" for some advice. I phoned Shane and I found that he
was sincerely interested in "what I was after". He didn't have a "pat"
answer for every 4wd owner, he listened and asked pertinent questions
before making his opinion on what product would serve me best.

I wasn't towing a Caravan or boat yet but may into the future, right now
I was after a smooth ride and wanted a 2" lift. Shane suggested the
Dobinson's springs and the Boss adjustable shocks. He gave me a great
price with free freight and they turned up to my house 2 days later.

The fitting went ahead uneventfully and by that afternoon we were riding
through some off road tracks trying out our new "ride". The Boss shocks
come with adjustment of 12 increments. Setting 1 is soft and the ride
gets tougher as you wind your way up to 12.
I started off with a setting of 6 on all the shocks. I had 3 adults in
the car while trying it out and I eventually settled on a setting of 3
all round. The difference was amazing! This is the ride that I was
after. It was soft and smooth without any bounce. You can literally jump
a gutter without feeling it, it is that smooth! One fear I did have was
that with the extra lift and the softer setting on the shocks I may get
a lot of roll when cornering!!?? But this was not the case at all. The
Discovery corners exceptionally well without any noticeable roll at all.

Two days later I had 5 adults in the car and we were doing 110km's down
the highway and I felt that that setting was a little soft in the rear
at that speed while carrying that many passengers. It was no big deal
though, but I would of bothered to change the shock settings if we were
traveling for any real distance but it was quite manageable even at this
soft setting. But 95% of the time there will only be 2 of us in the car
and I think that that will be the setting for us
But adjustment is easy and quick, so it is no hassle to change the
settings if necessary.

Suspension is the feel of your car. I believe if it feels good you drive
better, and definitely feel safer. Off road, suspension is so important.
When it set up correctly, it keeps the wheels on the ground and the car
level.

I found Shane to be sincere in his help and advice and he knows his
stuff. The products he sold me delivered exactly what I was after. If I
decide to tow a van or boat in the future, the suspension he sold me is
tough enough too, all I have to do is turn up the adjustable dial.
If you want your Disco or Rangie to have that expensive 'saloon' feel
you cannot go past the combination of Boss adjustable shocks and the
Dobinsons springs. I recommend them highly and at a price that is well
within reach of anyone.
Shane knows his stuff and is able to help you capture that ride that you
are after.

jazza, are they slightly heavier duty in the rear?