my D2 needs a new 2" lift

jastutte

Well-known member
Nov 10, 2009
463
72
i currently have a Terra Firma 2" HD lift. wasn't a terrible ride but then i grew up driving F250s for work. which means i'm used to the stiffness and bounce of HD setups. but, i assume there are HD setups that ride better than Terra Firma.

i drive the D2 daily and occasionally pull a trailer loaded with tools and other materials. pretty sure this is why the right rear shock is leaking oil. the rear springs are starting to sag a little, as well.

i plan on keeping this '04 and daily driving it for work and pleasure for the next several years, so, i'm looking for recommendations for springs and shocks (kits are fine) that will keep me 2" higher than stock, be rated for pulling a trailer and ride better than the Terra Firmas. i do off road occasionally and i'm planning a trip out west in the next couple of years.

the D2 has 31" tires, a steel winch bumper on the front and will be getting a steel bumper on the rear soon.

thanks,
 

rovercanus

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2004
9,643
244
Check with RTE. They have the springs.
I had Old Man Emu shocks with a 2" RTE spring lift and they were too short.
I would do 2" RTE with Bilstein 10" 7100 valved 80/100 (I think) and 200 psi of nitrogen for a 2" lift.
 
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JUKE179r

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2016
761
95
Suffolkshire, UK
IMHO... stick with TF and go with their MD +2" springs.
I have everything extra bolted to my Disco 2 except a roof rack so I went with TF HD +2" springs after removing the OME HD springs. THE OME HDs rattled my teeth they were so damn stiff!
The TF HD weren't as stiff as the OME HDs but they definitely don't make for a comfortable ride.
 

MM3846

Well-known member
Feb 18, 2014
1,221
161
LI, NY
Check with RTE. They have the springs.
I had Old Man Emu shocks with a 2" RTE spring lift and they were too short.
I would do 2" RTE with Bilstein 10" 7100 valved 80/100 (I think) and 200 psi of nitrogen for a 2" lift.
80/100 is really soft, so that'll give you a nice ride but it'll be bouncy. I ran 255/70 or 360/80 on all my Jeeps.

I like Fox for pretty much everything right now, I don't think there's a better shock for trucks/SUVs until you go up to custom 2.5" ones. Bilstein has really dropped the ball on their aftermarket stuff, and OME has stiffened up all their suspension to fit in with the "go fast" people.
 

rovercanus

Well-known member
Apr 24, 2004
9,643
244
80/100 is really soft, so that'll give you a nice ride but it'll be bouncy. I ran 255/70 or 360/80 on all my Jeeps.

I like Fox for pretty much everything right now, I don't think there's a better shock for trucks/SUVs until you go up to custom 2.5" ones. Bilstein has really dropped the ball on their aftermarket stuff, and OME has stiffened up all their suspension to fit in with the "go fast" people.
Totally correct. It's been so long since I've done shocks I forgot what valve rates we used,
I have a set of remote reservoir 12" shocks I need to rebuild.
I'm running 10" all around now with about a 5" lift.
 

jastutte

Well-known member
Nov 10, 2009
463
72
80/100 is really soft, so that'll give you a nice ride but it'll be bouncy. I ran 255/70 or 360/80 on all my Jeeps.

I like Fox for pretty much everything right now, I don't think there's a better shock for trucks/SUVs until you go up to custom 2.5" ones. Bilstein has really dropped the ball on their aftermarket stuff, and OME has stiffened up all their suspension to fit in with the "go fast" people.
what valving would you recommend or is that a conversation to have with whatever vendor i end up purchasing from?

i will be doing occasional towing and off roading, though, not at the same time.

Edit: i'm an idiot. i see you all ready posted what you run.
 

MM3846

Well-known member
Feb 18, 2014
1,221
161
LI, NY
what valving would you recommend or is that a conversation to have with whatever vendor i end up purchasing from?

i will be doing occasional towing and off roading, though, not at the same time.

Edit: i'm an idiot. i see you all ready posted what you run.

255/70, for sure if you go with Bilstein. 360/80 may be a little firm unless you want to do go-fast stuff. these numbers are specific to Bilstein off the shelf shocks only, though.

valving is a complex thing. you need to match to your springs but more so your desired result. Bilstein's 5100s, 7100s, etc are digressive and for example don't handle bumps in an otherwise flat surface very well. fox's off the shelf stuff is linear, and provides a much better balance (IMO) between on and off road situations. if you're interested, accutune's website has a lot of good info on the basics. start here.

of course, YMMV. things like tire pressure, tire type, and the amount of tire sidewall you have, load carrying, vehicle weight, spring rates, etc... all come into play. that isn't even considering people reviewing shocks as "bad" who have terrible setups and suspension geometry due to poorly manufactured lifts, too much lift.. I could go on and on.
 
Last edited:

jastutte

Well-known member
Nov 10, 2009
463
72
255/70, for sure if you go with Bilstein. 360/80 may be a little firm unless you want to do go-fast stuff. these numbers are specific to Bilstein off the shelf shocks only, though.

valving is a complex thing. you need to match to your springs but more so your desired result. Bilstein's 5100s, 7100s, etc are digressive and for example don't handle bumps in an otherwise flat surface very well. fox's off the shelf stuff is linear, and provides a much better balance (IMO) between on and off road situations. if you're interested, accutune's website has a lot of good info on the basics. start here.

of course, YMMV. things like tire pressure, tire type, and the amount of tire sidewall you have, load carrying, vehicle weight, spring rates, etc... all come into play. that isn't even considering people reviewing shocks as "bad" who have terrible setups and suspension geometry due to poorly manufactured lifts, too much lift.. I could go on and on.
thanks.

i did stumble across the accutune website last week. reading over that made me realize just how much i don't know.

it sounds like i would be best served by linear shocks considering the gravel/rock roads at the farm and the trails available here in the Midwest.

Fox may be the way to go.
 
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