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chrisc2306



Member Since: 02 Jan 2020
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 58

Scotland 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Zambezi Silver
What suspension set up?
I’ve spent the last few weeks reading over various threads on here to try and figure out what one to go with on my puma 90 but I’m just looking for some final words of wisdom.

So... I want to keep the standard height, I’m set on getting the fox shocks but my main question is what springs?

I’ve seen somewhere about using 110 springs on the 90 which gives a bit of a smoother ride, I don’t think I want to go all out and get the alive comfort springs as paired up with the fox shocks it’s more than I want to spend so can anyone recommend a decent spring that would give a bit better manners on the road but still stand up to at least some rougher stuff off road.

I’m so confused, the more I read the less I know so any advice is appreciated
Post #889825 8th Mar 2021 1:08pm
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 385

United Kingdom 
What do you use your defender for? Is it a hard top, station wagon, pickup? Every one has different weights and some have varying springs from the factory.

Previously I ran hd front springs on my td5 and 300tdi to prevent some of the dip into the corner but left the rears standard.

The antiroll bars will make a difference, if you have both then you can look to increase the thickness of them or you can put standard ones on if you haven’t got any

Fitting 110 springs would only work on the front (rears are a different size altogether) but I haven’t heard of many people doing this.

I would certainly look to go to a pin to pin shock set up all round though when changing shocks.

If you think that going for the alive springs is more than you want to spend, I would look to do the upgrade in stages, looking to do the shocks (and mounts) first and then do springs at a later date as then you’ll get the outcome you want without spending it all in one go.
Post #889830 8th Mar 2021 1:27pm
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chrisc2306



Member Since: 02 Jan 2020
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 58

Scotland 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Zambezi Silver
Cheers for the reply, it’s a 90 hard top that’s used for work but there is usually very little load in the back. It gets used off road fairly regularly which also makes me not want to go for the comfort springs as I wonder if they’d be too soft? I know I read somewhere on here about the 110 progressives front and back on a 90 made it a bit better on the road
Post #889871 8th Mar 2021 3:20pm
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Litch



Member Since: 10 Mar 2013
Location: Oxfordshire
Posts: 760

England 
Don't have a 110 on the driveway but aren't 110 rears a different diameter to a 90? ONE LIFE, GET IT!
Post #889880 8th Mar 2021 3:37pm
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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, they're much bigger and definitely won't fit a 90. 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 #889883 8th Mar 2021 3:40pm
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chrisc2306



Member Since: 02 Jan 2020
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 58

Scotland 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Zambezi Silver
Ah okay, nonsense then. So any springs you’d suggest?
Post #889884 8th Mar 2021 3:42pm
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 385

United Kingdom 
Other than genuine springs or comfort springs from a few companies I’m not sure there are many options.

I had my truck weighed to choose the best spring set up but that was for a 2” lift,

Is there actually anything wrong with the springs you have? Have they sagged?
Post #889922 8th Mar 2021 6:20pm
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chrisc2306



Member Since: 02 Jan 2020
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 58

Scotland 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Zambezi Silver
So do you reckon just go with the fox shocks and keep the standard springs? I really don’t know much about suspension systems or what is going to give me a smoother ride so excuse my ignorance
Post #889932 8th Mar 2021 6:51pm
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Co1



Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3618

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Loire Blue
I have a 90 HT and carry little load. I’ve had standard set up, then alive comfort springswith bilsteins and then with fox 2.0. If your looking for comfort the fox are untouchable married with an uprated arb. If you want faster road handling then go with the bilsteins. Thumbs Up
Post #889949 8th Mar 2021 7:28pm
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 385

United Kingdom 
As Co1 says, the fox’s are more comfortable than the bilsteins which are firmer,

As you’ve said that you didn’t want to spend the money on the alive springs now, I’d swap the shocks over and get the springs you want in the future.
Post #889959 8th Mar 2021 7:52pm
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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

Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge



Fox 2.0, remote res adjustable.
Alive comfort springs
alive arb
Gwyn lewis hardware
adrenaline 4x4 towers.

Job done, forget Bilsteins / sports springs the above is a more competent setup and you'll have more control and carry more speed.

Also looks pretty good.
Post #889964 8th Mar 2021 8:00pm
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chrisc2306



Member Since: 02 Jan 2020
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 58

Scotland 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 CSW Zambezi Silver
I've got the standard height fox shocks ordered. How do the comfort springs perform off road? I'm leaning towards just keeping my springs at the moment if there isn't anything else out there that anyone would recommend other than the alive comforts
Post #889966 8th Mar 2021 8:04pm
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jimbo55



Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 385

United Kingdom 
I don’t have any personal experience of the alive springs but they seem to get great reviews and recommendations such as from likeomg

I mean if you want the ultimate then air is the only way to go, I’m currently waiting for my VB air kit to be delivered but the cost is a lot...
Post #889972 8th Mar 2021 8:16pm
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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
Don't think air was that great in the truck I was in,

Best is the Ohlins setup but the price was around £1300 a damper... around 6k for a full kit.

I mean - for me anyone in the north im happy to let them go out in my car and have a go before making there mind up, only issue is im not able to come back to the UK until getting my vaccine in Israel end of May Neutral
Post #889978 8th Mar 2021 8:25pm
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Zed



Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3025

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
chrisc2306 wrote:
I've got the standard height fox shocks ordered. How do the comfort springs perform off road? I'm leaning towards just keeping my springs at the moment if there isn't anything else out there that anyone would recommend other than the alive comforts


For the use you describe I would stay with genuine springs and then if you want you really want to spend get some from IRB. They are progressive but not quite as wallowy as Alive comforts. WARNING.
This post may contain sarcasm.
Post #889984 8th Mar 2021 8:35pm
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