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Mo Murphy

Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2377

1984 Defender 90 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel HT Auto Pennine Grey

The panhard rod goes between the chassis and the front axle, as you change the height, you change the relationship between the two.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey

29th Aug 2022 2:04pm

blackrock

Member Since: 01 May 2022
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 57

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Firenze Red

Ah, I suspected something like that. I'll realign the wheelfor the normal driving height.

29th Aug 2022 2:24pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17911

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

Raising and lowering the vehicle will have a similar effect to lengthening and shortening the drag link. I would completely expect the straight-ahead wheel position to change by a small amount between extremes.

29th Aug 2022 6:37pm

jimbo55

Member Since: 15 Jul 2020
Location: Midlands
Posts: 405

Andrew, the wheel position will change with the height of the suspension that’s perfectly normal, set the steering wheel straight in which ever setting you drive most on the road. For me I drive most in sport which is 1”lowered and set it to that so when I go to off-road or normal the wheel does move out of centre slightly

29th Aug 2022 7:22pm

blackrock

Member Since: 01 May 2022
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 57

Thanks for the replies, I was beginning to think that I'd somehow put the steering wheel on wonky a few weeks back. I also use the slightly lower setting for normal driving so I'll set the wheel straight on that setting.

Andrew

29th Aug 2022 8:44pm

blackrock

Member Since: 01 May 2022
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 57

jimbo55 wrote:
Yes I have a VB kit, I do find the lights on the controller a bit too bright so always have the controller face down to stop any glare on the windscreen

I've just been reading the VB user manual and apparently you can adjust the brightness of the LEDs on the controls. A short press of the service button with the spanner on it, followed by the up and down arrows that should adjust the brightness of the LEDs.

I'll try this next time I'm in the vehicle.

Andrew

18th Sep 2022 12:17pm

MercianRover

Member Since: 07 Apr 2022
Location: Culworth
Posts: 163

1998 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Java Black

blackrock wrote:
As a mad idea I was wondering if I could build some electric spring compressors that compress all four springs on command. All I'm after is a temporary lowering of the vehicle, I'm not after the smoother ride that is advertised (a lot). Presumably the bumps stops are reachable with a compressor, as they must be reached at times. I'm not sure it would bother the springs too much, maybe they wouldn't like being compressed repeatedly, and the mechanics would be interesting to say the least.

Andrew

In the US rock crawlers sometimes have "suck-down" winches to pull the axle into a full (or near-as) bump condition to improve stability on climbs and descents.

20th Sep 2022 8:15am

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8360

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey

We used our rear winch as a suck down winch for Croatia trophy terrain at times.

Anyone fitted irb suspension, or had it fitted? Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

14th May 2024 8:36pm

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8360

Did you have any pics of the vb kit install they did in Tiverton please. Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

15th Jan 2025 11:31pm

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8360

blackrock wrote:
I've booked in for a VB Air suspension to be fitted. I was going to do it myself, but it turns out to not be hugely cheaper, even the inexpensive kits are pretty expensive. The reason for the VB Air kit was firstly that it looks like a well made kit, and secondly it lists one of the lowest travel, down to the bump stops. Some other kits list -60mm, I'm not sure why, the VB (and one or two others) list -110mm max and -100mm as the lowest workable height. I measured the bump stops and I think the -110mm is to the bump stop. These measurements are all at the rear, which on a 110 is my problem height.
I'm wondering if the kits that only go 60mm lower are restricted by the air springs not being able to compress that far?

We'll see how it goes...

Who did you book in with? Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

11th Aug 2025 7:18am

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8360

Is anyone on here running rear air only. Pure air that is, not coil with air

Am looking for options on 130 for load levelling ability.

Currently coil with air helper rear just wondering if comfort gains are sufficient to warrant air only.

Also considering air alround but have concerns over front shock bottom mount and axle brackets for axles within weld range issue. Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

11th Aug 2025 9:34am

TexasRover

Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1298

2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White

The D2 has rear air only and when I had one the main benefit I found was that it level's the suspension, obviously you vary the spring rate meaning it's not bouncy empty or wallowing full.

Was a simple system that people used to replace with an even simpler system: springs. Wonder how easy to retrofit that on a defender. Did not read the whole thread - apologize if I state the obvious.

11th Aug 2025 10:04am

MadTom

Member Since: 10 Sep 2013
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 676

I have D2 on air and also 130. Air on D2 works nice, especially for leveling the car, but for a bit heavier 130 I think the D2 airbags are a bit weak. Sourcing the right airbags is the biggest problem for me - not just buying them once, but beeing able tu buy them again later. On our too heavy D2 airbag live is 8 years, with standard D2 it was a like 10-12 year. During out prips, I have spare airbags, because we had them exploded before.
Mechanical part is "esay", you need to do it once. Pneumatics can be overcome with some manual valves, it something goes wrong, but with "exploded" airbag there is no good solution to move the car.
To be fair, I have seen also broken coil springs. "Drobek" = The Small One - Discovery 2, "Blufínek" = The Blue Thing - Defender 130, and for me at least Ford Mondeo

11th Aug 2025 12:43pm

Def90

Member Since: 17 Jan 2015
Location: Kent
Posts: 267

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey

Hi

If you are looking for Air Bags to fit a Defender then have a look at the 1992 -1994 Rang Rover Classic with EAS, only issue good units are not easy to find.

The Air Springs are a direct fit onto a Defender axles front and rear but will need a 10mm spacer plate between the top of the Air spring and the chassis mounts, so air spring clears the the underside of the chassis spring mounting plate.

The other plus with these air springs is they appear to be the correct length and spring rate / loading for a 90 or 110, not sure how they would hold up on a full loaded 130!

I also agree with air springs needing replacing after a few years on a D2, but put them on the list of service items

Click image to enlarge

11th Aug 2025 2:46pm

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8360

Cheers guys.

How are you controlling them, filling them? Fill once and leave for any given load or do they constant adjust?

Cross linked to each other to help air conservation on cross axles? Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

11th Aug 2025 3:15pm

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