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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 1099

Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
Help with deciding on suspension.
Afternoon all.

I kind of opened up a can of worms. Whilst doing a brake refurb on the rear, I realised how crusty the original suspension was…

So the ‘while im there’ list has gone wild.

My question is - what suspension kit should I buy? I’m on a budget and the standards are more than enough for what I do. But the amount of complete kits out there is crazy. I am going to need new spring cup holders etc, so that’s why I’m drawn to the complete kits inc fittings.

Are standard allmakes/britpart kits that bad?

All advice appreciated Smile 2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged RRS SVR
2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1076479 29th Sep 2025 5:02pm
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 1099

Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
For example:

https://www.lrparts.net/lrc2269-defender-f...DnEALw_wcB 2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged RRS SVR
2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1076480 29th Sep 2025 5:05pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8462

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Do you actually need it? How old, miles and condition of vehicle?

Just fit standard again, lr R&D is pretty good and std shocks and springs for the average user using it as its intended work very well. Cheers

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


Last edited by jst on 29th Sep 2025 10:35pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #1076481 29th Sep 2025 5:10pm
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MarkBrown



Member Since: 03 Oct 2022
Location: Mid Wales
Posts: 595

Wales 1983 Defender 110 Other HT Auto Keswick Green
I fitted new britpart budget set when I rebuilt mine. They were completely shot, no damping, at about 15k. I actually refitted the old ones off of my previous 110, which are Armstrong (?) so possibly dating back to 1989, who knows. These have been fine until now when the one rear is leaking. I’ve put long travel OME front kit on from Gwyn Lewis, not that I need it! Rear kit to match before Mot, hopefully. 1983 110 automatic OM606
Post #1076485 29th Sep 2025 6:09pm
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 1099

Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
jst wrote:
Do ypu actually need it? How old, miles and condition of vehicle?

Just fit standard again, lr R&D isnpretty goof and std shocks and springs for the average user using it as its intended work very well.


Original 17-18 year old shocks and springs - 130,000 miles. 2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged RRS SVR
2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.


Last edited by BrickBox on 29th Sep 2025 6:48pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #1076486 29th Sep 2025 6:41pm
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Dinnu



Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3635

Malta 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black
I got Britpart hot dipped galvanized turrets and spring seats and they were excellent. I still like to paint them black though.

I got 2x pairs of Britpart springs as wanted to test a bit softer spring rate on the rear. Mine sagged a bit over time, however installed exact same pair on rear of a HT 90 and they are still fine. Perhaps the extra weight of a CSW. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black
Post #1076487 29th Sep 2025 6:45pm
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Nidge



Member Since: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Kildare Ireland
Posts: 830

Ireland 2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HCPU Cairns Blue
Standard Springs and Boge Shox is a decent cost-effective option. You can pick up good 2nd LR springs from forums eBay etc.
Post #1076490 29th Sep 2025 7:12pm
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 1099

Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
Cheers for the advice all Smile

I have managed to find some ‘as new’ genuine HD 110 springs off a low mileage vehicle- so I’ve bought them. Ordered galv spring cups and holding plates. The Boge shocks sound like something I’ll be happy with for now. I think I’ll get the rear sorted now and then that’s brakes inc calipers/brake lines/suspension and bushes sorted on the rear.
I’ll tackle the front brakes and suspension etc at the same time also in the new year. 2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged RRS SVR
2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1076503 29th Sep 2025 9:54pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8462

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
BrickBox wrote:
jst wrote:
Do ypu actually need it? How old, miles and condition of vehicle?

Just fit standard again, lr R&D isnpretty goof and std shocks and springs for the average user using it as its intended work very well.


Original 17-18 year old shocks and springs - 130,000 miles.


then yes you do probably need them.

sounds like you have found a sensible way forward which is great.

std is good stuff in my experience and take offs are the way forward if you can still find them. Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #1076508 29th Sep 2025 10:37pm
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 1099

Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
Just to keep this thread updated. Slowly plodding through the refresh. New discs,pads,bearings and springs fitted. Just waiting on shocks. It’s been a good learning curve - I’ve always been put off doing the bearings on a solid axle vehicle. It was straight forward enough, just time consuming.

The new springs are off a 2014 110 USW - but they look different to my 2008 USW. These new springs don’t have the top 3 more compressed looking coils. So maybe mine had sagged, or my USW didn’t have the HD springs, or in fact mine were HD and these arent Laughing
The new springs are longer and were an absolute pig to get into the spring seats. Whereas my old ones came out pretty easy. I look forward to seeing how the ride has changed, for better or worse.



Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge
 2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged RRS SVR
2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1076995 7th Oct 2025 9:28am
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 1099

Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver

Click image to enlarge


For comparison- this was the original springs with the top 3 coils close together.


Click image to enlarge


I will get a side by side comparison picture of the springs before I fit the other side. 2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged RRS SVR
2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1076996 7th Oct 2025 9:31am
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