Thread: Defender spring ratings - one rock hard ride

Not trying to be completely facetious, but what about running the tyres a few psi lower?

At the very least it'll give you an idea of what a softer ride'd feel like.



Cheers
Simon

following on from Si's reply, what tyres are you running, and what pressures ?

Here's something to consider, I posed the same question a few months back to try and soften up my D2 ride. I have OME springs a shocks all round giving me about a 40mm lift 300-340lbs rear and 180lbs front. I have a winch bar (no winch) and run 275/75R16 BFG muds. I used to run the muds at 30psi all round on road unloaded to try and soften my ride up but it was still very jumpy on small bumps. On advice I now run all my tyres at 38-40 psi all round and this believe it or not has made the ride smoother. Not sure if it was the tyres trying to act as my suspension before and now the suspension is allowed to work properly but either way - unless something else has happened - my D2 runs much better at the higher tyre pressure.

Hope this helps

P.S. I am still about to change my springs rates to about 240lbs rear and will add polys and about 160-180 lbs front - am also hoping to achieve around a 2.5 true lift at the same time and soften my ride even more.

I've always ran my factory front Grabbers at 28psi as placard says tried them at 30psi the other day and the thing catches every set of bumps and shudders like **** thru the steering, scary.

Thanks for the advise so far guys - I have played with the tyre pressures a little, am running a tyre called a Mudstar 35x12.5x15 (mud terrain style tyre, soft compound) but have not gone under 30psi or over 40psi as mentioned - will play a little more and post results in a day or so.
Thks Daz

I don't know the spring rate in mine but they are heavy, I also have LTR shocks all round. I run my 285/75/16 BFG Mudds at 50psi on road and have gone as low as 20psi off road. I find the high pressure lets the vehicle role more happily and seems more stable and responsive.

I dont believe its the spring rate...

I'd say its the Billies....

Too stiff IMHO...

CHeers
Mike

Whilst I no longer run these springs as I changed to longer ones I had sitting in the shed which were softer rate (220Lb F / 320Lb R with custom lengths) I used to run the following:

Front 290Lb
Rear 360Lb

Shocks - LTRs all round @ 100psi

Firm onroad, but not jolting and drove like a dream! (2 trips Adl to Vic, including offroad in 4 weeks) empty on way over, laden on each return and yet still rode brilliantly.

Defenders flex fine with these springs (was initially apprehensive!) as can be seen here in Toolangi.



I'm betting your shock rates are too firm. This is a common comment from Bilstein owners.

Cheers
Mike