[Home] Defender: - Current - Original Modifications: - Wheel Spacers - A-Bar - Clear Lenses - Steering Guard - Bonnet Scoops - Driving Lights - Tyres - Soundproofing - Carpeting - Upholstery - New Front Seats - Fitting New Seats - Cubby Box - Rear Seats - Diff Guards Shows: - Billing 2004 Videos / Gallery

Reason:
After talking to various people and doing our research on the wheel spacers we made our decision based on two things. 1. they improve your stability in cornering which we do a lot of here in ireland along all of the winding country lanes and 2. they improve your turning circle by being placed out wider your wheels are able to scribe a tighter arc.

We bought them at the Billing Land Rover show in July where we were able to see numerous varieties of wheel spacers made from different materials and all at different prices. We decided against aluminium spacers as we had concerns about their strength. We decided on the spacers at the Nene Valley stand as they were able to convince us of the quality of their product and also offered to fit them for free at the show.

Fitting:
1. Jack up the car.
2. Remove all of the wheels.
3. Place the wheel spacers on over the wheel nut stubs on the hub.
4. Then tighten these on with the nuts provided, and torque thwm to 150 Nm.
5. Then place the wheel back on the hub onto the wheel nut stubs which are presented on
the spacers.
6. Put the wheel nuts back on and tighten them.
7. We went back the following day after putting about 75 miles on the clock as they recommended
and they re-torqued them just to be safe.

After having the spacers fitted the turning circle improved considerably. Also for some reason the ride seems to have become smoother. The only explanation that we have for this is that the lever effect has been increased and the distance between the tyre and the coil spring has meant that when the wheel rides over a bump is exercises the coil and shock more.

Also the spacers have added a certain visual impact and have meant that the wheels now fill out the arches and remove what we call 'the milk float effect' where the wheels are set in from the edge of the arches.

So although they seem pretty expensive for four pieces of milled steel, they will improve your defenders stability, turning, ride and appearance, and on that score they are well worth it.