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Blue Blood



Member Since: 14 Jun 2022
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 138

United Kingdom 1990 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Bonatti Grey
Extreme 4x4 springs
Hi everyone, just want to pick peoples brains. I have been looking for some suspension springs with a 2” lift for my 1990 200tdi 90 that aren’t rock solid (current ones are unreal when going over a bump). I want to stay away from Terrafirma and Brit part items as no one seems to have many good to say by the looks of things. I would have possibly gone bearmach blues but can’t find and front and back set and alive don’t do lift versions. There is OME but got told their shocks are bonza but springs were not so great. Finally I came across Extreme 4x4 in Essex, their springs are uk made as well. They do come with a lifetime guarantee on them but…. They are closing down so I don’t think that guarantee will be happening. So before I firm anything up I just wanted to know if anyone had any experience with their springs??
As for my vehicle it is mostly road driving but I do go off road every once in a while and I only really do light loads for the most part with no towing or roof tents or anything like that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated [/u]
Post #1066618 29th Apr 2025 5:24pm
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Mdm



Member Since: 11 Sep 2013
Location: Sunny Lancashire
Posts: 1649

United Kingdom 
for the money terrafirma is ok. yes their paint is whisper thin but the springs last well and the shocks are not bad.

old man emu. shocks and springs are excellent

britpart shocks dont last 6mths of road use.
springs sag quickly.

bearmach stuff used to be very good and there is plenty of it around still.

not tried the extreme ones.

iron man work well and last well and their shocks are rebuildable.

dont rule out decarbon shocks or any other good brand names
Post #1066626 29th Apr 2025 7:24pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 908

United Kingdom 
Re: Extreme 4x4 springs
Blue Blood wrote:
Hi everyone, just want to pick peoples brains. I have been looking for some suspension springs with a 2” lift for my 1990 200tdi 90 that aren’t rock solid (current ones are unreal when going over a bump). I want to stay away from Terrafirma and Brit part items as no one seems to have many good to say by the looks of things. I would have possibly gone bearmach blues but can’t find and front and back set and alive don’t do lift versions. There is OME but got told their shocks are bonza but springs were not so great. Finally I came across Extreme 4x4 in Essex, their springs are uk made as well. They do come with a lifetime guarantee on them but…. They are closing down so I don’t think that guarantee will be happening. So before I firm anything up I just wanted to know if anyone had any experience with their springs??
As for my vehicle it is mostly road driving but I do go off road every once in a while and I only really do light loads for the most part with no towing or roof tents or anything like that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated [/u]

First question, why do you want a 2" lift?

On road and towing it is not a good thing for the most part. And while lifting can have benefits off road, you really don't need too. A Defender pretty much comes with a lift included from the factory and sits higher with more clearance than most other 4x4's do.

Lifting will also potentially make the suspension worse off road, unless you have done something to increase suspension travel.

There are lots of ways to lift a vehicle. The simplest has to be the addition of some lift spacer/blocks/packers. You can get them in different heights and retain standard springs..... Thumbs Up

If you want to go for a longer spring (which you'll likely want/need if you have more suspension flex. Then Flatdog springs are pretty good, as you can buy them in +2" length, but standard spring rate. They'll maybe give you 1" of lift. But be less likely to dislocate (fall out of the spring seat) during flex if you have more travel.

https://www.flatdoguk.com/def%2D90%2D%2B2%22%2D%2F%2Dstd%7E339

Of course you could still lift packers with longer springs too. Or include dislocation cones if needed.
Post #1066629 29th Apr 2025 8:19pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 908

United Kingdom 
Mdm wrote:
for the money terrafirma is ok. yes their paint is whisper thin but the springs last well and the shocks are not bad.

old man emu. shocks and springs are excellent

britpart shocks dont last 6mths of road use.
springs sag quickly.

bearmach stuff used to be very good and there is plenty of it around still.

not tried the extreme ones.

iron man work well and last well and their shocks are rebuildable.

dont rule out decarbon shocks or any other good brand names

Not sure I'd really agree with any of those points.
Post #1066631 29th Apr 2025 8:27pm
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johnlad



Member Since: 18 Dec 2023
Location: Blackpool
Posts: 74

United Kingdom 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134500853527?mk...media=COPY
These are standard Land Rover springs but +2”.
Post #1066632 29th Apr 2025 8:27pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 908

United Kingdom 
Nothing in that ebay listing suggest +2", in fact it explicitly states:

Specific Fitment Information :
Full set of Standard Suspension Springs
Post #1066633 29th Apr 2025 8:37pm
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johnlad



Member Since: 18 Dec 2023
Location: Blackpool
Posts: 74

United Kingdom 
I bought them and can confirm there +2.
Post #1066634 29th Apr 2025 8:50pm
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johnlad



Member Since: 18 Dec 2023
Location: Blackpool
Posts: 74

United Kingdom 
Here’s the same front spring +2”
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134689641698?mk...media=COPY
Post #1066635 29th Apr 2025 8:52pm
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Blue Blood



Member Since: 14 Jun 2022
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 138

United Kingdom 1990 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Bonatti Grey
Thanks for feedback everyone, that last link they are blue. Are you sure they are the same?
Post #1066637 29th Apr 2025 9:07pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8277

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Chicken Drumstick wrote:
Mdm wrote:
for the money terrafirma is ok. yes their paint is whisper thin but the springs last well and the shocks are not bad.

old man emu. shocks and springs are excellent

britpart shocks dont last 6mths of road use.
springs sag quickly.

bearmach stuff used to be very good and there is plenty of it around still.

not tried the extreme ones.

iron man work well and last well and their shocks are rebuildable.

dont rule out decarbon shocks or any other good brand names

Not sure I'd really agree with any of those points.


I agree with all Mdm mentions having raced them off road, taught in them and worked on them for last 30years Cheers

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


Last edited by jst on 29th Apr 2025 10:02pm. Edited 2 times in total
Post #1066645 29th Apr 2025 9:28pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8277

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Re: Extreme 4x4 springs
Chicken Drumstick wrote:
Blue Blood wrote:
Hi everyone, just want to pick peoples brains. I have been looking for some suspension springs with a 2” lift for my 1990 200tdi 90 that aren’t rock solid (current ones are unreal when going over a bump). I want to stay away from Terrafirma and Brit part items as no one seems to have many good to say by the looks of things. I would have possibly gone bearmach blues but can’t find and front and back set and alive don’t do lift versions. There is OME but got told their shocks are bonza but springs were not so great. Finally I came across Extreme 4x4 in Essex, their springs are uk made as well. They do come with a lifetime guarantee on them but…. They are closing down so I don’t think that guarantee will be happening. So before I firm anything up I just wanted to know if anyone had any experience with their springs??
As for my vehicle it is mostly road driving but I do go off road every once in a while and I only really do light loads for the most part with no towing or roof tents or anything like that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated [/u]

First question, why do you want a 2" lift?

On road and towing it is not a good thing for the most part. And while lifting can have benefits off road, you really don't need too. A Defender pretty much comes with a lift included from the factory and sits higher with more clearance than most other 4x4's do.

Lifting will also potentially make the suspension worse off road, unless you have done something to increase suspension travel.

There are lots of ways to lift a vehicle. The simplest has to be the addition of some lift spacer/blocks/packers. You can get them in different heights and retain standard springs..... Thumbs Up

If you want to go for a longer spring (which you'll likely want/need if you have more suspension flex. Then Flatdog springs are pretty good, as you can buy them in +2" length, but standard spring rate. They'll maybe give you 1" of lift. But be less likely to dislocate (fall out of the spring seat) during flex if you have more travel.

https://www.flatdoguk.com/def%2D90%2D%2B2%22%2D%2F%2Dstd%7E339

Of course you could still lift packers with longer springs too. Or include dislocation cones if needed.


I don't follow the logic lifting makes them worse off road and is not needed, bit each to.their own. Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #1066647 29th Apr 2025 9:31pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 908

United Kingdom 
jst wrote:
Chicken Drumstick wrote:
Mdm wrote:
for the money terrafirma is ok. yes their paint is whisper thin but the springs last well and the shocks are not bad.

old man emu. shocks and springs are excellent

britpart shocks dont last 6mths of road use.
springs sag quickly.

bearmach stuff used to be very good and there is plenty of it around still.

not tried the extreme ones.

iron man work well and last well and their shocks are rebuildable.

dont rule out decarbon shocks or any other good brand names

Not sure I'd really agree with any of those points.


I agree with all Mdm mentions having raced them off road, taught in them and worked on them for last 30years


Have seen plenty of Terrafirma shocks not last, even ones with mild use. And while I know it is fashionable on this website to bash all things Britpart, it really is a rather dump take on it.

Bearmch is gone.... some bits you might find as old stock, but claiming they are all easy to get is utter nonesense.

Old Man Emu really depends on what you buy. Their catalogue is HUGE. And things like the shocks Gwy Lewis sells are not what OME actually list for a Defender. Some of the OME kit have been hugely stiff and hard riding in the past for the Defender. Very much likely aimed at overlanders in Oz with every accessory and a heavy roof rack on top.

Iron Man, don't see much of in the UK, although I have one of their bumpers on my Jimny. Kits are often quite generic and usually aimed at the Oz market for GVM upgrades.

Also been around Land Rover's for decades. Thumbs Up
Post #1066648 29th Apr 2025 9:38pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 908

United Kingdom 
Re: Extreme 4x4 springs
jst wrote:


I don't follow the logic lifting makes them worse off road and is not needed, bit each to.their own.


Lifting without increasing travel, just means you have less droop in the suspension. And are more likely to lift a wheel and become cross axled. Thus worse off road. I did mention about suspension flex.

If you go stiffer springs this only makes it worse. Other issues can be getting coil bound before full compression or too stiff a spring rate to allow full suspension flex.


Have been in and around doing Land Rover trials and competition all my life. It is very rare that a standard height vehicle will genuinely run out of ground clearance. Even with 100" wheelbase, let alone the 92.9" of a 90.

You can also fit 33"+ tyres on a standard Land Rover. Any bigger and you put the axles/diffs at risk.


Why do you think lifting is a good thing off road? And what have you been doing that stock height has been a restriction?
Post #1066650 29th Apr 2025 9:43pm
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Blue Blood



Member Since: 14 Jun 2022
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 138

United Kingdom 1990 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Bonatti Grey
Mr Stick I fully appreciate everyone’s feedback inclusive of yours and I do like seeing people’s backgrounds and experiences.

For me I want a two inch lift as I go through quite a few fords where I live and we get quite a bit of flooding, which can leave us stranded (a snorkel is on the books). Also I do like the aesthetic it gives (that’s the each to their own choice Razz )

I don’t want people to get heated or agitated about the question (I know some people are very passionate about their cars especially when they have been round them longer than I have been on Earth).

Again I really am appreciative of peoples views and responses, so thank you all. Smile
Post #1066654 29th Apr 2025 10:01pm
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Chicken Drumstick



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 908

United Kingdom 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263671421618?mk...media=COPY

Plus stock springs.

Deep water wading is more than just a snorkel if you do it often though.

That said.... 100% stock standard Ninety bar the roll cage:


Click image to enlarge
Post #1066658 29th Apr 2025 10:29pm
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