Spacers

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I've driven defenders with spacers, and with fairly offset rims, and its not until you drive one with standard wheels and set up that you realise how shìte the handling is. It feels like your running on rails compared!

Hmm, have actually only driven mine once since fitting them and that was straight on motorway. Might take it to work tonight up the lanes and if it's sh*t they'll be coming straight off....
 
Hmm, have actually only driven mine once since fitting them and that was straight on motorway. Might take it to work tonight up the lanes and if it's sh*t they'll be coming straight off....

I don't mean to sound pompous or anything, its just what ive found in my experience! If you go into a corner fairly fast (a good corner), because the wheel is that much further out, it sort of gets to a point and then suddenly turns....hard to explain, and that was with offset rims too. Each o their own though bud, when I have weak.moments I think about a lift and spacers as I do love that stance on them, just not prepared to sacrifice hard earned dollar on something that makes in not handle as good (imo). Plenty folk run them with no problems though...maybe I'm a bit ott, who knows!?:)
 
I don't mean to sound pompous or anything, its just what ive found in my experience! If you go into a corner fairly fast (a good corner), because the wheel is that much further out, it sort of gets to a point and then suddenly turns....hard to explain, and that was with offset rims too. Each o their own though bud, when I have weak.moments I think about a lift and spacers as I do love that stance on them, just not prepared to sacrifice hard earned dollar on something that makes in not handle as good (imo). Plenty folk run them with no problems though...maybe I'm a bit ott, who knows!?:)
wheel is actually moving forward and backwards as well as pivoting so 2 steering actions,unlike std which should pivot through the tire center
 
I don't mean to sound pompous or anything, its just what ive found in my experience! If you go into a corner fairly fast (a good corner), because the wheel is that much further out, it sort of gets to a point and then suddenly turns....hard to explain, and that was with offset rims too. Each o their own though bud, when I have weak.moments I think about a lift and spacers as I do love that stance on them, just not prepared to sacrifice hard earned dollar on something that makes in not handle as good (imo). Plenty folk run them with no problems though...maybe I'm a bit ott, who knows!?:)

No mate I'm the same, I don't believe the wear is as bad as people make out with 30mm on sensible tyres but if it affects the handling enough to notice I'll be reverting to standard! I did get them cheap from a mate who never got round to fitting them so if they get sold on it aint the end of the world ;)
I do like things to feel 'normal' and agonised for ages over whether to fit them in the first place :confused:
 
it sort of gets to a point and then suddenly turns

Definitely feel this, more slow speed roundabouts or corners with a lot of lock. You can feel the 2 steering actions as @jamesmartin mentioned. Noticeable on faster bends as well but not as much.

Fast roads straight line 50mph, I think there's more vibration through the steering wheel unless it's psychological.

They definitely don't make it handle any better, think they'll be coming off. Only pro I can think of now I've driven it on a regular route is the aesthetic :confused:

Sell em on and put cash towards HD steering arms :)
 
Good choice bud! I've driven defenders with spacers, and with fairly offset rims, and its not until you drive one with standard wheels and set up that you realise how shìte the handling is. It feels like your running on rails compared!

I honesty don't understand why anyone would say the handling isn't effected, it is. Every time you go to turn into a corner, you feel it in the steering. I can totally see why people run spacers or offset wheels just for the look, they DO look better with a wide stance, but in reality that's all they do!
You'd have to be doing a huge amount of slide slope driving to make yu think you need them, and even then, if you take a Landy across a side slope with standard everything, you'd be pretty reckless to think you needed to lean some more!
My 90 is a workhorse, and an everyday car, I need reliability, not looks! I stripped and rebuilt both my axles on purchasing it, and there is no way id put anything on that could even vaguely decrease part life!
Greater offset, either by spacer or different rim (as it makes no odds) will massively improve steering lock. Which can be important for some uses.

And let’s not forget, Land Rover rims have had different offset on them over the years. A good example is Wolf/130 rims compared to Series 2b rims. They are the same width but the former has an ET25 and the latter ET01. Which is essential the same as running a 24mm wheel spacer on the Wolf rims.
 
I could be wrong but I don't think you need them for alloy wheels, I have disco 1 alloy wheels (the freestyle ones), and they bolt right up to the hub nicely! :)
I think it depends. Most LR alloys of this era are 7” wide with ET33 offset. This will sit them very inboard and give truly terrible steering lock.

The centre hole on the alloys is also smaller. On a D1 this clears the driveshaft flange, but not on all 90 axles as they are slightly different. Options are to mill out the alloy to clear. Or space it out with a spacer.
 
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