Thanks for the replies gents,
I thought i might need what Wiltshire Landyman stated but thought i would make sure as it is will be my first off roader. I dont mind spending the money on gear, so long as it does as it says on the tin!!! I will also be putting wheels and tyres on it so hopefully i will have a good start by uprating the suspension first. Can you reccommend a brand of kit Wiltshire Landyman???
Do yourself a favour and don't do any mods until you have learned to drive it. Too many peeps buy and modify before driving then find out that what they have done doesn't work for what they do with the vehicle.
If the suspension is tired then buy standard height either britpart yellow medium duty or Terrafirma medium duty. Again lots buy heavy duty cos they think thats what they need only to find that off tarmac it bounces and crashes around making it really uncomfortable and often getting stuck because the wheels arn't in touch with the ground, they are bouncing all over!
Suspension needs to be flexible offroad to keep wheels in touch with the ground. Dislocation/relocation cones have their place but think about this, the wheel drops so far that the spring dislocates, what actual ground pressure does the wheel then have to give drive? very little if any! Much better to keep it all in place to start with and the weight of the vehicle will tip over and assist in giving ground pressure to the wheel.
If then in time you find that a lift would be helpful then 2 inch spacer blocks can be fitted for about £70 which will give the lift but retain your standard springs. Also remember that a lift does not help with ground clearance! the diff is still the lowest part which only gets more clearance with bigger tyres! The lift helps to accomodate these tyres but does not give better ground clearance in its own right! What is does do is lifts the front and rear bumpers higher so giving better approach and departure angles but worse road handleing! you need to slow down a bit if you are running with a lift!
Fit extended brake lines and standard shocks and springs, then if you need it you can use shock dropper mounts to lower the standard shocks to allow them still to be used with the lift blocks. a much more sensible approach to my mind and one that will not empty your wallet as quickly or make your vehicle undrivable.
A two inch lift is generally accepted as OK to do without having to castor correct anything or fit wide yoke props.
Spend your money on tyres, with new suspension (even standard height) you will be OK with 235.85R16 size which will give you about an extra inch under the diffs, and only on extreme articulation will you come near to causing a body work problem, but a camel cut and front bumper trim can sort that easily, then if you do lift it in time then the tyres will not need replacing as they will look fine and do the job still.
