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So, is that all it really takes to fit 18” wheels on a 6 Cylinder Defender? Grinding 1/4” off some fins on rear calipers? That doesn’t sound too bad Will definitely research this.
On a side note: How do you reply to a specific post, other than hitting the “Quote” button? For example, I see a post from Bob. I want to reply to Bob’s post so that he sees it and replies back, but I want to keep it in the public thread so we can all learn from it. Thanks all!
You just tag the intended @longtrip68 They'll get a notification.
The caliper trim is very easy to do. Easiest with Tuffant Simpson and EvoCorse. Trickier with the Tuffant Kimberley. If doing it again I'd go Simpson.
And if you want to use OEM 18” steelies, they seem to be a good bit more demanding on the inside diameter; I bought the Discovery rear calipers then had to grind them a decent bit and still have to use rear wheel spacers (I could grind more and eliminate the need for that but I kinda like the stanced look), and still the wheel weights had to be crimp-mounted to the outside edge of the rim to ensure clearance — kept scraping tape-on weights off the inside of the barrel.
@NoGaBiker So using Discovery calipers offer more clearance than stock Defender calipers? (Although with a little grinding?). Are they a direct fit on the Defender?
Does anyone know why JLR refuses to engineer the P400 Defenders to accept 18” wheels with no mods? They are l known for being an off-road focused company, so you would think they would understand that many of their customers would want 18’s. The Lexus GX550 Overland will have them and it’s a big heavy suv.
@NoGaBiker So using Discovery calipers offer more clearance than stock Defender calipers? (Although with a little grinding?). Are they a direct fit on the Defender?
They are a direct fit; seems like I paid about a grand for the two rears, but maybe it was more like $800. Been a couple years. I think they are shaped a bit differently than Defender rear calipers. I have read that they offer the same extra clamping ability as the P400 rears, which is greater than the P300 rears, presumably because of greater weight plus potentially greater speed. The reason 911S gets bigger brakes than 911. I also have read on here that some 18” alloys from Tuffant will clear the disco brakes without grinding at all, where the OEM steelies don’t, at least on my truck. Which makes me worried that the amount of grinding you’d need to do to the OEM rear Defender brakes to clear OEM steel wheels would be more than is safe, or more than I’m comfortable with at least. But that’s all speculation on my part.
I would think the go-to replacement rear calipers would be Defender P300 rears, which obviously clear OEM steel wheels without spacers or grinding. Nobody seemed to know why that very obvious solution doesn’t work, but I’ve never read of anyone who retrofitted P300 rear calipers to a P400 and either had it work or not work. I didn’t want to be the guinea pig on that project. But surely the first person who had this idea for putting 18s on a P400 tried to go down the P300 caliper road and it didn’t work, or that would be the de facto solution.
Originally Posted by longtrip68
Does anyone know why JLR refuses to engineer the P400 Defenders to accept 18” wheels with no mods? They are l known for being an off-road focused company, so you would think they would understand that many of their customers would want 18’s. The Lexus GX550 Overland will have them and it’s a big heavy suv.
As I implied above, the brakes are larger presumably because more stopping power is either needed or just desired on the 400; the age old formula: give the expensive model more power and more brakes. But the real question is, why not package that braking power in a way that fits inside the 18s, especially when you’re making a big deal over the “heritage models” with white steelies and white roofs that are sure to attract everybody who ever thought an old Series model was cool looking. I have absolutely no idea about that, nor the mystifying question of how it’s the REARS that are the problem when every vehicle I’ve owned in the past 3 decades has had noticeably bigger discs and calipers in the front than in the rear. Why isn’t that the problem here? :shrug: It’s beyond finding out.
Last edited by NoGaBiker; Feb 21, 2024 at 03:41 PM.
Yes. Disco 5 calipers are a straight swap and require no grinding nor spacers needed. Multiple 18" alloy options available that fit. Can't say the same of steelies, neither OEM nor Tuffant Pilbara.
The LR mantra is that airing down is not needed and you're fine on their lovely big rims at highway pressures off-road. Bigger rims are big sellers in the Defender world where most users seem to want form over function. They know their customers.
Spend any time on trails and you will want to air down. More stability, more traction, more comfort, more resistance to punctures, less stress on vehicle suspension.
18" option is as good as we can get. No 17"s sadly.
19"s zero tire choice and too big.
20" are far too big but give lots of choices
22"
Will definitely research this.
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