Thread: Suspension questions

I'm using Lovells HD+50mm springs all round. Even with the bar, it's not loaded enough to get the full drop to +50 so it sat (new) at ~~70mm. A bit harsh with no load but fill with people or a load it's great, also off road doesn't seem to limit anything considering it's pretty std in the rest of the suspension. Std shocks, QT radius arms (for castor correction) and thats it. And they're a reasonable price.

For shocks I've run Bilstein 7100's, Fox, Koni and I'd go for the Fox for price and performance (plus less need to mod for std bushings). Still running std as I've onsold the others to those who desired them more.

I would be inclined to leave the springs alone. The front OME light springs are 160lb/in and I doubt you will get anything softer than this. Even if you go back to standard, you will be hitting the bumpstops which will make the ride harsher than these springs. Actually, I think even these are too light for the Disco2 in terms of being able to maintain ride height over the following years.

For the rear your spring rates are 290lb/in which are also on the light end of whats available. The only spring that I can think of which is lighter in the rate is the King raised rear, but there isn't a lot in it.

To be honest, most people blame the spring rates for a harsh ride, but I disagree with this. Even if you take a coil and pump up a polyair in it, it doesn't really become rough, but more firm and controlled.

Most of the harshness is more than likely coming from the shocks and in particular the bump valving which is the part that you feel and the part which can make it jarring over rough and broken roads. The problem with shocks, is that generally they don't provide any shock data so that you can see what you're buying unlike springs where you can find out the rates.

OME used to (not sure if they still do) make 2 different shocks for the Disco2. One was a comfort shock, the other the regular sports shock. If you check the the shock code, N107 and N108 are the sports shocks and N107C and N108C are the comfort shock. It may be worth investigating these shocks as replacements.

That said, most of the big names in shocks and definitely any performance shock will err on the performance side of things, and to get traction you need to increase the shock rates and with that comes harshness. So I would be looking firstly to see if OME still have the comfort option. But note, that it probably wont handle as well with a soft shock.

Also, does it have ACE? That is harsher in cornering due to its thick swaybars.

Does it have 18's?

Does have 18s just the stockies 16s I think they are ? With bigger tires


I think it has ace ? Do all 2004 have ace ?

How would I know it has ace ?

Does the power steering reservoir (back from air cleaner) have 1 cap or 2 caps ?, if 2 , then you have ace.

Take the rear shocks out and go for a drive[slowly] is it still harsh.

And avoid Terra Firma, its a Chinese knock off of the OME gear...

In my D2 I've got "std" height King springs in the front, air bags in the back and Terrafirma shocks all round.

I put the Terra's in cause my rears were absolutely shot and I hated the Bodge I put in the front with the springs (harsh as hell). The Terra's are OK so far and I can't complain after a year. They were cheap and the ride is not too bad.