ARB spinning a defender yarn

[Robocop]

Guys

I'm proud to enter the love hate type relationship with my first Rover being a Defender Extreme 110 2003 model.

Now I'm certainly not new to the 4x4 modifying business being involved with Suzuki 4x4 for quiet a while.

But I made a call to the local ARB store and dont really know what to make of the advise I was given. Firstly I was after the meduim duty spring lift raising it about 2 inches I feel that this is a minor modification. I was told that I needed to modify the rear tailshaft by installing a double cardinal joint.

I was also advised that the defender 110 and the extreme 110 are different vehicles and because of this the tailshaft mod was required.

He also told me that I required castor correction for the 2" lift. This all sems a little odd to me and I think he was just trying to give me the hard sell or cover his own ass.

From experience both coil sprung sierra and Jimny, a 2" spring lift does not require tail shaft or castor mods.

So what do more Rover experienced drivers think?

Rob

[jsttry]

From the research I've been doing it would appear you don't need tailshaft mods for a 2" lift. You go to 3" or 4" and its possibly required. I had a 2" lift in my County when I got mine and haven't had a problem.

AFAIK the Defender and Extreme look the same to me, maybe someone else may be able to elaborate. Was just talking to a guy yesterday who has a 2002 Extreme with a 4" lift and he needed to change radius arms, trailing arms, different rear shock mounts, rotate front diff, new double cardinal on the front.

[RUFF]

With any amount of lift on a rover generaly you do need caster correction as they do have problems in this area. A D90 at 2" lift would more than likely be better off with a DC rear shaft but i cant see any reason why a 110 would. The difference with a Defender 110 and an Extreme is the rear diff. The Defender has a Salisbury and the Xtreme has the smaller rover diff. But this would make no difference in the rear shaft. The length may be slightly different though.

[Micka]

No tail shaft mods required for a 2" lift. Nor will you need castro correction.

As RUFF said, the rear diffs are different in the 110 and Xtreme models, and the length of the tailshaft differs due to the salisbury having a larger pinion.

ARB know fark all about Rovers and you are wasting your time dealing with them.

[landy_man]

ARB know fark all about Rovers and you are wasting your time dealing with them.

Best advice EVER...

Call Rangie Spares in Melbourne..

[Laurie Griffiths]

If your in Sydney call Gary Osborne at English Auto Parts on 4353 2844, they are in Tuggerah on the Central Coast and there is fark all he doesn't know about Rovers especially Landi's.

[Mick G]

Yep, leave ARB alone for your rover. Sydney has heaps of decent LR specialists who can assist you much better and you will get what you want much cheaper. Do your research before as well, as 2" lift is easy and there are tons of spring and shock options. Decide what you are going to use it for and set it upaccordingly......ARB will just sell you what limited range they have so don;t be sucked it as I originally was with my D2. OME set up lasted 2 years on the car before I ripped it out and fitted much better gear cheaper.
Another good resource for rovers is www.aulro.com

Good luck, Mick

[Robocop]

Thanks for your input guys, while I'm here can anyone assist me with the factory tyre size for the 03 Extreme? I think it is 235/70/R16 but I have herd otherwise.

Cheers

[ISUZUROVER]

Thanks for your input guys, while I'm here can anyone assist me with the factory tyre size for the 03 Extreme? I think it is 235/70/R16 but I have herd otherwise.

Cheers

AFAIK it is 235/85-16. All 110s have been (factory) fitted with either that size, 7.50-16 or 265/75-16, all of which are basically the same diameter, just different widths.

255/85-16 is a good upgrade - will fit without problems and is legal AFAIK.

[def90]

hey Tony, mate you know you don't need a DC on the rear of a 90 with a 2/2.5" lift!!!


...you just need chain welded from the ass to the pumpkin!!...

[Loanrangie]

Not true in regards to the diference between Extreme 110 and 110, all defender 110's after 99/2000 were Extreme models and had the salisbury rear diff fitted, some time in 2003 they switched to the P38 4 pinion rover style diff. The difference between the 2 wqas the Extreme came with traction control, abs, alloys, leccy windows, metallic paint available with Exteme decals and maybe some other electrics i cant think of at the moment.
Never known anyone to need any mods on just a 2" lift to any rover be it rangie/disco or defender.

[justinC]

ACTUALLY, I beg to difer.

The front of the 99 on Td5 'fenders seem to be more prone to tailshaft vibrations even with a 2" lift. I have several vehicles that have developed a vibration and required D2 front shafts to correct, but none of this has happened to the earlier ones I have put suspension under.
I am sure, even though I haven't actually measured this, that the castor angles are different in these later models, maybe due to the introduction of the more powerful motor in an attempt to reduce understeer?
All I can say is the evidence I have seen points in this direction, and I now advise on max 2", preferably 40mm.

Anyone else?

JC

[LandRoverLyle]

My 2001 defender Extreme hasn't sits nicely on EFS shocks and springs 2 inch lift and I havn't done any other mods at all. Got the gear at a good price from carrolls suspension whacked it in with some help from my brother, no worries. I run 235/85 16 muds and am looking to go a bit bigger possibly 255/85 or even to 265/75 (not bigger diameter just wider)
Cheers
Lyle

[Micka]

ACTUALLY, I beg to difer.

The front of the 99 on Td5 'fenders seem to be more prone to tailshaft vibrations even with a 2" lift. I have several vehicles that have developed a vibration and required D2 front shafts to correct, but none of this has happened to the earlier ones I have put suspension under.
I am sure, even though I haven't actually measured this, that the castor angles are different in these later models, maybe due to the introduction of the more powerful motor in an attempt to reduce understeer?
All I can say is the evidence I have seen points in this direction, and I now advise on max 2", preferably 40mm.

Anyone else?

JC

I had a 4.5 - 5" lift in my 2003 Xtreme for over 1 year and ran 37" Creepies. I had some vibrations from the front shaft, but it wasn't constant and I found that keeping it greased stopped it from vibrating.

As it is now a tow rig, I have a heavy duty 2" lift - Lovells coils and Dobinsons shocks - and have no vibrations at all.

Bottom line is, I am damn sure that a 2" lift in a 110 will not cause vibrations. It would be more likely due to a worn uni than driveshaft angles. 35" tyres will fit with a 2" lift, so there is no real reason to go any higher.