Thread: Converting Disco rear to airbags

Originally Posted by walker

I have decided to convert the rear of the Disco from coils to airbags.

I am not going to go down the standard LR SLS path, but just have manually operated airbags.

Has anyone does this before?

My thought is to start out with some D2 SLS airbag top and bottom mounts in place of the coil spring mounts. These should be compatible with the airbag bellows sold by the airbag man. Then I can get a set of airbags in the correct length.

Does anyone have a set of mounting plates from an SLS Disco they want to sell or get rid of. Maybe someone who has converted their vehicle to coils.
Even a set of P38 mounts may be ok.


thanks,
Adam

My understanding is the coils use additional mounting plates, not the other way around. If you remove the bottom plate and top spring isolator the stock airbags clip into existing metal work.



cheers
Paul

Thanks Paul. I hope you are correct but the Landrover mechanic I am dealing with seems to think you need to have SLS plates.

Can anyone else confirm this?

There's no specific SLS system plates listed there or in the paper book.

Originally Posted by walker

Thanks Paul. I hope you are correct but the Landrover mechanic I am dealing with seems to think you need to have SLS plates.

Can anyone else confirm this?

He's wrong.

Have a look at Urban Panzers air bag replacement tutorial:

www.discovery2.co.uk / Rear Suspension Air Bags

You can see the bottom of the airbag engages with the welded bracket that the bottom coil plate bolts onto.

There are two holes in the top spring mount that the pins on the airbag engage with.

cheers
Paul

Thankyou all.

Yes, i just had a closer look at Rave and you are both correct.

Been thinking abouth over the bast 1/2 hour I was going to go with aftermarket air bellows custom for the 2" lift, but it might be a lot easier to use the Landrover style airbags and just fit the 2" spacer under the bag. I would then run the pipe work to a tank and manually activate each bag.

Only thing I am not sure about is whether the original bags were made to work in this way (ie pump up to a set point and leave) or whether the SLS system worked by venting the air when it was compressed a lot then pumping back up. I would not think it would do this but I recall someone telling me years ago that the SLS compressor was always working when driving, constantly adjusting the air in the bag.

The original bags are an air spring rather than an airbag (like a load levelling/carrying device) and so may rely on some dynamic movement of gas in and out of the bag through the valve system. Running them at a static pressure may give a hard ride.

I guess we will find out.