Thread: advice needed - OFFROAD SUSP SETUP

First up-forget the idea that a lift means flex. It doesn't. Initially, shock length is the limit, then after that is bush binding.

I'd start with Gwyn Lewis raised upper shock mounts and shocks to match.
Pro-Comp shocks are pretty mediocre. Not as good as Terrafirma, which aren't as good as most other brands... but what you pay is what you get. Old Man Emu or Amada Extreme are two options for long travel shocks that mates have and are pleased with.

Hose clamps will hold your coils in!

Originally Posted by isuzutoo-eh

First up-forget the idea that a lift means flex. It doesn't. Initially, shock length is the limit, then after that is bush binding.

I'd start with Gwyn Lewis raised upper shock mounts and shocks to match.
Pro-Comp shocks are pretty mediocre. Not as good as Terrafirma, which aren't as good as most other brands... but what you pay is what you get. Old Man Emu or Amada Extreme are two options for long travel shocks that mates have and are pleased with.

Hose clamps will hold your coils in!

cheers mate,

yeah i figured lift dosnt equal flex...thats why i was thinking +4" shocks.
Dose +2" lift with +4" shocks = 2"more articulation over a stock std setup theoretically? will bushes be limiting this at all...or is this for HUGE travel setups?

with the gwyn lewis raised mounts...which legnth shock would i be after?

'Lift', as a spring based concept, is merely moving the static position of the body higher in relation to the ground (well, axles really).
+4" shocks should indeed give 4 inches more travel in total, if you have the raised shock mounts then up travel will be the same as stock (same bump stops) but increased down travel. Where the bumpstops are extended is where up travel is reduced, usually a symptom of shock bodies too long to fit the mount locations.


Shocks to match the Gwyn Lewis/Terrafirma/D44 gear are usually marketed as +5", that is they have a 5" longer stroke than stock. This means the body of the shock should be 2.5" longer than stock, but the stock have a bit of a conservative side, so +2" towers are enough.

The bushes shouldn't quite bind with +5" shocks, otherwise those shocks wouldn't be a common upgrade, you'd be buying +4" or similar if the bushes were binding at +5".
Much more though and the bushes will be the limiting factor. Then you can start learning about Superior's Superflex Arms and similar...

Originally Posted by isuzutoo-eh

'Lift', as a spring based concept, is merely moving the static position of the body higher in relation to the ground (well, axles really).
+4" shocks should indeed give 4 inches more travel in total, if you have the raised shock mounts then up travel will be the same as stock (same bump stops) but increased down travel. Where the bumpstops are extended is where up travel is reduced, usually a symptom of shock bodies too long to fit the mount locations.


Shocks to match the Gwyn Lewis/Terrafirma/D44 gear are usually marketed as +5", that is they have a 5" longer stroke than stock. This means the body of the shock should be 2.5" longer than stock, but the stock have a bit of a conservative side, so +2" towers are enough.

The bushes shouldn't quite bind with +5" shocks, otherwise those shocks wouldn't be a common upgrade, you'd be buying +4" or similar if the bushes were binding at +5".
Much more though and the bushes will be the limiting factor. Then you can start learning about Superior's Superflex Arms and similar...

cool, so you suggestions are?
-Gwyn Lewis/Terrafirma/D44 +5" shocks
+2" turrets,
+2" springs
-hose clamp springs to retain

what about the rear shock monts with +5' shocks?

so procomp +4" would or wouldnt need 2" raised turrets to retyain stock bumpstops?

+5" shocks will need the same to retain the stock bumpstops?

with 35" tyres what would be better...aised turrets, to retain stock bumpstops and 'tuck'...OR std turrets and +2" bumpstops?

the turrets make sence to me...only thing that worries me is 35" tyres with stock flares, and of course the incresing cost of the setup

Originally Posted by rick79

cool, so you suggestions are?
-Gwyn Lewis/Terrafirma/D44 +5" shocks
+2" turrets,
+2" springs
-hose clamp springs to retain

what about the rear shock monts with +5' shocks?

Gwyn Lewis/TF/Devon 4x4 make the raised shock mounts, both front and rear. I believe Gwyn Lewis was the first to manufacture them, and thus gets my respect and dollars. He makes a better quality though not so shinybling product than TF anyway.

Regarding the pro-comps, you need to know the closed length of the shocks and then compare to the space available between your current mounts, with 2" added for the towers/mounts. Remembering that a dynamic cross axle situation will give potentially 50% compression to the bump stops, whilst a driveway flex session won't compress them at all.

Regarding tyres and flares, that's more to do with the tyre width and rim offset than suspension choices-unless you extend the bump stops so far that the tyre can't touch the flares at all! I haven't done the calcs to see what widths work with standard flares for 35s, but my 255/85/16s rub with zero offset 7" rims, whilst 130/wolf rims with slight positive offset should clear comfortably.

Finally, this is only my opinion, hopefully others will come along and lend their experience to your thread too.

Originally Posted by rick79

so procomp +4" would or wouldnt need 2" raised turrets to retyain stock bumpstops?

+5" shocks will need the same to retain the stock bumpstops?

with 35" tyres what would be better...aised turrets, to retain stock bumpstops and 'tuck'...OR std turrets and +2" bumpstops?

the turrets make sence to me...only thing that worries me is 35" tyres with stock flares, and of course the incresing cost of the setup

This picture shows a 315/75R16 KM2 mounted on a 16 X 8 wheel with Negative 25mm offset and standard flares.

Nb: most 315/75R16 are nothing near 35" most are just over 34".
I would suggest doing something about your gearing before fitting these tyres.

Regards,
Mike.

If you are considering flares, flatdog make the best ones I have seen and used.

I've got TF rear shock mounts with their 5 inch shocks on my 90 but only running 33 extremes. Definitely need some off set on the rims as even my 265/75/16 mt rub on the spring mount with a little flex. Checked out other defenders running 35s and there's plenty of room under the wheel arch but you'll need to lose the standard flares and go for after market jobs.....not cheap! I'm contemplating 35s to as I'm about the only one running 33s over here in Borneo and the majority have at least 36 or larger! My diff guards cope a hiding but at least it's only mud! On the front I've got +2 inch TF sport with 2 inch king springs.....the spring just stays located with full travel of shock. The rear, even with dislocation cones popped out on one audacious section.
My mate was running the TF +5 inch on his 110 and thought them too soft. They're ok on my 90 and also on a mates disco 1. In my opinion , since you have a diff lock, a 2 inch lift with matched springs to shocks will work both well on the road and off. Mentioned on a previous post that the king spring/koni set up i had worked very well. Anything over 2 inches and on road performance is compromised. It would appear that companies won't air freight, gas shocks any more, even had the rear upper tail gate strut refused, but fortunately in Aust there's a maze of choice!