Changing back to air

Hello,

I am looking for some advice with regards to changing my p38 back to air suspension, its currently on springs, which is how I bought it, but think about converting back for more ride comfort,

Has anybody done this or am I opening up a can of worms?

Easy job. First off, acertain which bits you have. Pump. valve block etc. Re. Build these bits first though.

It all depends on what was left behind when the air bags were removed and how the fault modes were overcome. By this I mean that, when the airbags were removed the rest of the system would have continued to try to work and when it obviously failed, the car would have gone into fault mode. As I assume that you haven't been driving around at a maximum of 35mph then this fault mode has obviously been overcome somehow.

Others who have fitted springs will probably be able to give you hints on how this is done and you can just reverse the procedure.

If you've never run air bags then a copy of RAVE - the workshop manual - would be a good start. In the EAS (electronic air suspension) section it not only lists the various parts but is shows you where on the car to find them and pictures of what you're looking for.

Welcome back to luxury motoring.

The fault modes are overcome with a plug that goes into the Becm, but are you mad, not a chance in hell would I go back. Other than that should not be too much trouble but check that the air tank underneath the motor is still there as if like me I ripped it out and also noticed when I did it was not in the greatest condition.
Best of luck
Davie

apparently the ride is softer on the springs than on the original air system

p38 prius lol said:

apparently the ride is softer on the springs than on the original air system

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That would depend entirely on the spring shock combination chosen, any softer than the air and it would roll like a drunken camel. The air is infinately better, particularly as it self levels under load

I have changed from coils to air. The best thing i've done! Have a look to see whats left of the air suspension under the bonnet and also height sensors etc.

My coils is a little firmer than the EAS,stability and ride are good but everyone to thier own choice but as I said I would never change back, and before its cast up no I would not fit leaf springs. Would not like to be in one that has coils softer than the EAS, now that sounds dangerous (Think drunken camel sounds about right). Coils = no electronics, compressor, air pipes, air bags etc (great)
Davie

I like the EAS on mine. However, I have Koni (red) dampers front and rear and I wouldn't say the ride is particularly 'soft'. Handles beautifully though.

Well I also buy mine with coils and the idea of putting back the air suspension was in my mind until I saw that the valve block and air pump were missing. After that, I love my coils. jejejeje Would like to put some larger coils put give the car a more aggressive look and bigger tires.

jlsplinter said:

Well I also buy mine with coils and the idea of putting back the air suspension was in my mind until I saw that the valve block and air pump were missing. After that, I love my coils. jejejeje Would like to put some larger coils put give the car a more aggressive look and bigger tires.

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You could then enter the Olympic rolling over at roundabouts team.

wammers said:

You could then enter the Olympic rolling over at roundabouts team.

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Exactly. The P38 was never designed (or type approved) for coils. The EAS adjusts the height depending on speed. This wasn't just done for the sake of it or to give good ride quality.

Changing to coils means you have a fixed centre of gravity which is probably too high for high speed driving if you've allowed for any off road use at all in which case you've now made yourself a dangerous (and probably illegal) vehicle.

There was a chap in the US who mentioned that almost all of the P38s he'd seen in the scrapyards which had been written off due to rollover damage had coils fitted.

It's just a bodge - no two ways about it. And an expensive bodge at that.

I went off roading with someone recently who had coils fitted. Guess who got stuck? Not me. So, coils on a P38 are the worst of both worlds.

So, yes - I'd suggest putting the EAS back in - it'd give you a good understanding of just how it all works in case you have any problems in the future too!

Just my 2 pence worth.

If the guff about type approval and the MOT from VOSA is correct, any coil sprung P38 should fail the MOT when the new regs come in.

Well if they are going to fail an mot for a modification then there are going to be a lot of modified motors beside them at the crusher. Mine is just as stable if not slightly better and a damn site more reliable, at least it does not rely on a rubber bag or plastic pipe. As for getting stuck probably more to do with the driver/tyre combination. If the guy wants to change back thats up to him but drive one thats had coils fitted and unless its a bad job you might be surprised before judging, iv'e driven both as I converted mine myself and is the BEST thing I have done for the old girl.
Davie

the one point here being missed is maintainace!
plenty of problems are because the filters are not changed and people act if it is the end of the world when the bags fail!
rubber wont last forever the same as the steel spring when you lok at it logicaly the steel spring is usualy on its way out at 5 years old though an air spring can last till 10 years.
got air on my classic with p38a arnott gen2 springs rides better than a p38a and handles like a gokart

Davie F said:

My coils is a little firmer than the EAS,stability and ride are good but everyone to thier own choice but as I said I would never change back, and before its cast up no I would not fit leaf springs. Would not like to be in one that has coils softer than the EAS, now that sounds dangerous (Think drunken camel sounds about right). Coils = no electronics, compressor, air pipes, air bags etc (great)
Davie

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my opinion coils on a p38 wouldnt be the same vehicle
imagine 3 people sat in the back or towing a trailer the p38 would be down on its back end like a dog rubbing its arse on the ground , where as an air sprung p38 would self level and you wouldnt tell the difference
the power that commpressed air has is emmense most hgvs are running air suspension a look at the weight they handle , and yes hgv air suspension fails but gets repaired and onto go
any eas faults need to be diagnosed properly before all the toys are thrown out of the pram
a spray of soapy water on air springs and pipe connections now and then to detect leaks may help save your commpressor before its to late