SLS to Coils

[scrubber3006]

I am looking to lift my 04 D2a, and have decided to get dobinsons 2" coils and Bilstein shocks all from SuspensionStuff. My question is that if i currently have rear SLS, what hardware will I need to replace the airbags with coils?

I have seen several "coil conversion kits" but I can't seem to find a kit that doesn't include springs.

Thanks.

[imatt]

Why do you want to replace your airbags with coils?

[strangy]

I am looking to lift my 04 D2a, and have decided to get dobinsons 2" coils and Bilstein shocks all from SuspensionStuff. My question is that if i currently have rear SLS, what hardware will I need to replace the airbags with coils?

I have seen several "coil conversion kits" but I can't seem to find a kit that doesn't include springs.

Thanks.


You just need the spring seats and bolts to fit them. You also need to tell the SLABS ECU it is now coils.

cheers

[brownrangie]

Ditto imatt's question. The SLS is great for leveling loads, towing and especially off road where you can raise the rear another 40mm - instant extra suspension lift:)

[ozscott]

He might be sick of the maintenance.

I love my coils and have airbags (aftermarket) in the rear for towing my 21' Seafarer. It handles and rides very well, but if you want to know what its like just go for a drive in one of the many that have coils.

Cheers

[tomar5e]

Yep I don't think you can buy the conversion kit without the springs. I'm looking at doing the same, for reliability and just a general ride improvement.
As mentioned earlier you will have to take the landy to a dealer to turn off the sls at the ecu. Or for the time being just pull the fuse to the SLS until you get to a dealer. Only downside with that is you will have the light on the dash.

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[tomar5e]

Does anybody know, if after a coil conversion, you can use the existing compressor, lines, and the button on the dash to pump up aftermarket airbags?
I'm guessing if the hose connection to the new airbags and the existing lines is the same then there shouldn't be a problem right?
Because the levelling sensors will continue to pump air until the sensor reads the correct height...
Maybe just a spacer on the sensor to suit your new lift?

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[that_kid]

You can get the seats without coils if you contact MR Automotive in Redcliffe QLD, as much as i dislike them.

I have had my SLS out for 2 years and still havent bothered to tell the ECU they arent there anymore. The light is on but doesnt bother me. I stripped all the comp sensors etc out of it at the same time and havent regretted it for a second. The bags are great for towing but hopeless for articulation.

[strangy]

Does anybody know, if after a coil conversion, you can use the existing compressor, lines, and the button on the dash to pump up aftermarket airbags?
I'm guessing if the hose connection to the new airbags and the existing lines is the same then there shouldn't be a problem right?
Because the levelling sensors will continue to pump air until the sensor reads the correct height...
Maybe just a spacer on the sensor to suit your new lift?

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This is possible but will require some fiddling around. There was a post here recently on this. Short story is yes but may as well replace the existing bags for the effort and an inferior result.

cheers

[tomar5e]

This is possible but will require some fiddling around. There was a post here recently on this. Short story is yes but may as well replace the existing bags for the effort and an inferior result.

cheers

After a rear coil conversion the bags will be taken out completely and the seats they sit in. What i mean is using the compressor and lines to pump aftermarket bags that sit inside/outside the coils. Is this what you mean strangy?

Thanks :-)

[Rosscoe68]

interesting and dissapointing that the same comment comes up re ongoing maintenance of a 10+ year old system. i challenge anyone to find a tyre on a car that is 10 years old and is not showing signs of perishing and yet thee seems to be some weird feeling that a rubber spring should be a lifelong part. i for one feel the ride and the benefits of the self levelling worth the " maintenance " replacing airbags once every 5 or 10 years or so. people seem to be happy enough to spend thousands of dollars replacing tyres evey few years but not happy to spend well under a thousand on airsprings less often, i just don't get it.

[landcol]

It is generally a reliable system definitely but I think most people including myself just don't want any extra hassles down the track.very rare for coil problems.coils stiffen it all up a bit to,which for when off road works out

[scrubber3006]

Thanks for all the replies. My reasoning for converting to coils in not one of less maintenance but just for better ruggedness. I will not be towing anything that would benefit from SLS, and I rarely have excess weight in the back.

[strangy]

After a rear coil conversion the bags will be taken out completely and the seats they sit in. What i mean is using the compressor and lines to pump aftermarket bags that sit inside/outside the coils. Is this what you mean strangy?

Thanks :-)

Yep, thats what I mean.
My 2 cents, being able to compare the SLS to a coil truck in the same family, I wouldnt change to coils.
Also my opinion that SLS articulation is no worse or better than coils and that the selection of shock brand, coil brand and size, will be the defining factor in the most common suspension set up.
I do not agree with the suggestions that SLS will not articulate as well as coils. IMO those folks who have experienced this have the wrong shock coil/ SLS combo.:p
Again backed by the direct comparison of the 2 trucks in my family with the same springs in the front with different brand shocks. One vehicle has more than 15mm extra travel than the other. The rear is even more interesting up to 20mm I wont name shocks as this will only fuel more debate, but will say that the brands are highly recommended and popular across the 4wd scene.:D

cheers

[Rosscoe68]

yep, me too, buggered if i know why anyone would "choose" to go back to coils.
can't see why coils would be any more "rugged" than bags myself,
but hey for years people complained about the change to coils from leaf springs back in the day.
was "too much to go wrong now" from memory was the common saying.
i guess a lot of people just dont like change for the better.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

and if you are not carrying anything,,
why would you want stiff springs??
just to get blown out of the water by a stock classic RR?

[tomar5e]

Soooo, would it be possible to have the best of both worlds? Do a coil conversion but keep all the lines compressor etc, then install aftermarket bags inside/outside the rear coils using the these existing lines. Then the switch in the cabin can be retained. If a lift is done then only a spacer will be needed for the sensor...
Is this a possibility?

[Rosscoe68]

sounds feasable, but i still dont understand why you wouldnt just use the factory air spring to do the same job but with a more refined ride.

[Pauly85]

i replaced my air bags with coild about 2 years ago know, purely because i was sick of the maintenance, 1 bag let go and the compressor was playing up,

very easy job to do and after i done mine, i had to go to my local landrover guy to get the computer setting changed because the dash would chime constantly when i was driving, and it was driving me nuts!

[tomar5e]

I'm planning a trip down the gibb river road and losing a bag or the compressor packing it in could be disastrous, this is my reason for thinking of changing over.
If I can have the security of coil overs and still use the sls system when needed I would be a happy man :-)
If I do go through with this ill keep it posted on aulro

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[Tombie]

I'm planning a trip down the gibb river road and losing a bag or the compressor packing it in could be disastrous, this is my reason for thinking of changing over.
If I can have the security of coil overs and still use the sls system when needed I would be a happy man :-)
If I do go through with this ill keep it posted on aulro

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Ummm..

Carry a spare bag and a couple of Schrader valves....

You do realize coils break too?
Seen it many times...

[Rosscoe68]

yep, i'm with tombie, i would rather take a 1/2 kilo rubber airspring spare with me than try carrying a coil spring around as a spare.

i am sure this fear of sls airsuspension is one of those urban myths that has grown out of nothing reasonable to scare all the kids around that get decent cars (D2 SLS), and then go and make pigs of them by retrofitting coils cos they are scared :P

[fatman]

When i removed the sls on my td5,i had articulation in mind,i used terrafirma springs (300-340 lbs) with d1 spring perches-seats,the main restriction for articulation(compared to my previous D1),is the trailing arms( similar to G-wagen and suzuki Jimny ones),they bind a LOT and not the airbags themself.
I also used dislocation cones but even with the shocks removed the spring didn't dislocate at ALL..
The field test showed that i lost articulation,cause the spring (compressed side) made things more difficult,maybe a softer spring would have helped,but it's a 7 seater so no coils for me anymore..
If i ever convert to the rear suspension classic 3 link or 5 link then ok..
I carry a spare height sensor,cause this the most serious damage can happen to the sls system,if it goes nuts,it deflates both sides, a porous airbag will give a sign long before - unless it goes bang..

[Pedro_The_Swift]

yep, i'm with tombie, i would rather take a 1/2 kilo rubber airspring spare with me than try carrying a coil spring around as a spare.

i am sure this fear of sls airsuspension is one of those urban myths that has grown out of nothing reasonable to scare all the kids around that get decent cars (D2 SLS), and then go and make pigs of them by retrofitting coils cos they are scared :P

dare I say it--
theres almost something toyotaish about it,,;)

[tomar5e]

yep, i'm with tombie, i would rather take a 1/2 kilo rubber airspring spare with me than try carrying a coil spring around as a spare.

i am sure this fear of sls airsuspension is one of those urban myths that has grown out of nothing reasonable to scare all the kids around that get decent cars (D2 SLS), and then go and make pigs of them by retrofitting coils cos they are scared :P

So before your D2 with Airbags you always carried a coil spring in the back as a 'spare'? And by even having to carry a spare bag isn't that saying you know theres a higher chance of it going?
I am not trying to fuel the SLS vs Coil war, i am just exploring my options with different ideas. There is no need to go flaming people calling them 'kids' just because of an opinion

[Tombie]

No... But with Airbags they don't sag like coils... This means they just keep working until the point of failure.

A coil sprung D2 just keeps sagging till it's below normal or noticeable to the owner.

On a hard core trip fully laden I would consider a spare coil especially if the springs fitted are new (flaws in manufacture unknown at that point).

With an airbagged D2 it's a well known service item - so for a long remote trip I would replace them before leaving and carry one of the old ones.

They have a working life - usually 80-100,000km then it's time to replace. Much like coil springs!!!!

[imatt]

I agree with Tombie in that if I was to embark on a remote area trip I would replace the bags before leaving if I didn't know their history, whether you carried a spare or not would be your own decision, everyone will prepare differently. If you had a doubt about the airbags then maybe you should have bought a coil model, the airbag models were designed that way for a reason, and now there are manufacturers copying the idea, just like when RR came out with coils back in the 70's. I'm sure there is other items on the vehicle that would be more prone to failure than the airbags.
Cheers Matt

[Rosscoe68]

yep, me too, when i got my D2 i put new bags in it qand kept 1 of the olds as a spare
simple, and makes sense.

[ozscott]

It's probably not just bag puncture risk but the risk of other component failure in the system - compressor, height sensors. I like simple but that's personal choice for you.

Ps you don't turn a'd2 into a pig fitting coils. Far from it. Having coils front a rear is a nicely balanced system.

[scrubber3006]

I have decided to keep the SLS, but will be replacing the standard bags with the Boss triple bag kit (similar to Baffle's bags :cool:). It will potentially allow for up to 4'' of lift, but i am only keen for 2". I am still waiting for the guy to confirm some figures but he assures me that the kits are a "no fuss" install.

has anyone else had any experiences with these bags?

[ekard]

I noticed that no one addressed the question of the Boss Triple bag kit. I too am very interested in these. Does anyone have any experience with them?

[TerryO]

Sorry I don't have any answers re the Boss air bags you speak about, but I replaced my airbags in 2009 with new Dunlop bags from the airbag man in Quuensland and the cost was just over $500 plus freight. Which to me was a very good and cost effective option.

Tombie, do you still do the 2" spacer kits for the D2's airbags? Or is it a case of having to buy them from the other mob who copied your system?

This spacer system is a really good option for those wanting a 2" lift while keeping the convenience and ride leveling ability of the standard D2 airbag system.

cheers,
Terry