D3 Air suspension conversion to coil

[horizon]

Hi All
I am new to Aulro. I have a 2008 D3 with air suspension and have notice you can convert the suspension to coil Coil conversion kit for Land Rover Discovery 3 - Euro4x4parts.com (http://www.euro4x4parts.com/en/4x4_mechanics_kit_suspension_landrover_discovery3. html)
My L3 has now done 93000k with no suspension issues.

Any thoughts on this conversion.

Cheers

Skip

[AnD3rew]

My thoughts are why?

You turn an awesome car into an ordinary car. I would replace all my airbags and compressor before I converted to coil.

[101RRS]

Exactly - why would you want to. A highly retrograde steep.

Garry

[discojools]

Yep I agree with Garry and Andrew. Air suspension is one of the things that make it a great 4x4.

[TerryO]

My thoughts are why?

You turn an awesome car into an ordinary car. I would replace all my airbags and compressor before I converted to coil.

...x2

[BigJon]

Such a conversion would be sheer lunacy. The air suspension and Terrain Response absolutely make the D3.

[sheerluck]

I love this bit:

Please note: the flash process eliminates nearly all dashboard error messages however the red air suspension warning light does remain on)

Isn't having any dashboard warning lights illuminated a roadworthy fail in some places?

I would agree that this change would be madness. The price of it alone is about the same as it would cost to replace all the major air suspension components.

[rocmic]

I agree the air suspension and terrain response are what gives the D3/4 the ability to go where the big boys (lifted, locked and big tyres) go. To convert to coil would be retrograde and what would be ths cost of a lift on top?
Cheers
Mike

[TerryO]

Having said that after checking out Cal415's 130 on the weekend where he has converted his Couple of month old Puma over to complete air suspension with truck bags back and front the amount of lift he had is truly amazing.

I should have taken pics of it when he jacked it up over 5 inches back and front and or anywhere in between at the touch of a button on a remote nod it took only a few seconds in total. Plus he can jack up the back, font or sides independently to each other. Bloody amazing to watch.

I coiler D3 with this mod would be interesting, still no Terrain Responce though. Costs about $5k to do the conversion on a Fender.

[horizon]

Sounds like you guys think its a dumb idea.
Not sure if anyone click on the link, but with this conversion all the TRs etc still work as you get an orange box to pug in.


Cheers

[horizon]

By the way is there a way of pumping up the suspension in the case of a error that causes the car into access ht. This happen to me once on the beach but with a re-start all was up again and I could get out.

Skip

[discotwinturbo]

By the way is there a way of pumping up the suspension in the case of a error that causes the car into access ht. This happen to me once on the beach but with a re-start all was up again and I could get out.

Skip

Most of the time a restart, or a hard reset disconnecting the battery and shorting the cables together will fix things (must be done in the correct way.....car goes to sleep, disconnect battery terminals, short terminal cables with a spanner, etc ensuring that the battery is not touched. Reconnect positive first then negative)

If not you need the Emergency air up kit from Green Oval experience.

Brett.....

[Graeme]

If it goes down to access height then that's "safe" height due to any fault broadcast by the ABS ecu. If its a permanent fault such as caused by a broken wheel speed sensor wire then the vehicle can be raised by either Llams or using shorter (eg GOE) rods. The emergency air-up kit is necessary mostly only if the compressor has expired.

[sheerluck]

Sounds like you guys think its a dumb idea.
Not sure if anyone click on the link, but with this conversion all the TRs etc still work as you get an orange box to pug in.


Cheers

Yes I read it. That's how I managed to quote some of the text. I'm not sure you understand exactly what the Terrain Response actually does and how it integrates with the air suspension though. So the Terrain Response cannot fully work when part of it's normal function has been removed. When the D3 detects that it is stuck, it will raise the suspension to extended mode, and then super extended mode to clear the obstacle. A bit difficult to do that with coils.

Look at it this way, if the coil sprung version was so good, they would outsell the air sprung version. Don't see that happening!

Something else worth considering, I recall reading somewhere that if yours is a 7 seat model, then you would need to get the change engineered as a 7 seat coiler is not type approved.

[rocmic]

Sounds like you guys think its a dumb idea.
Not sure if anyone click on the link, but with this conversion all the TRs etc still work as you get an orange box to pug in.


Cheers
I read it as well and have just had another look. I agree with Sheerluck, the TR and air suspension are tightly integrated. And work well. If you are particularly worried I would look at the Green Oval Experience emergency air up kit. This will handle the problem of compressor failure, airline leaks or problems with the reservoir tank.
The air bags are to quote GOE's web page "the airbags themselves are almost never at fault - we have never heard of anyone "bursting" a bag, as they are severely over-engineered".


The other thing I have reservations about with the coil conversion, is that it does not state what sort of height is attained. As far as I am aware (and I may be wrong - someone will let me know:D) D3 coilers need a lift to get to off road height equivalent. So you could (probably would) find yourself with a much less capable vehicle.


Just my 2 cents worth

Cheers

Mike

bag, as they are severely over-engineered

[horizon]

Cheers Guys
I found a link to GEO last night on this site and I will be spending some $$s with him.
Thanks for the info.

Skip

[Spuds]

Repairs to air suspension can be cheap, 12 dollars for a compressor repair kit, new valve, sprig and O ring, not 1200 dollars as quoted by independent.
Replaced front valve block 20 pounds ebay uk (car was sinking).
As for bush repairs, not so confident.
First post, sorry if amateur

[SBD4]

Repairs to air suspension can be cheap, 12 dollars for a compressor repair kit, new valve, sprig and O ring, not 1200 dollars as quoted by independent.
Replaced front valve block 20 pounds ebay uk (car was sinking).
As for bush repairs, not so confident.
First post, sorry if amateur

Welcome Spuds, not amateur at all mate.

[sheerluck]

Repairs to air suspension can be cheap, 12 dollars for a compressor repair kit, new valve, sprig and O ring, not 1200 dollars as quoted by independent.
Replaced front valve block 20 pounds ebay uk (car was sinking).
As for bush repairs, not so confident.
First post, sorry if amateur

Welcome to the forum Spuds.

You are correct about finding cheap alternatives, however it is typically bush repairs that people get upset with.

[KOOS BEST]

Hi from Africa.

My 2c worth.

I have just had the opportunity to take the new D4 XS with coils and traction control only on a test drive and through some steep inclines and ditches.

Off road prowess is not at all the same as terrain response fitted vehicles and we tested that thoroughly, terrain response D4,s will leave the XS standing.
Traction control takes a while to engage only with some throttle help, went up a bank with opposite wheels approx a feet in the air, wheel travel quite good, up to par with Defenders. Eventually t/c got it up.
Could not get it up a steep ditch later on , lots of wheel spin but no forward movement, maybe the stupid , silly , tyre choice that L/Rover fitted as standard contribute to this, really that tyres is only good for a city mom's taxi. Who makes this choices off the standard tyres thats fitted to a 4x4 purist vehicle , the manufactures obviously dont have a clue.

You cannot compare this open differential vehicle with the S/SE/HSE in off road sticky situations, sorry but it is not up to scratch remember this is comparing it to these vehicle only,vs others on the market it's the same with traction control.

On gravel corrugated roads it felt like a NORMAL appliance vehicle, the tail were sliding out with hard acceleration around a bend, it never felt comfortable or safe.There is a big /massive difference in ride between the air suspension and coils.

And TERRAIN RESPONSE is the best x far

[rb30gtr]

Sounds like you guys think its a dumb idea.
Not sure if anyone click on the link, but with this conversion all the TRs etc still work as you get an orange box to pug in.


Cheers


Just buy an S model that does not have the air suspension. Heaps cheaper!

[elsey]

Koos Best,

Always good to hear from you and other over seas members of our forum as it adds another dimension. Thanks for the first hand info on the D4 XS, your evaluation of the 'new' coiler was interesting.

Lou...

[chuck]

Koos

What is the price difference between the coil and air sprung in South Africa?

[KOOS BEST]

Koos

What is the price difference between the coil and air sprung in South Africa?

Here by us about $12000.00 cheaper.

It has a detuned engine of 155 kw single turbo, but it feel more responsive then the twin turbo.530 nm Torgue
5 seats, 60/40 rear bench
no glass roof (yipee)
18" rims

It requires an aftermarket suspension and rear locker at least

[nismine01]

I have a Disco 3 S with coil springs, is it feasible to retro fit air suspension?

[loanrangie]

I have a Disco 3 S with coil springs, is it feasible to retro fit air suspension?Too much work and cost involved but anything is possible.

[DiscoJeffster]

I have a Disco 3 S with coil springs, is it feasible to retro fit air suspension?

Why wouldn’t you just sell and buy one with air?

[nismine01]

Just bought this one, it is set up how I like and at a price I could afford.
Just a whim about the air, less potential trouble with coils anyway.

Mike

[IndusD4]

What about a straight swap with the OP ? You'd both get what you are after?

Ron

[shanegtr]

I have a Disco 3 S with coil springs, is it feasible to retro fit air suspension?

Probably a pain in the arse to retrofit to factory specs, but you are handy you could probably make something work with factory airsprings and struts, factory tank and aftermarket controller and compressor.

[weeds]

See if Air Bag Man has a solution.....they do a conversion for defenders to replace the coil springs with air springs

The kit would have a controller for auto leveling and raise and lower.

If they don’t do a kit they would have all the components.

[rar110]

The D3 S and EAS D3 are quite different. If faced with a choice I would always go with the EAS option.

I love the option of 2” lift at the push of a button, lower height option in car parks and great driving experience on corrugations.

I also recently experienced the benefit of an extra emergency lift when stuck on a rock at Fraser with an incoming tide. It lifted off the rock which allowed me to reverse and take a different line.

Each has there negatives. For me the EAS settles on the +ve side of the ledger. I’ve never had an EAS issue and my L322 is 11 years old with 290,000km. So I think it’s pretty reliable.