Discovery 2 4" inch lift spacer & springs
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robint
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you want to buy a cheap body lift kit then 
GreenHornet
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What you need to do is sit back and decide what you want from the disco. Is it just a simple green lane machine that doesn't need to do a lot or would you like to get stuck in and take on some challenging obstacles? Is it just for show or do you want it to work?
Once you decided that, then you will have an idea of how far you need to modify.
Once you decided that, then you will have an idea of how far you need to modify.
you want to buy a cheap body lift kit then
This is now the issue, Disco 2 body lifts seem to be challenging to come by... I see lucky8 sell the equipe 1 1/4 inch lift kit.... just wating for a quote for postage to the UK.
Anyone point me in the direction of a UK supplier
This I think is where confusion is perhaps occurring... It does get a reasonable amount of on road use and will probably be used pay n play once twice a month.... I do really enjoy the off roading but don't want to be in the sort of situation of replacing props every 5 minutes!
GreenHornet
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From experience it sounds like you want the look of a vehicle that will go anywhere but not the investment or upkeep. This is a reasonable request and one that I started with originally before deciding to modify the hornet.
To achieve a vehicle with great on road manners plus the ability to **** off people who spend far more than you or I could wish for, my suggestion is this, it's the same route I would take if I had to do it all again.
Firstly I would ensure the vehicle is sound and able to satisfy me for a few years to come. No point in modifying if you get bored easily.
Then I would fit a descent set of wheels that can take slightly better tyres. Nothing big that necessitates a lift in either body or suspension. Tyres would be 80% off road like insa turbos. This will be the only compromise aas you will get SLIGHT road noise from them.
Then I would fit ARB air lockers front and rear. These will enable you to climb and tackle more than most modified vehicle can do. trust me I have seen vehicles with thousands of pound thrown at them struggle and I have also seen standard discos and defenders do amazing things just with air lockers and standard tyres.
Finally I would fit a descent winch and bumper to the front.
With this you will have a very nice off road machine that will tackle hills, and very muddy tracks Plus have standard ride quality. Truly the best of both worlds.
That is really what I would do.
To achieve a vehicle with great on road manners plus the ability to **** off people who spend far more than you or I could wish for, my suggestion is this, it's the same route I would take if I had to do it all again.
Firstly I would ensure the vehicle is sound and able to satisfy me for a few years to come. No point in modifying if you get bored easily.
Then I would fit a descent set of wheels that can take slightly better tyres. Nothing big that necessitates a lift in either body or suspension. Tyres would be 80% off road like insa turbos. This will be the only compromise aas you will get SLIGHT road noise from them.
Then I would fit ARB air lockers front and rear. These will enable you to climb and tackle more than most modified vehicle can do. trust me I have seen vehicles with thousands of pound thrown at them struggle and I have also seen standard discos and defenders do amazing things just with air lockers and standard tyres.
Finally I would fit a descent winch and bumper to the front.
With this you will have a very nice off road machine that will tackle hills, and very muddy tracks Plus have standard ride quality. Truly the best of both worlds.
That is really what I would do.
Mr Noisy
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Air lockers tackle a similar problem in a very different way, the best thing about them though is that they are absolutely zero compromise, 100% there when you need them, 100% not when you don't.
We call them 'switch on grip' for obvious reasons, almost uncanny sometimes.
Only trouble is that it's £1500 that you or anyone else can't see, but it will be more noticeable than £1500 in suspension when you need it!
We call them 'switch on grip' for obvious reasons, almost uncanny sometimes.
Only trouble is that it's £1500 that you or anyone else can't see, but it will be more noticeable than £1500 in suspension when you need it!
Really appreciate all of your help given to me
And yes I suppose you've pretty much hit the nail on the head! I do really enjoy what I do in it but I don't think I'm at the stage of piling thousands upon thousands into this hobby yet! Like you say the car is is reasonably sound mechanical condition, I've had it just over a year now and it only had 85k miles on it when I got it. I'm currently running 265/75/16 Insa Traction Tracks and the excess noise doesn't really annoy that much Taking on board your advice I have been looking very seriously at installing the Ash Croft CDL kit to start with and I believe they have some stock in now so will make a purchase this week! I had looked at the ARB Air lockers for a next stage but as Mt Noisy pointed out they are a bit more of an investment although from the videos I've seen of them they really are worth their money!
Thank you for this advice as I mentioned above I really would love some air lockers and can see how it would defo be money well spent!
Another question, I would still like to fit bigger tyres, I'd love 35 inch but are these going to have a serious negative effect the day to day driving of the disco or would I be better with 33's...?
Thank you once again!
GreenHornet
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Ok you sound like I did last year!!
There is always a weak link in the transmission. I have made my weak link the tyres. Therefore I loose grip before I break anything.
I have a friend who fitted 35" tyres on an otherwise standard axle because he liked the look and they were cheap. Several weekends in a row he broke diffs and half shafts literally within minutes of starting on P+P's because the tyres gripped soo much the rest of the transmission couldn't cope.
He has had to fit Ashcroft shafts, lockers and goodness knows what else costing him a few grand. Yes he can now go anywhere but this has lead to him wanting to go anywhere and putting himself in ever more breakable situations.
Looks are great but if you want to get dirty you HAVE TO BE PRACTICAL.
A set of 35" tyres and wheels will need a body lift plus arches plus some time to fit. All in your not far off nearly a grand. There's one locker for the rear.
Lockers are not violent! They actually put less stress on the transmission because you don't have to floor it to get over an obstacle. Plus how stupid would you make the guy in a big truck feel when yours drive up a slope he can't manage and it looks standard.
I have 33" tyres and there are plain simple GT Radial Adventuros. Great in mud and sand but not over grippy. I have messed around in many places and, touch wood, not broken anything.
Ask yourself this. The standard G4 disco can go all over the world and it doesn't have massive tyres and big lifts. The original D1 prototype went to the artic and back and whilst there was actually buried in the ice for a while during testing. No big tyres or lift.
Sorry to drone on but the trend of lifting suspension and bodies, putting on massive tyres and spotlights, adding tools that are more akin to WW3 is just driven by us big boys loving our toys and generally not needed.
Says the guy with a big lifted truck and a kit car...................
There is always a weak link in the transmission. I have made my weak link the tyres. Therefore I loose grip before I break anything.
I have a friend who fitted 35" tyres on an otherwise standard axle because he liked the look and they were cheap. Several weekends in a row he broke diffs and half shafts literally within minutes of starting on P+P's because the tyres gripped soo much the rest of the transmission couldn't cope.
He has had to fit Ashcroft shafts, lockers and goodness knows what else costing him a few grand. Yes he can now go anywhere but this has lead to him wanting to go anywhere and putting himself in ever more breakable situations.
Looks are great but if you want to get dirty you HAVE TO BE PRACTICAL.
A set of 35" tyres and wheels will need a body lift plus arches plus some time to fit. All in your not far off nearly a grand. There's one locker for the rear.
Lockers are not violent! They actually put less stress on the transmission because you don't have to floor it to get over an obstacle. Plus how stupid would you make the guy in a big truck feel when yours drive up a slope he can't manage and it looks standard.
I have 33" tyres and there are plain simple GT Radial Adventuros. Great in mud and sand but not over grippy. I have messed around in many places and, touch wood, not broken anything.
Ask yourself this. The standard G4 disco can go all over the world and it doesn't have massive tyres and big lifts. The original D1 prototype went to the artic and back and whilst there was actually buried in the ice for a while during testing. No big tyres or lift.
Sorry to drone on but the trend of lifting suspension and bodies, putting on massive tyres and spotlights, adding tools that are more akin to WW3 is just driven by us big boys loving our toys and generally not needed.
Says the guy with a big lifted truck and a kit car...................
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Haha, all makes sense I suppose. So I mean when new tyre time comes I'd be more sensible with say a 295/75/16? The more videos I watch of these lockers the more appealing they really are looking, if I was going to do one at a time whats my best option, fitting on to the front or rear first?
Haha no droning dont apologise! I appreciate all the help I can get pointing me in the right direction, at the end of the day my main goal isnt to build some absolute monster and throw thousands at it, just a daily ride with the ability to do still an impresive amount of weekend off roading when I want it to!
GreenHornet
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If thats your goal then lockers on the rear first and then on the front. Don't go with big tyres, unfortunately I don't know a descent metric size to suggest. All you want to ensure is that the tyre fits into the arch when articulating fully.
A standard discovery is a very capable machine
A standard discovery is a very capable machine
Bennehboy
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The main failing of the D2 imho is the poor exit angle due to the longer overhang at the rear - lifting even a reasonable amount can make a big difference to what you can tackle without pranging the back end on the exit.
If you've got air, keep it, pressing the offroad button is instant extra clearance.
I don't and so went down the route of bigger tyres and a 2" suspension lift - 265/75/16 Cooper STT's
Be really careful with your spring choice, for some daft reason I believed the literature and bought Terrafirma +2 MD rear springs - the rear clearance is crap with them.
Here's a vid of me at parkwood pranging the backend and bending my HD rear bumper :/
IMG_3792.mp4 video by w1ldr | Photobucket
After that I fitted another 30mm of spring seat spacers that my mate knocked up at his workshop - sits much nicer now!
If you've got air, keep it, pressing the offroad button is instant extra clearance.
I don't and so went down the route of bigger tyres and a 2" suspension lift - 265/75/16 Cooper STT's
Be really careful with your spring choice, for some daft reason I believed the literature and bought Terrafirma +2 MD rear springs - the rear clearance is crap with them.
Here's a vid of me at parkwood pranging the backend and bending my HD rear bumper :/
IMG_3792.mp4 video by w1ldr | Photobucket
After that I fitted another 30mm of spring seat spacers that my mate knocked up at his workshop - sits much nicer now!
Bennehboy
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BTW, if you don't have a CDL lever fitted, get one put on, makes a massive difference - most pre 2002 D2's have the CDL in the t-box, but check for the spigot before getting the lever.
Mr Noisy
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Those d2s do look awfully good with a few mods
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Go get some lessons on how to drive off road and forget the diff lockers.
Rather than spend £350 quid on a posh front prop just use the standard Discovery TD5 prop, it's exactly the same and a brand new one is just shy of £200 with four grease points.
Oh and Papa G doesn't like lifts of over 2 inches. He ripped my Disco to bits with a 4 inch lift.
But fair play to him, he knows his stuff.
Rather than spend £350 quid on a posh front prop just use the standard Discovery TD5 prop, it's exactly the same and a brand new one is just shy of £200 with four grease points.
Oh and Papa G doesn't like lifts of over 2 inches. He ripped my Disco to bits with a 4 inch lift.
But fair play to him, he knows his stuff.
Mr Noisy
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He's already got the TD5 prop!!
A tasty looking Disco there, its nice to see a modded Disco 2 gives me some more inspiration! what rock sliders have you got there, are those inbuilt jacking points on them?The main failing of the D2 imho is the poor exit angle due to the longer overhang at the rear - lifting even a reasonable amount can make a big difference to what you can tackle without pranging the back end on the exit.
If you've got air, keep it, pressing the offroad button is instant extra clearance.
I don't and so went down the route of bigger tyres and a 2" suspension lift - 265/75/16 Cooper STT's
Be really careful with your spring choice, for some daft reason I believed the literature and bought Terrafirma +2 MD rear springs - the rear clearance is crap with them.
Here's a vid of me at parkwood pranging the backend and bending my HD rear bumper :/
IMG_3792.mp4 video by w1ldr | Photobucket
After that I fitted another 30mm of spring seat spacers that my mate knocked up at his workshop - sits much nicer now!
Yes I have the Same Terrafirma springs n shocks and looking at it I swear the back of mine sits lower than the front, maybe a small spring spacer just to knock it up a bit would be an idea as like your video proves they do have a big ass!
Sorry for all the questions but what rear bumper are you running there, that is also quite near the top of my list of mods!
No air suspension for me either so a rear spring spacer the way forward maybe!
Bennehboy
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The sliders are from rocksliders.co.uk but their website seems to have gone awol - we occasionally do a group buy on http://www.thed2boysclub.co.uk
The rear bumper is believe it or not made by Britpart, it's actually really well made - I've seen some of the other bumpers, TP4x4, D44 etc and it's by far the most solidly built and doesn't require any body panel trimming.
Ahh magic I'll have a butchers see if I can locate it then! tbf I've got a britpart front winch bumper on mine and can say I am quite happy with it so the rear would make a nice matching pair I think! Never visited that forum, ill have a butchers over there
Disco Newbie
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Hi guys,
Any quik bits of Advice... i just picked up a disco 2. 2000. Interested in getting rid of the air Suspension. And lifting it a little bit. Any ideas on the most hassle free option?
Does a 2inch lift require a lot of other adjustments?
any advice would be very appreciated.
Sean
Any quik bits of Advice... i just picked up a disco 2. 2000. Interested in getting rid of the air Suspension. And lifting it a little bit. Any ideas on the most hassle free option?
Does a 2inch lift require a lot of other adjustments?
any advice would be very appreciated.
Sean
