Suspension Lift for a defender

**CraigE** · 11th March 2008, 10:04 PM

Go the King Springs. I have them in mine. $130 a pair for the front with 2inch (closer to 45mm) lift. Bull bar and lights on the front. Prices will vary depending on where you get them. There are some pics in my gallery.
If you are staying at this height there should be no drama. Above this and engineers certs, ane change tests are required by law and steering geometry changes may occur and the cost increases.

**andrew e** · 11th March 2008, 11:14 PM

I'm running Ultimate/Lovells extra heavy duty which give 3 or 4 inch lift with a steel arb bar and highmount winch (and heavy isuzu motor). No tailshaft problems to date, 4 years and 100,000kms.

Andy

**rick130** · 12th March 2008, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by Defender=1st

Gday Everyone thanks for the replys.. the current springs are just the standard ones and due to the Bullbar and winch are very low. <snip>

yes, but which 'standard' ones ? My standard ones were the HD spec ones. Look for the colour codes on the springs.

With up to around 115-120mm bump stop clearance you shouldn't have any steering or driveshaft issues (I didn't)

Also bear in mind that a lot of off the shelf aftermarket springs are much heavier in rate to get the lift, and are actually only the same length or shorter than stock, so if you are after better articulation they aren't such a good choice.

**mitch** · 12th March 2008, 06:02 PM

do the HD genuine springs articulate well?

**LRHybrid100** · 12th March 2008, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by mitch

do the HD genuine springs articulate well?

yup - as good as the standard ones especially with a bit of weight on, see Clarkies videos on YouTube.

LRH

**LRHybrid100** · 12th March 2008, 08:26 PM

YouTube - Grommet on Shortcut 2 Track, Big River

**DeeJay** · 13th March 2008, 09:25 PM

I would have thought castor kits made a mention by now. They basically make up for the difference in angle by rotating the diff back to original angle for the drive shaft.

This was fitted by ARB for a 2" lift.

**LRHybrid100** · 14th March 2008, 07:00 AM

I have never found the need for castor kits. I have a 4" lift on my Rangie and drives no problems.

LRH

**rick130** · 14th March 2008, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by DeeJay

I would have thought castor kits made a mention by now. They basically make up for the difference in angle by rotating the diff back to original angle for the drive shaft.

This was fitted by ARB for a 2" lift.

they generally reduce articulation, too and I don't like the idea that the pinion angle is changed. That in itself is a potential problem.
The best way IMO to correct castor on a Land Rover (doesn't work on a D2) is to remove the swivels and slot the bolt holes. Much more elegant, and you won't run into any pinion angle issues.

Originally Posted by LRHybrid100

I have never found the need for castor kits. I have a 4" lift on my Rangie and drives no problems.

LRH

ditto.

114-117mm between bump stops when the springs were first fitted and I didn't go looking for extra castor (and i used to wind in up to 8* on race cars

)

**DirtyDawg** · 15th March 2008, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Stephen Price

I won't enter into the spring debate as I don't know, but the problem that can occur if you lift it more than two inches is that the universal joint on the front drive flange of the transfer case has to run at an increased angle and it doesn't like it, it will cause vibration and will have a reduced life expectancy.
On top of that you get all kinds of issues with steering geometry as well as the whole front axle will move off centre, the higher you go the more off centre. All the geometry issues can be overcome with a blank cheque but the universal joint issue cannot. Unless Thompson couplings make a suitable unit but that would be a long way off.

Easy fix snailbait.put in a D2 double cardan propshaft...works fine for me.

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