While I was going to replace both my shocks and coil springs, I've come to the conclusion that (apparently) the springs should still be OK (02 Disco). In other words, new shocks alone should make me happy.

Now that I've decided that, I don't have a clue as to what brand/model of shocks I should be ordering. I camp, but don't fourwheel really, but will be doing some towing.

Any suggestions on what to use?

 

New shocks by themselves won't do it, you should replace both. Unless of course your springs have been replaced with heavier duty ones in the past 5 years

 

What he said. My D2 rode on the road like CRAP with stock springs and an ARB w/winch. After putting HD springs, it was like a different car.

 

Oh damn, just when I thought I had finally decided what to do, I'm waffling again.

What you guys say makes sense, but there are so many others who say that the springs should be fine including a guy at Atlantic British yesterday who stated that springs should last on a discovery until about 200K. (I'm at 130k)

It's the eternal argument for Rover owners isn't it? If I can save some money here, then I can put it into fixing that...etc...etc.

Oh what to do.

 

It's not a question of them being worn out. It the extra 150lbs you're putting on them. Even brand new stock springs would ride like crap with an arb and winch.

 

I was in the same situation several years ago. After my wife "modified" the front bumper on our D2 I went with an ARB bumper and a few weeks later added a winch. The stock springs allowed the truck to bottom out on relatively minor bumps. I wanted to address that, but didn't want to add lift. I went with the HD OE springs, which I believe were installed at the factory on winch-equipped trucks, and Bilstein shocks. The truck no longer bottomed out but the front end is pretty stiff over speed bumps, etc. That was eight years ago when the truck had ~78,000 miles on it and I wasn't yet tuned into alternatives to the ARB that might weigh less.

 

Well, you're absolutely right and I guess I keep forgetting that I'm carrying al that extra weight up front. Got to keep that in mind.

Spoke with a guy at Atlantic British yesterday and he recommends Terrafirma medium duty springs all around and Terrafirma all terrain shocks.

I'll post the results after the install. Thanks everybody for the input.

 

OME shocks and HD springs, pile it full of gear, pull a trailer, boat, another land rover, whatever.

 

That's the key with the OME HD setup. Have to really load it down or it rides like a buckboard wagon... I'm running a 9500lb winch and ARB bumper and pull a trailer full of dirt bikes, but it still rides pretty stiff. I also have a 20' big block jet boat that I tow, and if it weren't for that, I'd run the med. springs for sure.

 

Good to know, maybe medium is the better choice for most. I was told that the heavy a** arb front bumper and winch would need the HD?
A friend has ARB and winch with OME shocks and what he says are HD springs and ride is not too bad, but he could be wrong on his springs.