Increasing the Sport ride height.
- Thread starter Harleydee
- Start date
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TD4_4x4
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Hi.
I think the cheapest way is you can use a 2'' 'lift kit' from Bearmach and then keep the original harder shocks & lowered springs that came with the Freelander Sport model meaning if you sell the vehicle all you need to do is take the liftkit off and it's back to normal.
The disadvantage I can see of this method is: The 'Sport' has harder shocks and lower (shorter?) springs so it won't be as high ride height as a normal Freelander with a lift kit, probably more like the usual height out of the factory. (If you keep the 'Sport' suspension). I could be wrong here, but to me this is logical.
Failing that you could do 2 other things which are more drastic but far more suited to going off road:
1) Swap the sports shocks for standard Freelander items (expensive), and user the longer Freelander standard springs also (if you hate the hard suspension of the 'Sport' and want you vehicle to be identical to a non 'Sport'). This is basically a total suspension swap.
Or
2) swap the sports shocks for standard Freelander items (expensive), and use much longer custom springs also. (If you want maximum ride height more akin to a Toyota Landcruiser). This is more of a custom job and you could get more ride height than a standard Landrover 90.
Obviously once you've done any of the above, other than a sticker on the door your Freelander the vehicle is no longer a 'Sport' model which could hurt the resale value if you want to sell it.
It's a tough call and I want to do exactly the same thing as you can can't decide what to do next. Remember on the 'Sports' 18'' rims and 50 profile 235 tyres if you're going off road this isn't going to work very well, if you use it on road though then no problem at all.
I think the cheapest way is you can use a 2'' 'lift kit' from Bearmach and then keep the original harder shocks & lowered springs that came with the Freelander Sport model meaning if you sell the vehicle all you need to do is take the liftkit off and it's back to normal.
The disadvantage I can see of this method is: The 'Sport' has harder shocks and lower (shorter?) springs so it won't be as high ride height as a normal Freelander with a lift kit, probably more like the usual height out of the factory. (If you keep the 'Sport' suspension). I could be wrong here, but to me this is logical.
Failing that you could do 2 other things which are more drastic but far more suited to going off road:
1) Swap the sports shocks for standard Freelander items (expensive), and user the longer Freelander standard springs also (if you hate the hard suspension of the 'Sport' and want you vehicle to be identical to a non 'Sport'). This is basically a total suspension swap.
Or
2) swap the sports shocks for standard Freelander items (expensive), and use much longer custom springs also. (If you want maximum ride height more akin to a Toyota Landcruiser). This is more of a custom job and you could get more ride height than a standard Landrover 90.
Obviously once you've done any of the above, other than a sticker on the door your Freelander the vehicle is no longer a 'Sport' model which could hurt the resale value if you want to sell it.
It's a tough call and I want to do exactly the same thing as you can can't decide what to do next. Remember on the 'Sports' 18'' rims and 50 profile 235 tyres if you're going off road this isn't going to work very well, if you use it on road though then no problem at all.
Last edited:
Optimus Prime
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given that the only difference with the td4 sport was the badging/trim and the ride height, why did you buy a sport ?
2.0_hippo
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Disco01
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Harleydee
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Thanks TD4 4x4. I have bought a set of steelies and nice tyres. I bought the sport for 2 reasons 1, it was a very low mileage bargain and 2, being used to series and defenders the standard freelander ride to me felt akin to driving a jelly, I do not like the way the front end dips down on corners and the roll seemed too much on all the standard FLs i test drove. I have notice the sport is a bit more soggy now it has the high profile tyres on but not too much.
I wish to keep the tight feel of the sport suspension but I have some woods I am a warden for and need to patrol them. The unmade up roads get rutted in winter so I could do with some height, have already tried to take the engine cover off! The freelander is now my main vehicle and I need to take it into the city, park in limited spaces etc hence no longer have the defender or Range Rover. Got fed up of coming back to the Range Rover in multistories to find I could not open either side doors due to lack of space and had to climb in through the tail gate!!! Electrically adjustable height suspension would be the way to go ! but back here in reality may get a set of spacers and jack her up if that doesn't work I could always get a set of s/h standards struts and springs and then put the spacers on aswell, easy enough to swap back if selling as a "sport"
Are saying the sport struts are shorter than standard then ? just when I looked on some landy parts sites I could not find freelander struts listed model specific just by year.
I wish to keep the tight feel of the sport suspension but I have some woods I am a warden for and need to patrol them. The unmade up roads get rutted in winter so I could do with some height, have already tried to take the engine cover off! The freelander is now my main vehicle and I need to take it into the city, park in limited spaces etc hence no longer have the defender or Range Rover. Got fed up of coming back to the Range Rover in multistories to find I could not open either side doors due to lack of space and had to climb in through the tail gate!!! Electrically adjustable height suspension would be the way to go ! but back here in reality may get a set of spacers and jack her up if that doesn't work I could always get a set of s/h standards struts and springs and then put the spacers on aswell, easy enough to swap back if selling as a "sport"
Are saying the sport struts are shorter than standard then ? just when I looked on some landy parts sites I could not find freelander struts listed model specific just by year.
Last edited:
Harleydee
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O dear:blabla:
Northern Irelander
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If you were local, I'd swap the lowered springs for my own!
Im sure someone will wanna swap them over to standards
Im sure someone will wanna swap them over to standards
Do they still sell the lift kit? I can't find it on their website.
Hi Harleydee,
Have you fitted high profile tyres without making suspension adjustments? Aren't the new tyres rubbing the coils? I'd like to do the same, but I am worried a larger tyre will not fit. Ride height is not a big issue for me. I just would like to have a slightly higher profile tyre (235/60 R18).
Cheers.
Dar ran Dar ran
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Can anyone explain why they stopped putting lower springs on the sport?
I bought a new 04 spot and have just got 56 and it’s a lot higher
Thanks
I bought a new 04 spot and have just got 56 and it’s a lot higher
Thanks
td4van
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Emissions regs changed which meant that LR needed to increase the GVW of the vehicle to move banding to enable it to continue to be sold until FL2 arrived
Dar ran Dar ran
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but They only increased the total weight not the actual weight?
So in theory you could put lower springs on
So in theory you could put lower springs on
td4van
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The ride height is higher on all 2006MY Freelander 1 (with lowered suspension removed from Sport)
Longer springs and new shocks were fitted.
Yes - post registration modifications are not checked for type approval as a routine event so you could fit lower springs .
Longer springs and new shocks were fitted.
Yes - post registration modifications are not checked for type approval as a routine event so you could fit lower springs .
Dar ran Dar ran
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Thanks for your informative reply
You need the shorter struts too, or the springs could become loose in the cups when the suspension is at full droop. This could be both dangerous and would fail the MOT. You'll also need to tell the insurance company, who might refuse to cover the new suspension setup.
Dar ran Dar ran
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It’s was only a question as it’s bothering me as I could not work out why they looked different?
They definitely look better with lower ride height but cost and hassle I just leave it as is
