Question about converting from coils to SLS

[clintooo]

I have a question for the SLS guys.

I have a 2004 D2A 5 seater. I’m running a 2”lift with Dobinson coils, bilstein 994 &995 shocks (2”ones) and the airbag man rear coil helper air bags. I have the standard spring rate coils in the rear.

I have just bought another parts car. A 7 seater with SLS. I bought it as I wanted a rear step so I can get up on the rear bumper easier to get to the roof rack. I have a steel bumper don’t worry about me standing on it.

I have been thinking for a while about going to SLS in the rear. Mainly because a lot of people I have spoken to with it rave about it. Also, I don’t really like the way the coil spring helper bags sit in the coils and I think they reduce my articulation off road. I also thought the SLS will solve that articulation, give me a nicer ride with the benefit of being able to pump up the rear when weighted and when towing (I plan to buy a camper trailer).

So now I have a parts car with the full working SLS. I have also ordered a new set of Dunlop bags and the terrafirma spacer kit.

My initial plan was to run the SLS as an isolated system. I will just plumb it back to my existing Schrader valves and adjust the pressure up when I’m towing or loaded (I have an ARB compressor on board in the back). So it can be done relatively easily. Which leads me to my question….


Is this the best way. Given I have all the bits now, should I:



connect up the compressor and ride height sensors and install the button so I have active air as intended; or
connect up the compressor to the bags and run a manual in cab switch and relay to run the compressor when I want to up the pressure in the bags; or
go with what I had original planned (completely isolated system) and sell off the bits with the rest of the parts.



Will option 1 just cause me more headaches when things play up electronically? Is this much of an issue for people? Is the SLS system reliable and it is just the airbags that wear and are not replaced when they should that causes all the issues?

Do you think the extended height button is useful off road? Is it worth going to the trouble so I have that functionality? I’ve been out with a few D4s and they are always going in and out of the extended height mode. Having said that, I go everywhere they go with no issues as I am. I suspect it is more due to their lack of a lift.

With Option 2 – will it work that way, or am I never going to get an even pressure in both bags? Which I guess is what the ride height sensors manage. I assume that the ride height sensors wont work to control pressure without being connected to SLABS. I guess I could just run 1 line from the compressor with a Y in it to each bag, so I should then get an even pressure.

Anyone see any issue with option 3?? From my searching there do seem to be a few threads on here where people have done just this.

Cheers

Clint

[strangy]

First.
If your current vehicle did not have SLS or ACE you will need to change out the loom from engine bay to inside.

On your parts car it will be the orange square plug beside a matching grey plug, near the ECU in the engine bay.

IMO if you’re going to fit the bags, fit the lot.
It is a very good system.
The set and forget aspect is great.

FYI I have the whole D2 SLS capability retro fitted to a Defender. That’s how well I regard it.

[Bohica]

Option 1.

[biggin]

^x2.
Haven’t have a problem with SLS in nearly nine years of ownership. It just works no matter the load. I have given it a bit of a hammering at times as well but not much recently.
Jealous of your Bilstein shocks though. I still can’t bring myself to part with all that cash. The (only) downside of being Scottish. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[clintooo]

First.
If your current vehicle did not have SLS or ACE you will need to change out the loom from engine bay to inside.

On your parts car it will be the orange square plug beside a matching grey plug, near the ECU in the engine bay.

IMO if you’re going to fit the bags, fit the lot.
It is a very good system.
The set and forget aspect is great.

FYI I have the whole D2 SLS capability retro fitted to a Defender. That’s how well I regard it.

thanks. I will have a look at how much of a hassle the wiring is going to be especially if I need to bring it into the car. I was just assuming they had all the wiring there and had just not connected it.

[clintooo]

^x2.
Haven’t have a problem with SLS in nearly nine years of ownership. It just works no matter the load. I have given it a bit of a hammering at times as well but not much recently.
Jealous of your Bilstein shocks though. I still can’t bring myself to part with all that cash. The (only) downside of being Scottish. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

yeh Im running dobinson billies combo with the standard rate springs it does ride alot better than the pedders that was in there before.

[John_D4]

I have a 7seater that came with SLS which a previous owner removed. I went back to SLS and haven’t looked back. All my wiring was in place. I bought a compressor, new air bags, new compressor valve block (from England as no Australian supplier, and old valve block was leaking. No issues with leaking gags since). I also spliced a couple of car valves into the lines.

If you go to my profile you can search previous threads. I think it was about a year ago. I’ve outlined the car valves setup and any issues I had with my install.

Only other thing I did was buy height extenders from Les Richmond as I’ve got OME 2” lift in the front. When I calibrated the height I was concerned about over stretching the rear bags when using extended height mode (4” lift). That was super easy to install.

[biggin]

I’m pretty sure that “off road mode” is an extra 40mm lift, not 4”.

[John_D4]

I’m pretty sure that “off road mode” is an extra 40mm lift, not 4”.

Yes, I was just thinking that. In my head I meant that I have 4” (2” OME plus 2” extended height) approx of course. Not arguing over 10mm or so