Vehicle & Technical > Defender

Lifting a 90. Is it worth it?

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Jim-Willy:
My suspension is very tired.  The plan was to lift it 2" as seen as it was all being changed anyway.  I knew i'd need new brake hoses and castor corrected raduis arms but now it seems I may need a front prop aswell (How much are these?) and its got me wondering......Is it worth it, all my problems offroad are due to lack of grip not articulation, the lift is for show rather than cos i need it (although i did fancy 900/16's).  Is it worth it, will i niotice a difference.  Candid and honest replys would be appreciated and maybe a picture of a cross axled 2" lifted 90.  Thanks in advance.

datalas:
oooh, the $1,000,000 question.

A suspension lift will increase the amount of clearence under the wheel arches, which in turn means that you can further invest in some larger tyres which will raise the differential further from the floor and increase your ground clearence.

It should be noted that you should really get some extended bump stops as well which will reduce any gains in articulation that you get, although you will get some.  The reasons for extending the bump stops are to reduce the risks of you hitting the wheel arches with the wheels.   Reasons for extending the brake hoses and castor correction have been discussed at length, but to summarise,  castor correction helps your self centering (steering) and elongated brake hoses stop you ripping them apart.

Now, as you so succinctly put it you don't run out of articulation all that often and so any of the more esoteric suspension modifications are probably unneccesary, especially in this country where as you say lack of traction is far more common.  If you were going for rock crawling I might say otherwise, but you would be hard pressed to find much rock crawling round here.

a 2" lift on a 90 isn't *that* much in some ways and the vehicle itself will  take it without doing too much to it's handling.  However to do the job properly you will probably be needing the radius arms and prop, although as nelly will testify you can survive for a time without either...

Anyhow, as to whether you need it, that's pretty much up to you, but just putting a new set of springs on is a cheaper option.

Jake:
Why not invest in some locking diffs instead?
 :D

littlepow:
just beware you have moved you centre of gravity upwards.
So will effect the angle of side slops that will tip you over, will now be less steep!
Also could effect the look of your present wheels, although bigger tyres will improve this.

Range Rover Blues:
Bump stops arn't just about the wheels hitting the body, they stop the coils hitting each other too, which can lead to springs busting.

Another mod we never talk about is the body lift, if all you want is more space under the arches why not just lift the body, the C of G wouldn't rise as much so you'd still be stable.  Answer, because a suspension lift DOES increase your clearance on breakover and departure.  Unfortunately the stiffer springs usually employed will decrease articlulation.  I have a 2" lift and I still use standard tyres, well 235/70s at any rate.  If I was starting again I'd compramise with a 1" lift and precious little else.


Just out of interest, how do you define standard height, I have 2 cars, both with supposed 2" lifts and they sit at least 1 1/2 inch different at the front.  Is the Panhard rod level on a standard car, ie the chaasi mount in line with the redundant axle mount?

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