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Lambley



Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Mid Devon
Posts: 1435

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
How much better/difference do better shocks etc make?
I'm tempted to get some Bilstein B6 shocks and steering damper, upgrade the rear anti roll bar and fit a set of SuperPro bushes, how much difference will it make to general road driving? I'd keep it standard height. Is it worth shelling out for, there isn't anything wrong with the std shocks etc that are on, but I'd like to know if there is a noticeable improvement with fitting the above if poss before shelling out.
Post #317330 19th Mar 2014 9:43pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
Yes, there will be a noticeable difference. It will roll less in the corners and crash less over pot holes and the like. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #317340 19th Mar 2014 9:59pm
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Skeggy 90



Member Since: 07 Oct 2013
Location: Skeg Vegas
Posts: 231

England 2011 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 SW Bali Blue
It depends what you want to improve, If you want to improve the defenders on road handling the thicker rear anti roll bar will make a big difference. I would recommend dropping the suspension 1 inch with slightly softer springs with a really good shock absorber like Fox . You should then think about 18 inch wheels to improve it further by reducing the depth of the sidewall. The down side is the better you make it handle on road the opposite happens when you venture off it.
Post #317341 19th Mar 2014 9:59pm
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keith



Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 2163

Scotland 
Huge differance and transformed road manners . It's the first and most immediate change I make to all my def's .
Check out the search option for ARB's & gas shocks .
Post #317345 19th Mar 2014 10:04pm
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Likeomg



Member Since: 29 Jun 2012
Location: Lake District / Newcastle
Posts: 2626

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Stornoway Grey
i did it last week, its worth the money, the biggest improvement is the reduced roll in corners, my father who drives a supercar as his daily couldn't believe how it handles after doing the suspension.
Post #317346 19th Mar 2014 10:05pm
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UtilityTruck



Member Since: 09 Jan 2014
Location: Oxford
Posts: 463

United Kingdom 
What options are there for thicker roll bars? I've heard about the 30mm snatch roll bar- but that's the front isn't it?
Post #317367 19th Mar 2014 11:04pm
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Lambley



Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Mid Devon
Posts: 1435

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
Thanks for the replies.
I'm just after a better on road ride really, I don't do many miles, it's only done 29k miles which is low for a 2006 Td5, after speaking to a local service garage, he recommended doing the above but keeping the std springs as they are decent enough. I don't want to go to larger wheels and low profile tyres, just knowing that it's more capable on the road and less roll in corners would be good enough. To be honest I just like fiddling and like making improvements, if it's worthwhile then I'll do it but thought I'd ask first, I don't want to go ahead and then see little or no improvement.
Post #317369 19th Mar 2014 11:04pm
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borderterrier



Member Since: 09 Dec 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1677

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
I fitted Monroe Adventure to the front and rear of a 300tdi 90 and also to a TD5 Discovery I had. Made a huge difference to both on and off road driving for the better.
Post #317377 19th Mar 2014 11:23pm
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Skeggy 90



Member Since: 07 Oct 2013
Location: Skeg Vegas
Posts: 231

England 2011 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 SW Bali Blue
You only need to fit the thicker rear anti roll bar, as long as you have a standard one on the front.
Post #317382 19th Mar 2014 11:36pm
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bm52



Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Havana
- Standard road springs
- quality damper, i use Koni, some use Bilstien etc
- standard front ARB
- upgrade rear ARB from 19mm to 25mm
- use SuperPro bushes on both ARBs
- result = smoother more compliant ride will little sway on the curves and corners and no real impact off road unless you go extreme.

Just my thoughts and set up. BM52
Post #317391 20th Mar 2014 12:04am
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df1



Member Since: 06 Aug 2011
Location: Ireland
Posts: 221

I fitted blistein dampers to the rear of my 110 a while and could see zero difference from originals.

My thinking is you may need to goo the whole hog with spring replacement for noticeable difference.

Just my 2ct.

I have no experience with the koni though, seem to be well thought of here.

My advice is to try drive a couple of upgraded vehicles and see what setup suits you and what gives best value for your pound, all too easy to splash out on mods with little but placebo effect improvement.
Post #317413 20th Mar 2014 6:00am
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bpman



Member Since: 21 May 2008
Location: Oslo
Posts: 8069

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black
Be aware if you drop the rear suspension you will probably need to change your front prop to a wide angle to stop the vehicle vibrations
Post #317414 20th Mar 2014 6:06am
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Nidge



Member Since: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Kildare Ireland
Posts: 809

Ireland 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HCPU Cairns Blue
Another vote for koni shocks and standard LR springs....most after market springs either lift it or are stiffer..which is not what your after.
Heavy duty arb in the rear too..but I would be surprised if you don't notice a difference upgrading to the koni.

N
Post #317419 20th Mar 2014 7:48am
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Lambley



Member Since: 20 Apr 2013
Location: Mid Devon
Posts: 1435

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Java Black
bm52 wrote:
- Standard road springs
- quality damper, i use Koni, some use Bilstien etc
- standard front ARB
- upgrade rear ARB from 19mm to 25mm
- use SuperPro bushes on both ARBs
- result = smoother more compliant ride will little sway on the curves and corners and no real impact off road unless you go extreme.

Just my thoughts and set up.

That's what I've been advised to fit but with Bilsteins in place of Koni, not sure why - maybe it was cost. Paddocks do the Bilstein shocks and damper at a reasonable cost so I might go that route, probably Extreme ARB at the rear.
Post #317454 20th Mar 2014 11:46am
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2664

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
Nidge wrote:
Another vote for koni shocks and standard LR springs....


+1 the ride improved significantly when I put Koni Heavy Trak shocks on the rear end. The improvement was so good, I put them on the front as well, but the benefits were not as good as the rear ones.

MrsK used to complain about the "choppy ride" but she's much happier now.

New Koni's on the rear takes 30 mins to change, and is a significant improvement.

I've not modded the anti roll bar yet, but probably will one day (along with a minus 1" spring setup on the rear).

Won't bother with bush replacement until the current ones are knackered.

I changed my springs too - write-up here http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic13312.html
Front shock replacement here http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic16066.html Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #317467 20th Mar 2014 12:14pm
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