Caster Corrected Arms for early 90

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Ben Jordan

Ben Jordan

Active Member
Posts
119
Location
Basingstoke Hampshire
Hey guys

What are my options for caster correcting arms on a 1985 90? I would normally just grab Terrafirma TF508 arms but the description states:
"When coil sprung Land Rovers are lifted the caster angle is changed. The effect can be vagueness and a lack of self-centering of the steering. For vehicles with 2 inches of suspension lift, we recommend 3 degree caster corrected radius arms to return the steering to the correct geometry. These radius arms are designed to accept the 44mm wide bushes that have been fitted from around 1992"

I'm assuming my 1985 model has different brackets at a different width. What can I fit?

It's a 2" lift, and I know some will say I don't need to do it - but a lack of self centering and floaty feel makes me want to try it. On my Disco it made a huge difference with its 2" lift as well. In regards to the rear I will probably fit the jonny jointed rear trailing arms and I'm again not sure if it will take the 3 bolt bush... I can compare to my disco I guess.
 
I haven't done any lifts personally, but it sounds to me as if it accommodates the radius arms from a discovery or older defender. My 86 90 front radius arms were probably about 5-10mm shorter than the disco ones, but only on the bracket you have the 4 bolts that go on the axle, if you see what i mean.
 
Ring 'em up and ask. Earlier radius arms like yours should be are 47mm wide, later are 55mm, so I'm not sure what their 44mm refers to?
 
Earlier arms are narrower, later ones wider. Can be interchanged, but I forget if the brackets on the axle will take the wider ones or not.

That said, I'd probably not bother. If it isn't driving right, then there is probably something else up. And at the end of the day, you don't need a lift on a 90 unless you plan to run 35" tyres.

Caster correction will just cause pinion angle issues normally.
 
The narrow brackets will not take wide arms. I have no idea if the bolt to bolt spacing is the same, even if they did, so I don't think interchangeable is quite the right word!

Someone at Land Rover once thought that 3 degrees was a good number for the castor angle. So he obviously didn't think that 0 degrees would be OK, which is what you get with a 2" lift.

edit. Got it the wrong way round.
 
Last edited:
Honestly, I wouldn't bother with a lift in the first place. Standard ride height is a good compromise for most situations, and with the short overhangs of a 90, you shouldn't run into problems with approach/departure angles. The short wheelbase means breakover angle is good too. 50mm wouldn't make a huge difference to either, and upsets the suspension angles. Land Rover engineers generally got it right in the first place ;)
 
It's already lifted - and it's very nice at this height. It's currently on 265/75 Insas's and will end up on 33s at some point potentially. The steering isn't dreadful at the moment but i'm always looking to improve where I can, and like I say, caster corrected arms really finished off the steering response on my Disco 93 - it was ok, but great afterwards!

I'll speak to Terrafirma and see what they can supply, or alternatively have Gwyn Lewis make some or bend my existing ones
 
Just as a followup to anyone else reading, having spoken to the lovely chaps at Frog Island and Adrenaline4x4....

An earlier 90, like mine, 1985, takes a 40mm bush, axle bracket gap at 44mm, with a later 90 taking a 44mm bush which has an axle gap of 48mm. This is all for the front end. Apparently the rears are standard across all ages so any of the trailing arm options are fine.

In terms of supplier it seems Terrafirma don't do a set for this anymore as there is little demand, however Adrenaline 4x4 do versions for everything. Standard, 3deg, 6deg in either bush size. I will be putting Jonny Jointed rear trailing arms on, which they ensure are fine with my axle.

Time to have a little measure up of the axle bush gaps to ensure that I don't have different axle's to standard, as this vehicle has recently been bought and has some weird stuff on it in places!
 
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