Vehicle & Technical > Discovery
Lifting my disco
steve_h:
My experience...
I started off with a '96 300TDi disco, done 130K miles but completely bog standard. I'd reckon the shocks were shot as it kept bouncing for a week after every speed bump and the springs had lost 1/2" to 1" of rideheight at the back so it looked a bit saggy. So I'm thinking about what to do? Where do I spend my money most wisely to give me better off road performance and allow for more in the future should I go that route?
My tyres were standard 235/70R16 road pattern and the whole vehicle just didn't look right on them. So I decided I'd look at new, bigger and more aggressive tyres, decide on a size to use and then fit whatever suspension bits etc, were reasonably necessary to accommodate them. Now there is another can of worms - tyres on a disco. Its been done to death elsewhere on this and many other forums ('search' is your friend). I settled on 265/75R16's mainly because I found a great deal on a set and I knew I could fit them if I did a small lift and didn't mind trimming the arches and bumper.
So I now know I need a lift. I started looking at kits and reading other people's experiences. What I found is that you shouldn't just think "I need +2 inches therefore I'll buy that kit" you need to take into account what you carry in your car and what heavy accessories are fitted. This is where it gets technical, you see some kits give lift by increasing the poundage of the spring as well as the length which means that you actually loose articulation because the spring is sooo much stiffer. I looked at the ratings of standard springs and OEM heavy duty ones before deciding what to go for. Long story short, I now have Britpart DA4201 HD 200lb springs up front (only about 30lb up on standard) and DA 4203 HD 220lb springs at the back (only about 15lb up on standard) . Most people (Paddocks, MM etc) sell these as the +1" kit, but because mine was sagging to start with, I've gained over 2"! I fitted Procomp +2" shocks because mine were shot anyway.
I reckon I've got the cheapest lift using new uprated parts you can get. I haven't done anything about castor correction, it still self centres OK. I haven't yet upgraded the brake lines, I probably will at some point but for now they aren't a problem. I HAVE removed the rear anti-roll bar, it just wasn't happy with the lift fitted, but since the Procomp dampers are uprated they compensate for it. Road handling is much better, mainly for not having worn dampers and saggy springs.
Just my 2p! :D
Steve.
chris.hunt22:
Right, am now saving to do the mod, I am going to get new springs that will raise it 2" (might get more as mine are probably sagging anyway), new 2" bigger shocks and the longer brake pipe hoses (not risking that!!). Added to that I am going to get some 235/85/16 Colway AT tyres for my standard XS alloy wheels and do a camel cut to accomodate them (hoping this will give me another inch or so over the 235/70/16 standards) and sell my 15" steel wheels and tyres as AT tyres aren't as annoying on the road as I first thought they might be!! I will look into castor correction after and see if I can live without it!! Has anyone a rough idea how much doing these 2 mods will lift the car, am I about right with 3"? If anyone has a lifted disco near to Preston in Lancashire PMK me as I would like a look at it (this will make it so I can put a perspective on what mine could be!!) Thanks :D
steve_h:
My springs are supposed to give a one inch lift. Before and after measurements from wheel centre to arch lip indicate I have gained over two inches from my setup over the old springs. Images below to demonstrate.
Like I said above, just be careful if you go for a +2" kit that the springs arent going to be too stiff. Will you be fitting any weighty extras like HD bumpers, winches etc? It's only if you are then you need to increase the spring poundage to maintain the lift with the extra weight. If you only have standard bumpers, no winch and little weight in the back, then you'll struggle to compress the harder springs to the bump stops.
Which kit were you thinking of getting?
Steve.
steve_h:
Some more pics for you.
My 265/75's are about the same overall diameter as 235/85's. You can see the cut I've done just to the flange inside the arch, not a proper camel cut. Your tyres will be thinner so you'll have even more clearance.
chris.hunt22:
Steve,
I see what u mean, (camera angles help a bit!) it looks well, I wasn't thinking of putting HD bumpers or a winch on as I only do the odd 4x4 funday and greenlaning. I do tow the occasional trailer but there isn't much weight in that. Like the trimmed front bumper, never thought of that. I thought about 265/75 tyres but I thought they might rub on full lock, they will be about the same height as 235/85 won't they?? I am still unsure as to which kit might be the best but if I got the uprated springs like yours I would always be thinking how much would a 2" kit give me? The tyre situation got me thinking as lifting the suspension doesn't actually increase the height of the diffs from the road but bigger tyres will. I will have about £450 to play with come spring/summer I hope for suspension and tyres.
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