Lifting my Disco I

[bigbinsocal]

Hey guys, I am going to start the process of lifting my 96 Disco. I have been researching this site on what parts to get and size tire etc. So here is what I have decided to go with so far. OME HD Springs front and rear to give me a 1.75-2inch lift. I will decide last minute if I can scrounge up another $300 for the matching shocks, otherwise I plan to run my lift on the stock shocks for a while until I can afford the shocks. Anyboby done this? Run a 2 inch lift on stock shocks? The tire size that seems to be the most popular are 235/85/16's. Is this the best size and will I have problems running tires this big? I do plan to cut and trim where needed. Why not, this is the best off-road rig out there, not just a soccer mom shuttle!! I saw on this site a lot of people running I think 265/75/16's. Are these wider or taller or both? I do go out to the Imperial Sand Dunes on occation. Which tire size would be good for sand? I am going with BFG MT's for an aggresive look and I heard these were great for most off-road conditions, but I am open for suggestion on anything you think is a better tire. I am on a budget and I plan on transforming my rig over the next few years step by step. So having said that, my last question is, do you think I should hold off and muster up more cash and do the springs and shocks together, or could I get away with just the springs and tires for a while? Thanks for your input. Brian

P.S. I will be selling all 5 of my stock Michelin 4x4 xpc's when I get the new tires. Anybody interested in buying these in late Dec? I have seen these tires sell on ebay used for about $50-$60 each. I bought two new ones for the front when I bought the rig so they have about 16K on them. The backs I did not replace so they are almost done. I would estimate they have 38-40K on them but still have tread on them. And the spare is brand new. Let me know so I can post them on this site when the time comes.

 

[Rocky]

1: Take to Rovertym/EE about your plans no winch no need for HD springs
2: Since the front shock is inside the spring, replace the front shocks at the same time you do the springs. Rears are up to you.
3: Get the D2 spring retainers/isolators installed at same time. Cheap extra lift.
Tire sized are fine.
Look at photo gallery at many trucks, have the set up you are thinking of

 

[DiscoJon]

I have a 96 SE7 with the OMD hd springs and matching shocks plus ARB bull bar and winch. No trimming and i currently have 255/70 michlins on it that only rub when deflated.

I have on order a full set of isolators(8) which i think will add 1/2 to 3/4 more lift and a set of 265/75 geolanders. I don't have experience with this yet as it isn't on but i figure i will need to do some trimming.

 

[bigbinsocal]

What are D2 spring retainers/isolators? Although I would love to lift it 3+ inches, I have been reading that when you go to 3 inches you have to start doing more mods with steering and handling etc. I would love to do this but again money is an issue. Will the spring retainers/isolators put me at 2 inches or 2.25+? How much do they cost?

 

[DiscoJon]

I don't know about the D2 retainers, but with the OME HD's the isolators i think i'll have 2.5 or so lift. That is about all you can go without running into problems from what i have read.

 

[Knut]

I had 265/75/16 BFG AT's with a HD OME lift on my old 97DI. You'll need to adjust the steering stops and some cutting in the rear. I also installed longer bumstops in the rear (follow the write-up in the tech section).

When I 1st installed the HD lift, I ran 235/85/16's on the truck (Dunlop Mud Rovers - avoid at all cost), but I much preferred the ride with the 265's.

 

[bigbinsocal]

Tire sizes

What is the main difference between the 235/85's and the 265/75's? Which one is taller and wider? I know I have to cut and trim. Is it easy to adjust the steering stops?

 

[-OTTO-]

The 265/75 is wider!
All other things are the same.

greets

-OTTO-

 

[MUSKYMAN]

I would bypass the BFG's and get a lower cost brand.

take the savings and get the correct length shock right from the get go.

running stock length shocks will cause them to top out and often break the stock shock pretty fast.

most brand tires 235 /85 16 is slightly taller then the 265/75 16

but most 235/85's are E rated and most 265/75's are C rated

the E's are going to ride firmer and give better control at highway speeds but as you indicated you plan on running alot of sand so the wider 265 will benifit you there.

If I was in your spot I would get a AT tire because where you live sand will be more common then mud and the AT will perform better and give a superior road ride.

enjoy your lifted toy...but hold on tight, it is only the beginning

 

[vaden87]

Is it easy to adjust the steering stops?

Yes, very easy. I installed the OME HD lift (OME751 OME762 N44 N115) on my 97 a week or so ago. I put BFG AT 245/75/16 on and had to adjust the steering stops. It took all of 10 minutes to do. Just be sure to clean all the road grime off before you work! (It will save so much time.)

I used a nickel to determine the distance required between the tire and arm(required is 20, nickel is 21)

 

[bigbinsocal]

Wow, thanks for all the great info. I am going to get the shocks done with the springs. I was debating as to what type of tire to get AT or MT. I do run in sand a lot here in the SoCal deserts as well as the occasional trips to Moab and Park City Utah. Are the BFG AT's a solid off-road tire? With the 245/75's being wider, will they tuck up in the wheel wells? I want my rig to stand out in the SoCal Land Rover Community and the MT's just look more aggressive and cool and EVERYONE runs AT's on thier Fords and Chevy's which is why I am shying away from them a bit. But I am willing to reconsider due do all the desert trips. What do you guys think?

 

[mkronmal]

Do NOT worry about the coolness factor. Just go offroading stock with someone with a modified truck and let them see what it can do. You'll cause some jaw dropping.

Spend your money wisely and do everything needed to be safe and effective. Stock these Rovers can do a heel of a lot.

Cheers!

 

[bigbinsocal]

Thanks, I have been out many times with my stock Disco and have blown away my friends trucks and my two brother in law's after market jeeps. Not to mention that I have pulled out a two wheel drive pre-runner and a big Chevy Blazer in the Glamis Sand Dunes. What I want is my Land Rover to stand out from the outnumbering Southern Cali Soccer Mom Yuppy crowd that does not have a clue what to what their vehicle is capable of doing. I know what it will do stock, but now I want to take it to the next level and have a rig that will turn heads. Every time I see a lifted Disco all decked out, I say "that is what I want mine to look like". Well now its time to get it done! Still trying to decide between AT's or MT's. Has anyone run the BFG Baja's?

 

[Asolo3j]

I've got MT's on my D1. I hit mud, slop, snow, water etc... they work great for me. In your climate, AT's may outperform the MT's. I would listen to experience and use the search to read up on what works best. Most people here kit out their LR's for purpose and function, it just so happens that they look good. Build up your rig the way you want and I bet it will turn heads.

 

[PwerRec]

Brian, this may seem random but line of work are you in?

I've got a friend who lives in san diego with your same name.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

Hey Hey Curtis!

 

[bigbinsocal]

Hey Curtis your name is not familiar, but I am in the Health Club Industry. Personal Training & Health Club management.

 

[Rocky]

Just put 235/85-16 Dunlop RT on the alloy wheels today, no apparent problem with clearence at all. I'm going to take a look tomorrow in daylight.
I've done under 50 miles on road but after the cooper STT MT and xpcs I think these are way quieter than either. Stiffer sidewalls help handling as well.

Yeah I like them. They shouldn't clag up like the BFGs do either.

 

[okeasykiller]

D1's have rear isolaters on the top,you only need 6 of them not 8 for 4/5 of an inch lift (20mm) places like exp. exc. tell you to buy 8, liars

 

[DiscoJon]

the isolators on the rear of my D1 were smashed flat so i went ahead and replaced them. Gained almost an inch up front and 3/4 rear