Salisbury Nick

Salisbury Nick

Well-Known Member
I know this is stupid question but I have read a lot of threads about replacing sensor arms, buying gen111 shocks and all sorts of other guff that I don’t really follow. But I can’t find a simple guide on ‘how to’ add an inch or two of lift to a p38. I do a bit of green leaning and ground the diff regularly and sometimes need towing out of ruts by a modified Disco which is frankly embarrassing so I want to put some bigger tyres on and add an inch or two to the diff height, so in simple bullet points, preferably with short explanations, can any one explain what the steps are to add this lift?
Thanks in advance - if this thread already exists then please point me in that direction.
Phlugg
 
Only way I can think to raise the diff is bigger wheels. You could try fatter tyres but they'll start to scrape the inner wings if you go too high.

Might be worth asking on RR.net as there are more Americans on there and they tend to modify cars more.
 
Yup, that’s about as far as my technical knowledge goes. I want the bigger wheels to raise the diff. Need the lift to fit the bigger wheels under the arches.
 
I’m on the RR.net forum - but it is so American. They are always popping down to the shop and coming back with a set of new lift sensor arms - which shop? Can’t buy these in my Halfords - and then I remember they don’t mean a ‘shop’.
 
Salisbury Nick said:
I’m on the RR.net forum - but it is so American. They are always popping down to the shop and coming back with a set of new lift sensor arms - which shop? Can’t buy these in my Halfords - and then I remember they don’t mean a ‘shop’.
Click to expand...
What is "so American"? Please define your terms.
 
the only way of getting more diff clearance is bigger wheels and tyres. and then you get into recalibrating the speedo. American's from state to state don't have the MOT / EU regs requirements we have to contend with. bear than in mind.

getting more travel in the suspension will need Gen 3 air springs and longer travel shocks. but that wont change the diff clearance
 
youll need gen3’s to keep the EAS. Fabricated bump stops and custom height sensors. Good EAS software and shed load of time and patience.
It’s not something that will happen overnight or a garage will do in a day for you. You won’t find it in a book.

You can get a bolt on coil kit that’ll lift you straight up but you will still have to set it up to your requirements, is costly and sacrilegious :D
How are you with suspension geometry??

As mentioned the lift won’t effect the distance between the diff and ground, only the height the body sits above it. 2” isn’t too bad, anything above needs more serious work and attention. There’s more considerations than first appear, like your headlights won’t work and will need realignment for example. It stresses all your drivetrain more and slows you down, uses more fuel etc. Your spare or jack won’t work anymore - that’s just a few ;)

I got 32” tyres on 2” lift, they are a squeeze but went on okay. I had them there before I started chopping away.
you need to be clear in your head where you want to go with it and how much you are prepared to spend before you start IMO. My tyres cost £200 each so plan accordingly.
 
ooh. this is getting really complicated really quickly. i want to keep the eas, it is a god send on tricky terrain.
I don’t mind issues with the spare or the jack, i have that covered. adjusting the headlights should be ok. re-calibrating the speedo? is that part of the MOT test?
so, to summarise, adding lift requires;
new shocks
new air springs
new eas sensors
re-calibrated speedo
is that all?
 
I’ve not recalibrated my speedo. Its couple mph out (faster than records) I just don’t drive at the limit.

There’s a group you should check out. Il Try look for them now.
They’ve all done it differently and sorted through their teething issues over the years. Good to read the problems and solutions they each encountered.
 
@tomcat59alan - well, so that I can fit bigger tyres ‘cos then it’ll look like a proper off roader.... then I need one of those “One Life...” banners, a snorkel, rock sliders, indicator protectors, diff guards.... what else? - Ooh, a winch obvs!

The current set up is factory standard except for some all terrain tyres - and it does really well. You turn up at event with lots of heavily modified Disco’s and Defenders and usually as the 1 single Rangey feeling a bit outgunned, and often viewed suspiciously by the others as the naive idiot who is going to slow down the group all day being towed up hills, out of rocky holes and ruts and deep ruts. Then they are amazed when the Ranger trundles up ridiculous routes that others are getting well stuck on. The problem occurrs when following a group of said modified cars and they carve deeper ruts than the unmodified RR can cope with and it then gets grounded on the diff’. So - need to raise the diff’ as that is the only weak point I have encountered so far.
 
I'm glad to see you want to keep the EAS - it's a superb system when maintained properly :)

Salisbury Nick said:
re-calibrating the speedo? is that part of the MOT test?
Click to expand...

No, IIRC, it's part of the construction and use regs - a conviction for a breach of same will be pretty serious. Grounding your diff might be the least of your worries :eek:.
 
Found this on e-bay - seems to claim this is all that is actually required to functionally lift the body by 2” - am I missing something?
 
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