Various DII mod questions...
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 32
Likes: 2
From: SW Florida
Various DII mod questions...
First of all, hello to everyone. I have been a short-time lurker and now that I have re-entered the realm of Rover ownership, I thought I would stop lurking and start posting.
Here is a list of planned mods for my DII:
-Bilsteins
-Springs
-ARB Sahara front bumper
-ARB side steps
Now for the questions:
Knowing HD springs are essential when installing front bumpers, how much will this degrade ride quality as this vehicle will be a daily driver?
Is there a HD spring set, from any manufacturer, that will give you stock ride height, or are they all around 2+ inch lifts? I have not been able to find stock height HD springs.
As we will be relocating to the midwest early next year, I was planning on either running my 18" wheels with all terrain tires, or get a second set of winter wheels for a set of snow tires. As someone who works in healthcare, I have to be able to get in to the hospital under any set of conditions, so capability in a good blizzard is a must.
If I end up with a 2" suspension lift, will the stock 18"s look too small in the wells?
How much of a ride improvement would I experience if I changed over to 16" wheels/tires? I have seen a lot of talk on this and other sites about the 18's on DII's and how 16's would be more appropriate. Tires sure would cost a lot less.
There is a slight shimmy in the steering wheel, much improved since I had them rebalance the wheels. With 65k miles, easy miles based on the condition of the truck, would it be overkill to have the ball joints (very very faint cupping on the fronts) and tie rods replaced along with the installation of a poly bushing kit? I know the steering will never be like our BMW, but factory-fresh would be nice.
I've also seen some occasional bashing of ARB front bumpers... Are they really that fragile, comparatively speaking? Granted this one will not see the kind of use most on this board would subject it to, but if I am going to lay out that much coin I expect it to be able to take quite a beating. My reasoning for the Sahara is that it looks the most OEM-like once painted - easier to get the wife to agree to it that way... lol
Anyone installed Dynamat (or other sound-deadening material) in an attempt to reduce road noise? (I doubt it, as the focus on this board is in a completely different direction, but I thought I would ask regardless).
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for any and all input.
Regards,
Here is a list of planned mods for my DII:
-Bilsteins
-Springs
-ARB Sahara front bumper
-ARB side steps
Now for the questions:
Knowing HD springs are essential when installing front bumpers, how much will this degrade ride quality as this vehicle will be a daily driver?
Is there a HD spring set, from any manufacturer, that will give you stock ride height, or are they all around 2+ inch lifts? I have not been able to find stock height HD springs.
As we will be relocating to the midwest early next year, I was planning on either running my 18" wheels with all terrain tires, or get a second set of winter wheels for a set of snow tires. As someone who works in healthcare, I have to be able to get in to the hospital under any set of conditions, so capability in a good blizzard is a must.
If I end up with a 2" suspension lift, will the stock 18"s look too small in the wells?
How much of a ride improvement would I experience if I changed over to 16" wheels/tires? I have seen a lot of talk on this and other sites about the 18's on DII's and how 16's would be more appropriate. Tires sure would cost a lot less.
There is a slight shimmy in the steering wheel, much improved since I had them rebalance the wheels. With 65k miles, easy miles based on the condition of the truck, would it be overkill to have the ball joints (very very faint cupping on the fronts) and tie rods replaced along with the installation of a poly bushing kit? I know the steering will never be like our BMW, but factory-fresh would be nice.
I've also seen some occasional bashing of ARB front bumpers... Are they really that fragile, comparatively speaking? Granted this one will not see the kind of use most on this board would subject it to, but if I am going to lay out that much coin I expect it to be able to take quite a beating. My reasoning for the Sahara is that it looks the most OEM-like once painted - easier to get the wife to agree to it that way... lol
Anyone installed Dynamat (or other sound-deadening material) in an attempt to reduce road noise? (I doubt it, as the focus on this board is in a completely different direction, but I thought I would ask regardless).
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for any and all input.
Regards,
You can get HD springs without a lift but just replacing sagging springs will lift the truck alittle, I dont want a lift either as I am vertically challenged.
www.atlanticbritish.com sells springs with no lift.
Blizzaks are my snow tire of choice, if I were you I'd get the snows for the 18"s and run a good set of A/T's on the 16"s.
Yes 16" will improve the ride as they have more sidewall and the sidewall helps cusion the ride.
I dont think the ARB bumper is that fragile, and besides, are you driving to your favorite hunting spot or clearing a trail in the Amazon?
I have not seen the ARB Sahara bumper.
Where in the mid west are you moving to?
www.atlanticbritish.com sells springs with no lift.
Blizzaks are my snow tire of choice, if I were you I'd get the snows for the 18"s and run a good set of A/T's on the 16"s.
Yes 16" will improve the ride as they have more sidewall and the sidewall helps cusion the ride.
I dont think the ARB bumper is that fragile, and besides, are you driving to your favorite hunting spot or clearing a trail in the Amazon?
I have not seen the ARB Sahara bumper.
Where in the mid west are you moving to?
Thread Starter
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 32
Likes: 2
From: SW Florida
Hey Spike,
Thanks for the quick response. I think I am going to replace the spings and shocks this fall near the new year. I think based on the quality of OME springs and my previous experience with them, I will likely go for the med or HD springs even though there will be an overall lift from stock height. OME plus some Bilsteins should make things right.
So you have good luck with the Blizzaks, huh? I have seen a lot of good reviews on those, so I will likely go that route but on 16" wheels as the 18" Blizzaks are crazy expensive, even through Tirerack. I was hoping a good all-terrain 18" would do the trick, but Blizzaks are the more logical solution.
The sahara style ARB bumper can be seen on AB's website at http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/9459D2SAHARA.cfm. Sadly it would be mostly cosmetic, but also for some added protection from the nuts that cannot drive in inclimate weather.
As of right now it is looking like we will be headed to Columbus, Toledo, or Philly (not midwest although), although Michigan is also a possibility. Unfortunately, plans will not be finalized until late this year. I currently use Brit Rover in Pompano - know any good rover guys for service up your way? I may need to pick your brain a little if we end up headed your way.
Thanks for the quick response. I think I am going to replace the spings and shocks this fall near the new year. I think based on the quality of OME springs and my previous experience with them, I will likely go for the med or HD springs even though there will be an overall lift from stock height. OME plus some Bilsteins should make things right.
So you have good luck with the Blizzaks, huh? I have seen a lot of good reviews on those, so I will likely go that route but on 16" wheels as the 18" Blizzaks are crazy expensive, even through Tirerack. I was hoping a good all-terrain 18" would do the trick, but Blizzaks are the more logical solution.
The sahara style ARB bumper can be seen on AB's website at http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/9459D2SAHARA.cfm. Sadly it would be mostly cosmetic, but also for some added protection from the nuts that cannot drive in inclimate weather.
As of right now it is looking like we will be headed to Columbus, Toledo, or Philly (not midwest although), although Michigan is also a possibility. Unfortunately, plans will not be finalized until late this year. I currently use Brit Rover in Pompano - know any good rover guys for service up your way? I may need to pick your brain a little if we end up headed your way.
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