Thread: front ride height

Originally Posted by laslo71

I have removed the 2" lift kit from my car and put normal springs and shocks to the front and rear. The rear is on air springs so after the calibration the height is OK.
In case of the front I find it a bit low. From center of hub to bottom of wheelarch it is 480mm (spec is 500mm). I have installed KYB shocks (identical to REB101340) but seems a bit soft. My car is a 2003 MY facelift model, which might need different springs? Can it be that the facelift model is heavier than the prefacelift one (considering same specification like ACE, air conditioning, SLS ...)?

Bull bar, winch or anything else heavy on the front?

In my discussions with spring suppliers they refer to the bump stop clearance to set the vehicle height.
Spec from RAVE for standard is:

Front - 44.5mm
Rear (with SLS) - 61.5mm

Measure from top of bump stop to axle bracket.

As mentioned above, bull bars etc will result in reduction as will soft/worn springs.

I don't believe that LR use hub to guard or hub to ground measurements for the D2 but rather bump stop clearances - details are specified in Rave. Measure those and set your rear SLS heights accordingly - if I recall, rear gap is less than the front at standard height. Once you've done that, measure the front and calculate what your deficiency (if any) is.

You can then use something like Les Richmond Automotive White Tiger Spring Shims < White Tiger Spring Shim 6mm > to lift the front up between 6 to 18mm or balance it left and right as needed.

LR use both bumpstop and hub to guard. Spring makers from what I've seen use hub to guard, free length and installed length.

From LandRover for unladen vehicles:

Front:
Hub to guard: 500mm +/- 15mm
Bumpstop: 44.5mm

Rear Coil:
Hub to guard: 483mm +/- 15mm
Bumpstop: 71.5mm

Rear Air:
Hub to Guard: 473mm +/- 15mm
Bumpstop: 61.5mm

When we were developing suspension for these things 16+ years ago, every example with one exception we measured was at the bottom end of tolerance when new. ie they all sat at the lowest but within specification ride height.

If you're sitting at 480mm, then you're only 5mm below what it was most likely delivered at which is pretty good after all of these years. The springs in them are quite light and they're pretty poor at sustaining ride height and pretty much wont if you add anything to the front like bullbars, winches, under bonnet dual batteries etc. ARB even developed their HD raised spring at 180lbs, some other brands were lighter and when loaded they would sag back down to standard ride height and this subsequently led to increased rates. If you're at 480mm and want it back to standard then you can add 5mm shims over the springs which will bring it back up. This will work with standard shocks on the front but standard rear shocks wont like it. You have aftermarket shocks, I cant comment on those ones specifically.

Originally Posted by gavinwibrow

Bull bar, winch or anything else heavy on the front?

No, everithing is standard. I had winch but already removed it as well.

I will recalibrate the back today and set it to the mentioned 61mm. After I will check the front and if I am only 5mm below the spec. I will leave it as it is. If it will be a problem on off road (hit the stops many times) I will change the front srings to stronger ones (or add spacers).

Originally Posted by Slunnie

LR use both bumpstop and hub to guard. Spring makers from what I've seen use hub to guard, free length and installed length.

From LandRover for unladen vehicles:

Front:
Hub to guard: 500mm +/- 15mm
Bumpstop: 44.5mm

Rear Coil:
Hub to guard: 483mm +/- 15mm
Bumpstop: 71.5mm

Rear Air:
Hub to Guard: 473mm +/- 15mm
Bumpstop: 61.5mm

When we were developing suspension for these things 16+ years ago, every example with one exception we measured was at the bottom end of tolerance when new. ie they all sat at the lowest but within specification ride height.

If you're sitting at 480mm, then you're only 5mm below what it was most likely delivered at which is pretty good after all of these years. The springs in them are quite light and they're pretty poor at sustaining ride height and pretty much wont if you add anything to the front like bullbars, winches, under bonnet dual batteries etc. ARB even developed their HD raised spring at 180lbs, some other brands were lighter and when loaded they would sag back down to standard ride height and this subsequently led to increased rates. If you're at 480mm and want it back to standard then you can add 5mm shims over the springs which will bring it back up. This will work with standard shocks on the front but standard rear shocks wont like it. You have aftermarket shocks, I cant comment on those ones specifically.

OK, so just checked. The back is on about 70mm and the front is 38-40mm. I will slightly lower the back but will leave the front as it is.
Thanks for the advices!

Originally Posted by laslo71

The back is on about 70mm and the front is 38-40mm. I will slightly lower the back but will leave the front as it is.

If you lower the rear down to the correct height, as it changes, it will likely lift the front up somewhat due to the weight transfer - won’t surprise me if you end up pretty close to the correct specs.