Upgrade Suspension & Brakes - Land Rovers Only

mark1987 · 07-31-2009, 01:39 PM

hi can someone please help i am wondering how and if its possible to upgrade the suspension to shocks and upgrade brake to disks if possible both as the car will be use every day when its finished also if you can help please give websites or places where i can get these kits. thanks

RogueSeriesIII · 07-31-2009, 03:47 PM

Rocky Mountain out of Vancouver BC has parabolic spring kits and a bolt on disc brake conversion kit for series landies.

Rocky Mountain Parabolic Suspension

mark1987 · 08-12-2009, 03:12 AM

thats for your help big big help have emailed them about the stockist in the uk thanks again dont serpose you now if there is a facelift conversion to make a series lr into a defender from the front thanks.

greenmeanie · 08-12-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark1987

thats for your help big big help have emailed them about the stockist in the uk thanks again dont serpose you now if there is a facelift conversion to make a series lr into a defender from the front thanks.

Lets see. A rough guess is that you want coil suspension as even the oldest series on its leafs has shocks, disc brakes and a Defender look and you live in Lincoln in th UK? Ummm, may I suggest you buy a Defender as it will be cheaper than ruining a series.

RogueSeriesIII · 08-12-2009, 04:34 PM

I am with greenmeanie on this one.

But if you insist on facelifting (as you call it) your series into a Defender, I have seen that people do it. I would assume you'd just need a Defender hood and breakfast.

This is a common conversion here in the states so that people can sell a series as a defender since it's the more common name and bring much more money.

Your truck...your choice.

mark1987 · 08-19-2009, 03:36 AM

thanks for ya help have decided to leave it all stock on the outside looking like a series will be putting the defender arches but thats it just making it run like a modern 4x4 with the parabolic spring conversion kit and also doing the disk brake conversion and getting the winch on and kitting out the inside with custom dash and interior.

greenmeanie · 08-19-2009, 09:41 AM

The defender wheel arches don't match the series opening so you'll end up cutting the panels to get it all to match. Unless you fit the wider coiler axles your wheels are going to look pretty lost under those eyebrows. There are series specific ones from one of the usual suppliers in the UK but again, if you don't give the vehicle a wider stance, the wheels just look lost under there and the overall effect is pretty cheesy. You might as well get one of those 'Limited Edition' stickers from Halfords.

Simply adding wider wheels and rubber will have an effect on the steering and will sap even more power from a not overly powerful to begin with 2 1/4. I'd also suggest thinking carefully about your brakes. The RM kit is good but it is also expensive. A well set up set of drums stops an 88 very nicely. If you want a less expensive upgrade look for a set of 3" wide twin leading shoe drums from a 109, Stage1.

Simply put I'd buy the truck, get her running nicely and then decide what upgrades you really need. You'll find it a lot cheaper and satisfying in the long run.

RogueSeriesIII · 08-20-2009, 09:59 AM

Well said GM. The defender fender flares on a stock axle series looks goofy and believe me, that little 2.25 will not like the big wide tires it would take to fill them up. My 109" wagon stops brilliantly with the stock 4 wheel drum brake system (completely rebuilt for about $400 USD including master cylinder, wheel cyls, lines, everything.). Proper adjustment here is key.
Get the rig and then assess your upgrade needs. I hobbled my SIII for a long time (still with a big smile) until I assessed what I needed and when. That said...next up is some parabolics so I can get rid of the kidney belt.

It will always be a work in progress...but ya gotta start somewhere!

mark1987 · 08-29-2009, 06:31 PM

is there a kit then like wheel spacers to bring the wheels out will be having series arches and new defender county alloys on it any help is muchly appriciated

pickuprover · 08-31-2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark1987

is there a kit then like wheel spacers to bring the wheels out will be having series arches and new defender county alloys on it any help is muchly appriciated

Just as a suggestion, it seems like you are looking to make a defender with all the posts combined. Why not buy a defender and you are already all the way there. By the time you upgrade the suspension, brakes, wheel arches.... you could buy a defender with money left over for things like a winch, especially since it appears that you are in the UK. Just a thought. I have not seen any kits with wheel spacers in them. But then again, I have not looked.

greenmeanie · 08-31-2009, 09:04 AM

There are wheel spacer kits out there but they are not recommended as they move the wheel and its steering axis away from the kingpin. To give you an idea, the coiler axles are 7" wider and spacers just won't get you there.

Coiler alloys don't fit your series hubs either without some extensive modification. Unless you know what you're doing with modifications you don't want to play that game as Mr. Gresham found out. Alloys on a series look tacky anyway.

You can buy 1 ton or FC rims to give a series a bit of a wider stance but that is an inch or maybe two. They look good but still won't allow you to do the wheel arches. I'll be gentle here and simply state that you really, really need to get over the wheel arch idea.

As stated previously it seems you want all the look and bling of a Defender so make life easy on yourself and start there.

mark1987 · 09-02-2009, 10:15 AM

i would have and yes this is the aim but as it is only a weekend car i wont one tax exempt as i run a 05 megane convertible every day but always had a thing for land rovers does anyone now where i can get these wider axels its about the love and not money otherwise i would have bought a defender 90 but i aint planning on ever selling it so im not fussed aslong as prices dont escalate got about 4k not including 1500 for car already got the donor 4x4 for engine and gearbox fourtrak with 32000 miles on it

greenmeanie · 09-04-2009, 09:42 AM

Hmmm, You're planning on building a vehicle to avoid paying 190 quid a year in tax? Now I understand that you may want to build a vehicle for the love of it but I would also recommend you sit down with a pad or a spreadsheet and start doing some math.

Engine conversions are never cheap. It is the nickle and dime stuff that gets you rather than the engine and gearbox costs but I'm willing to bet you won't be able to build the vehicle you desire for 4K. Maybe if you have good fab skills and spend a lot of time looking for second hand parts.

Coiler axles are common from defenders, discos and RR classics. I'd spend some time with google to determine if this level of conversion is what you want.

Again, different axles, different drive train, different brakes and modified body puts you very close to the number of points that the SVA will decide your vehicle is no longer original enough to retain its tax free identity but instead will be a Q-plate.

Don't take my internet answer as gospel but look at the DVLA website an research, research.