I've had my Disco II for a few years now and the lift kit it came with is just too hard for what I use it for. I bought it to be a camping/offroading toy so the heavy springs the previous owner put on was a good idea at first, but now it's just a daily driver so I'm looking to swap out the springs for something with a 1.5-2" lift but light duty instead.

It's an Old Man Emu kit, heavy duty I believe. Parts numbers are:

Front Shock: OME Nitrocharger 60024
Rear Shock: OME 60025
Front Spring: OME779 - Extra Heavy Duty
Rear Spring: OME762 - Heavy Duty

I don't have any aftermarket bumpers or roof racks or load it up with anything so weight is stock.

If I want to switch to light duty springs are the shocks ok to leave alone? And what springs would you recommend for a 2"ish lift with a softer ride?

Looks like Lucky 8 has a front spring that is what I'm looking for, do you guys think this will work? And does OME (or whoever) have a similar rear spring?
https://www.lucky8llc.com/collection...s-front-spring

 

 

I have TF HD 3" springs and +2 shocks all around. I put on 275/70R18 GY Wrangler Duratracs and I haven't had a complaint about ride harshness. Even my 70 year old dad said how smooth my disco was compared to his 2016 Jeep Grand cherokee with air suspension.

I also don't have any heavy items on my truck, no steel bumpers or a rack or anything to help out.

Blocks and stock springs would be ok, but I think proper shock valving is where you're going to notice the ride being ironed out. Shocks that are too long/short won't be able to control the spring properly, hurting ride quality more than a stiff spring. I've driven race cars that felt like cadillacs, and cadillacs that felt like race cars. It's all about shock valving more than spring rate

 

Thanks for the help. I think I'm gonna try out the OME stuff (light front, medium rear).

Follow up question, is there going to be any issue getting the shocks bolted back in? As in they'll compress easily enough to get them hooked up?

 

Watch the AB video about swapping shocks and springs, They use a lift, but the two jack method makes it really easy without a lift.

Also you might consider Terrafirma... I last went with the OME mediums and they still felt really stiff. Trying the TF next... and as a bonus they are half the price. I got a great deal at Lucky8.

 

 

I did watch that video, and that's actually where my question came from. They said they kept the straps on the shocks since they were charged. I'm guessing the axle will be able to droop enough though, right?

I think I'm gonna stick with the OME set up, light front and medium rear. It should be a pretty significant change from what I have currently. It's not that terrible of a drive right now anyways.

 

I've never had any trouble getting the shocks in. I left the straps on until the bolts were through the bushings.

 

Not too hard of a job with jacks. Me and too buddies swapped suspension from one D2 to another with 2 jack stands and a floor jack. I have OME heavy front medium rear, heavy front for winch and bumper. Ride fairly good but I think where I am getting any bit of harsh ride may be coming from my sway bars being too tight. I am going to use Lucky8's extended sway bars and see if this helps any. Also would like to put castor corrected arms in the rear and new bushing all around. Has anyone done this? How did that help your ride if so?

 

As I recently found out don't forget about the effect a worn steering damper will have on your ride. Mine was old and finally totally crapped out and the change to a new one was shocking. I'd gotten so used to the old feel i thought i needed shocks. I still am going to replace the shocks next but now I know about 60% of what I thought was shocks was the damper.