Discovery 1 - Help me build a no/minimal lift OEM+ spring/shock upgrade
- Thread starter _ExpeditionMan
- Start date
What about the CB Lift (Cheap Bastard)? Move the stock rear springs to the front - does that provide much lift? Than you only have to figure out the rear springs (which is easier).
It's a common misconception that increased load carrying capacity requires additional suspension lift. Additionally, to combat coil fatigue I plan on utilizing upper rubber spring isolators (0.3" gain) and I have a pair of 1" spacers as a back up.
I recognize the OME kit is popular and it's definitely under consideration. What I'm trying to do here is minimize overall height increase why preserving the excellent stock suspension geometries.
So this is definitely a possibility, but I'll have to source new springs for the front due to the required spring rate increase from my bumper and winch. However, those springs could definitely be a OEM version such as a HD D1 rear spring or a D110/D130 HD front. Those versions are significantly less expensive than their OME or TF equivalents.
If your not improving the suspension just put spacers under the factory springs to get desired height with your load. You will probably find a 1" spacer does the trick. Add a helper air bag in the rear spring and call it a day. Maybe put some new ome shocks in there to make the ride better. The factory suspension height is not great off road and sits quite low to the bump stops on up travel. I find it atrocious even around town driving. Going to a MD ome spring and shock makes a world of difference improvement in the ride both on and off road. Your really not lifting it much with those and with your load probably be where you want. I know your limiting height but I feel your really limiting yourself and your build on this one. I also think you are overthinking the whole thing and making it complicated. The other side is your not going to get your "right" answer without ponying up and spend some money on something and try it. Every one of our builds and loads is different. its what makes it interesting.
Thats a great idea, I might have one out back on the parts RR. Almost took one off a customers car last week but he wanted to keep it on even after doing the lift.
You may have missed my point. The stock rear springs are progressive rate, and when moved to the front could handle your winch and bumper with minimal lift. Then you choose a rear spring from LR's available selection (to achieve minimal rear lift).
@robertf you said the NTC8572 sag even with the 1" spacer when fully loaded to ~5900lbs, the majority of which is over the rear axle. During normal daily driving does the rear sit higher than the front on NRC4305?
Starting to wonder if the NTC3285 would be a better option for the rear, despite the slightly lower spring rate, since it has approximately 0.8" more free length.
Starting to wonder if the NTC3285 would be a better option for the rear, despite the slightly lower spring rate, since it has approximately 0.8" more free length.
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so I was wrong about the weight, it was 5500.
unloaded it sits about level. I still think the rate is too low for expedition use
I will give you what you want. Just bring me the car, give me the parameters and open your checkbook and when i give it back it will be done. Ive done everything from mild to WTF and everything in between. I have ideas for days and the only limit is my imagination and your pocketbook. (pocketbook always wins unless it my own car) ive done air bagged rear springs in medium duty coils for towing, a hundred OME spring and shock kits of evey sort, 3 and 5" lifts using RTE kits (Simon if the best), 7' lifts with massive flex. D1 on a 3" lift with 2 feet of travel and no rubbing, pan hard conversions on d2s, fully linked D1s. Ruffstuff and RTE are 2 of our sponsors on the race truck. We are building a complete from scratch suspension and once again the limit is only my imagination and to top it off I am redesigning the D1 Classic Defender front 3 link front setup with all modern fab bits from Ruffstuff.
I will say i have never and will never sell Cheap crap springs and shocks like Terra Firma. it just will not pass through my hands.
We have given you a ton of ideas, we are 3 pages into this. From there you need to start experimenting with what you think will work. Get off the forum and order something and run with it. It sounds like you want someone to give you a definitive solution but every setup is different if even slightly. no 2 builds and loads are the same. You need to experiment and see what will work or have someone else do the work to see what makes the build. You do want your cake and eat it too type of thing. I dont think the car will drive down a dirt road very well without some lift as the bump travel is so limited at stock height. even 1 inch makes a world of difference in these. Then you have tire clearance and ground height issues as well. it will never be an "Expedition" vehicle. It will be a pavement princess and fit in your garage. Just trying to give you my opinion from my experience so dont take it to hard. Go be creative and put that pocket book to work.
My favorite lift of all time was using LR springs with Bilsteins sourced from RN. Early D1 US pioneers did a lift with 245/75s. Its a good combination.
Given the OP request, I would go with NRC9446/9447 at the front and NTC3285 & NRC8113 rear springs
Given the OP request, I would go with NRC9446/9447 at the front and NTC3285 & NRC8113 rear springs
Carmichael / Camel helper spring
Common sense would be to slap a set of OME springs in the back, but I want to give this a shot. Camel discos used an inner helper spring like a Defender 130. What I know so far is that Carmichael fire engine company supplied the spring that they used off their 6 wheel drive range rover...discoweb.org
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1100 lbs of pavers and shed
