Disco 2 Air to coils if air still works?

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Russell 1

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Is it worth swapping working air springs to coils? I do a lot of towing if that makes any difference. Apparently they were changed a few years back.
 
There is only one decent reason to switch to coils and that is if you are planning on driving to places where an air suspension failure could leave you stranded. It is common for people preping their trucks as overlanders or exped vehicles to switch to coils and remove the ACE to improve reliability and reduce the risk of being disabled. For everyone one else, unless it is seriously broken, why would you? It is more comfortable on road, more capable (than stock coils) off road, it is easier to replace bags than springs, it is better for carrying heavy loads and most of all, far better for towing. Before you ask, my D2 has had the SLS and ACE replaced, but COVID permitting, we should get some decent overlanding done, just a shame we could not get away through Europe before BREXIT makes it a 1000x more difficult.
 
Si Click said:
There is only one decent reason to switch to coils and that is if you are planning on driving to places where an air suspension failure could leave you stranded. It is common for people preping their trucks as overlanders or exped vehicles to switch to coils and remove the ACE to improve reliability and reduce the risk of being disabled. For everyone one else, unless it is seriously broken, why would you? It is more comfortable on road, more capable (than stock coils) off road, it is easier to replace bags than springs, it is better for carrying heavy loads and most of all, far better for towing. Before you ask, my D2 has had the SLS and ACE replaced, but COVID permitting, we should get some decent overlanding done, just a shame we could not get away through Europe before BREXIT makes it a 1000x more difficult.
Click to expand...

Air - Carry spare bags and have the manual pump up valve conversion
ACE - A few, start with fluid, if converted a spare hose or 2, if standard a short length of 3/8th pipe and a couple of joiners, also carry an alternate aux belt (I THINK 300) short enough to miss out pump pully.
 
Russell 1 said:
Is it worth swapping working air springs to coils? I do a lot of towing if that makes any difference. Apparently they were changed a few years back.
Click to expand...
At the end of the day you are trading complication and comfort, and maybe a bit of practicality for simplicity and reliability.
If you are doing loads of towing, you may wish to fit heavy duty springs and a Dixon-Bate. If you want to keep the comfort and are prepared to risk complications with air that may or may not break down on you at some stage in the future, then you may wish to stay with air.
If you go for springs you can also change to gas shockers to maintain anti-roll stiffness, to a certain extent but that would be a bit pointless with ACE.
I have a Disco 1 I fitted with HD springs, gas shocks and a Dixon-Bate bought and modified specifically for towing which it does brilliantly.
I also have a 5-seater Disco 2, on standard coil springs and ACE, to which I fitted the Dixon-Bate and this tows very well as well.
I am talking tows for 550 miles at a time. Box trailer up to 3.5 tonnes.
Personally i find it perfectly comfortable and would not dream of adding the complication and risky reliability of air.
But that is just one personal point of view.
Edit, just noticed you have no ACE, good one less thing to go wrong. If you go for coil springs fit decent Gas shocks. Air DOES go wrong, there are loads of threads on this site to do with this. Don't recall one on the same problem with coils.
 
What's the chance a foxwell 530 would be able to turn the lights off after removing the springs and compressor?
I have had compressor failure on the range rover twice, one old and one new compressor.
 
The main reason compressors burn out is because they're feeding a leak, EAS isn't complicated at all 'tis rather simple.

And once you've towed with SLS you'll understand,

Airbags have a life of 7-10 years in some cases you can get more or less.

Compressors last the course if they're working properly and not feeding a leak solenoid valves and airbags being the 2 main points both are easy..

No point removing it, my D2 had the SLS removed and I hated how it towed compared to a mates 2004 ES premium with SLS..

my ride was shít too.

Keep the SLS..
 
Henry_b said:
The main reason compressors burn out is because they're feeding a leak, EAS isn't complicated at all 'tis rather simple.

And once you've towed with SLS you'll understand,

Airbags have a life of 7-10 years in some cases you can get more or less.

Compressors last the course if they're working properly and not feeding a leak solenoid valves and airbags being the 2 main points both are easy..

No point removing it, my D2 had the SLS removed and I hated how it towed compared to a mates 2004 ES premium with SLS..

my ride was shít too.

Keep the SLS..
Click to expand...
Henry, this really is weird. I do not understand why so many people say the ride is sh!t with springs compared to with air. I think I will have to find someone with air for me to drive or at least be a passenger in, cos I find absolutely nowt wrong with either of mine.
I am put in mind of the story of the princess and the pea!;);););)
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Henry, this really is weird. I do not understand why so many people say the ride is sh!t with springs compared to with air. I think I will have to find someone with air for me to drive or at least be a passenger in, cos I find absolutely nowt wrong with either of mine.
I am put in mind of the story of the princess and the pea!;);););)
Click to expand...

Air is far superior to Coils in the comfort department, the load levelling is my favourite the comfort though is far better than any coil spring D2.

Try and find a coil sprung D2 on standard springs that is level with a heavy load on the back
 
Henry_b said:
Air is far superior to Coils in the comfort department, the load levelling is my favourite the comfort though is far better than any coil spring D2.

Try and find a coil sprung D2 on standard springs that is level with a heavy load on the back.
Click to expand...
Henry, mate, not arguing with you, it is totally obvious, that if you put a heavy load in the rear of any coil sprung vehicle, the coils will compress and the rear will drop. Simple physics, or mechanics! So i won't spend time looking for one where this doesn't happen. This is why i mentioned heavy duty springs and a Dixon-Bate. Maybe I should have mentioned I do all this towing with a twin axle trailer.
As for the comfort, as I said, I'll have to experience this to see what you mean, but I don't expect limo levels of comfort in a 4x4. I prefer not to roll around on bends anyway. In both my Discos, I can do the 550 miles and step out of the car as if I'd just driven round the corner. Maybe I'm naturally a hardass! But my mates D3, or whatever it was seemed to pitch a lot, and both Wifey and I said "If we were prone to seasickness we'd have been sick by now!"
 
Stanleysteamer said:
As for the comfort, as I said, I'll have to experience this to see what you mean, but I don't expect limo levels of comfort in a 4x4. I prefer not to roll around on bends anyway. In both my Discos, I can do the 550 miles and step out of the car as if I'd just driven round the corner. Maybe I'm naturally a hardass! But my mates D3, or whatever it was seemed to pitch a lot, and both Wifey and I said "If we were prone to seasickness we'd have been sick by now!"
Click to expand...

Do either have ACE fitted?

Cheers
 
Stanleysteamer said:
Henry, mate, not arguing with you, it is totally obvious, that if you put a heavy load in the rear of any coil sprung vehicle, the coils will compress and the rear will drop. Simple physics, or mechanics! So i won't spend time looking for one where this doesn't happen. This is why i mentioned heavy duty springs and a Dixon-Bate. Maybe I should have mentioned I do all this towing with a twin axle trailer.
As for the comfort, as I said, I'll have to experience this to see what you mean, but I don't expect limo levels of comfort in a 4x4. I prefer not to roll around on bends anyway. In both my Discos, I can do the 550 miles and step out of the car as if I'd just driven round the corner. Maybe I'm naturally a hardass! But my mates D3, or whatever it was seemed to pitch a lot, and both Wifey and I said "If we were prone to seasickness we'd have been sick by now!"
Click to expand...

Your first point is the reason SLS is a good feature, standard springs which is what I have on mine aren't a patch on Air so I imagine HD springs are almost unbearable without any load on them, but being that you've lived with them so long it's the norm.

The D3 is an improvement again the ride and handling is sublime, if you drive a D3 or indeed any 4x4 like a sports car you will tip it over,. Whilst the ACE uses gravitational sensors at high and low points and a hydraulic pump via valves and actuators to level the vehicle on turns, the D3 uses a computer to monitor the loads on individual air bags and adjusts the suspension accordingly. Similar effect but different method both effective
 
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