Thread: Locker(s) vs flexy dislocating suspension

I have been out with standard height defender with lockers front and rear. I had long travel suspension in mine, when we come to a hill that had wash outs in it the double locked vehicle lifted two wheels and started slipping the others and couldn't make the hill. My car whilst not locked back then but was able to keep all four wheels on the ground I drove up no problems.

So in my opinion suspension first then lockers.

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I recently disconnected my springs on the top and very happy with the Gwyn Lewis relocation cones with the hooks . Retaining sounds good in theory and has its place ,but as soon as the spring fully extend and start to strech it pulled the truck back violently and caused a few hairy situations . Now i just roll trough the same spot with the cab dead level .Yes they make a noise when relocating ,but the sound of a retained spring twisting and rubbing together ,squirming and banging was unbearable . It must be balanced though like everything else ,i did the front as well to fully get all the advantages .This is my experience and not a theory .I also must add i have a rear locker and massive articulation . As for flex for posers here is a video of the head poser Gwyn Lewis himself with his "poser " defender using his own suspension design .
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V02stizLG0"]Gwyn SS1 - YouTube[/ame]
George

Just watched the vid...

Good skills, but nothing magic in that design.

And re-locked stock Vs flexi...

You need exact same line, same everything to compare.
Different drivers remarkably changes the way it handles.

To each their own....

There's sound engineering, there's trial and error and even "it works" designs.

It stuns me how many people don't get suspension changes right.
My all time favorite - "How much coil lift do I need to run XYZ tyres?"

If it doesn't fit stock - it won't fit lifted.... (UNLESS other changes are made)

Too true about the myths ,i just tried to dispel some .No ,no magic just Gwyns 30 odd years of experience building trucks and designing suspension components for land rovers against someones 'expert" internet opinion and i mean that generally not saying it about you.
You're right it doesn't really shows in that video ,how about this one ?
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJOx6J1f6BM"]UNB - Whitbread Landrover Buggy with Gwyn Lewis challenge suspension massive articulation - YouTube[/ame]
George

I'd drive a standard rover through that sort of terrain? Can not see what was so special about the suspension?
Had about the same amount of flex as a standard classic with some slightly longer shocks?

40 inch tyres take a lot away from the visual .Here is what it looks like with 31"s on my disco .
George

How about torque biasing limited slip lockers and the good articulation as a combination?

TrueTrac's front and rear and some nice long travel coils and springs?

Originally Posted by manchild21000

40 inch tyres take a lot away from the visual .Here is what it looks like with 31"s on my disco .
George

Here a simple comparison.
37s on a rangie (mine), stock rear suspension geometry, retained coils (front and rear) 1" body lift, guards cut up . Just has longer shocks.



This is not set up for maximum flex, nor is this shot a very good one to show the amount of flex available.

Here is another shot, with a different set of 37s, No body lift, retained coils, and only cycling about 10" of shock travel front and rear. Shows that you don't need to go all out to get decent flex.


I wheeled this car and similar set-up rovers unlocked for many years. With double locked rigs and it held up just fine, that I guess is why I have said lockers are overrated.

I'd still wheel a standard suspension rover through the sort of terrain in that vid

EDIT: p.s. just for the record I do not claim my set-up to be 'long travel' suspension. It's pretty much standard and can be achieved on any rover at a cost of a pair of shocks in the right length.
Hence my opinion on all the talk of long travel kits and dislocating springs is IMHO no gain. Gwyns stuff included. My credit goes to LR engineers for designing such a great suspension platform to work with. They are the true specialist.