Hi Enthusiast,

Recently acquired a 1997 Discovery & will have to rely on all of you that have been gone down this trail before and could share knowledge as I tackle needed repairs (plus desired upgrades) on this Series 1.
With only a couple of ideas on which direction/use I may go for, I feel that I should garner some useful knowledge & input beforehand.

So a first question I will ask is about suspension lift kits ( along with rim & tires suggestions ).
I am aware that there is a broad variety of approaches towards lifting a Discovery (& those that agree it's good in it's original factory form)...
My hope is for just that... A broad discussion is what creates a great knowledge base and that's what I am here for. Everyones wisdom spilled out onto these pages so that we all have an opportunity to learn something new; me in particular. Also: Shared photos of process and finished vehicles is certainly a bonus for the visual crowd, myself included.

I would like to put a lift on... nothing extreme, perhaps a 2" increase. I doubt I would ever go to something as large as a 37" tire. Perhaps; but doubtful... so:

What is a good size lift & with what tire size?

What manufacturer should be avoided (& why)?

What manufacturers are worthy of being considered?

Anyone have some comparisons of why one height increase versus another height increase?

 

Bilstein shocks/OME (Old Man Emu) medium springs will give you 2in of lift without having to modify or cut anything. Can't recall the max tire size but you can get large enough to cover most terrain. Once you get above 2 inches suspension lift, you likely have to make modifications to the truck in the form of cutting fenders, extending lines, etc. The Bilstein/OME setup worked well for me for on road commuting and off-roading. These D1's are very capable. Your ability to cover off-road terrain lies more in the driver's knowledge of the CDL and ability to choose the correct gears when off-roading.

Welcome to the club. Watch this and amaze yourself:

 

Go with a 2” lift and 235/85 or 265/75 tires. Very minimal modification required, looks clean, and very capable. Same truck at various heights.


Totally stock

2” OME lift with 265/75/16 Duratracs

3-1/2”ish RTE springs/Fox shocks lift with 315/75/16 KM2’s

 

I'm running 235/85R16 Toyo MTs

2" lift
King tapered wire springs
Koni RAID shocks

You won't need to camel cut the rear fenders on 235/85R16. Maybe just a minor trim of the metal flap that faces toward the frame on the bottom if you plan on wheeling the truck. I regret cutting mine, but hey, more room for larger tires later...

In the US, you're really only going to find Old Man Emu and Bilstein as popular options. RTE still sells suspension kits as well. If you're looking for long travel, you can take a look at the kits Gwyn Lewis offers in the UK. Or if you're looking to do something a bit less common (at least in the states), you can go the route I did with King (Australia) and Koni (Netherlands, but can be bought in the US).

 

If you plan on seriously off roading it and with sway bars disconnected you are better off cutting the rear fenders vs off roading, and creasing the rear panels especially with a 2inch lift. It would be even worse with aftermarket rims. I run a 3inch lift on my 97 XD and I wheel it very hard yearly. 235/85R16's on OEM wheels no sway bars F/R, and at full articulation the rear tires would dig into rear fenders. Camel cut them both and zero rubbing.

 

Thank you all for the insight.
Best4x4, your info is good and though I'd like to say we will be getting your suggested kind of action in, that may be a bit down the trail; my situation and location will have a factor on how hard we hit it this year.
Outono, Nice sleek & stealth look. I like the suggestions of the off-continent options that are sort of the underdogs. I'll see what I can locate; or if you have any links you know of… I'd be happy to check them out.
fishEH, Great photos of the evolution you've managed. Nice beefy & aggressive stance in the end. Curious about the bumpers that you've added on; any info/photos you could share?
stillruns, Yes, you are completely right about the capabilities these D1's have… Significant faith in what they can accomplish. Time to hone my skills & see what troubles I can get out of. Thanks for the video.

The mild height & light off roading I would be doing is well suited for the 2" or 3" examples shared here.
This week we will get the 90'000 mile service done by the regional dealership and then see about repairing/cleaning up what issues that uncovers (shudder)... then I suppose the next step will be sourcing what kit & what shocks to add on.

First order of this chilly afternoon will be adding a D2 mirror onto this D1 windscreen since the old "auto-dim liquid" has seeped out of the original.

Thanks for the warm welcome and the clear answers.
I appreciate them and look forward to more owners & enthusiast chiming in with their suggestions and photos.

Ciao,
P & H

 

The bumpers and roof rack are RockStar Fab. They were based out of Crown Point, Indiana. Unfortunately they are no longer in the business. It’s too bad really because they were incredibly sleek and bombproof. The roof rack is actually made from DOM and serves as a slider if you tip into a wall or rock.

 

+3 inch Old Man Emu Springs/Shock Absorbers +2 inch terrafirma spring spacers + 285/75/16 BFG KO2's = 🤙😍🤫

 

This is a badass looking disco and what I want mine to look like. How long have you been running it? Any driveline issues?

 

I have replaced radius arms, trailing arms, and have tom woods driveshafts.