Thread: advice needed - OFFROAD SUSP SETUP

Suspension Stuff Ref
front - C70-296VT - 16mm wire, 500mm free length, 345mm compressed
rear C70-297VT - 20mm wire, 530mm free, 405mm compressed

I rang Dobinson and the above reference was no longer on offer (don't make them any more). Which may mean SS, contrary to my earlier statement, have gone elsewhere or the part ref is no longer in use and the below is the new coil ref for the comparable flexi coil.

Dobinson's ref (marketed as a +3" flexi coil).
front - C51-198V - FL 17mm wire, 460mm free, 350mm compressed - FR 17.5 wire, 475mm free, 360mm compressed (approx +4" lift)
rear - C51-199V - 19.5mm wire, 540mm free, 410mm compressed (approx +2" lift)

Both SS and Dobinsons are variable front and rear. Compressed height will vary with your set up and weight. The measurements were taken the day after fitting and will settle down. My truck is a Puma with steel bar and winch. The rear has a HD steel tray, steel canopy and a 35" spare tyre, tool box with tools/spares weighing in about 100kg. I estimate about 500kg constant load.

MLD

I'm going to suggest that your budget doesn't support the changes to 35's...

To do it all properly, including lockers as upgraded diffs, gears, axles, CV's, brakes, etc. There is not much change out of 8k, I ran the numbers when exchange rates weren't what they are, I have since abandoned the idea as I felt it was a waste of money, I can do better than HD Rover stuff with 8k... And I decided to blow the money skiing so have to save up again

To simply say "I want 35's, I can buy the tyres and have a thousand bucks to spend on other 'stuff'" is not the right way to go about it.

First off get your car into a better running condition, throw all the terrafirma stuff in the bin (where it belongs). Then spend some money on decent suspension (the money you would have otherwise spent on tyres). THEN save up again for the tyres and diff gears. Fit them, and either upgrade the driveline in one hit, or as you break it (which you will).

My car's run Bilstein and Koni shocks, I had Terrafirma +5's in the Range Rover but they were unbearable. Either of these brands are about the best you'll get. Utilising shocks from other makes/models will give you a broader range to choose from, Land Cruiser shocks are a good option. But don't cheap out on shocks or it'll drive like a POS.

Depending on your use, I'd either go with Kings/Dobinsons and run retainers, or if it is just a toy, SS flexy coils are pretty darn cool