Coil conversion - What was I thinking. New pump and 4 new bags and I'm all good

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I'm not yet sure that the Bags are failing. The Compressor is coming Tuesday, once I've installed it I'll have a better idea when I do the soapy water test.
 
kevstar said:
I once converted a disco to coils only as it was costing over the value of it to put right, drove ok until you hard cornered
of hit rough roads pot holes, sunken drains ect then it was very thumpy & rolled about like a boat. Sold it not long after.
If your keeping the motor id deffo fix the bag issues. :)
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Sorry, but that makes no sense. Disco (presume 2 not 1 as 1 had no EAS), only had EAS on the rear. So it was half coil already.

Plus the D2 was sold as full coil.

Body roll would be down to the ARB more than the spring type. And if it had EAS it should have had ACE. If you got lots of lean it wasn't working.
 
mousemat said:
Long time lurker

I'm having issues with my P38 EAS and thinking about a coil conversion kit

I've found several kits, some include shock absorbers (terrafirma) and some not (britpart)

Should I be buying a kit with shocks as well as springs?

Any advice would be great.
Click to expand...
It is worth trying to get the EAS to play ball, some issues should be fairly easy to solve. Sadly I did throw the towel in on mine and went coils. But I don't think the fix was easy or cheap in my case, at least nobody was able to tell me what was wrong or even what steps to take to try and fix it.

Coils are perfectly fine. You just don't get the variable ride height, but they will do the same thing otherwise as the airbags. Ride will be dictated by the spring rate you go for. Bodyroll should not really change and to be fair the p38 is a rather wallowy thing on initial turn in anyway. Coils generally improve this. The EAS is a cool characteristic of the p38, but it is a compromised setup that works the wrong way round. Hard stiff suspension when raised for off road, and soft even more wallowy suspension when lowered in the motorway/high speed mode.

As for shocks, you don't need to change them. But if they are worn or original, a refresh might be worthwhile.

Ultimately the 'conversion' kit for coils is actually only one item. A machined aluminium lower spring seat adapter. The air bags are held in with clips, this aluminium adapter fits the clip in point and allows you to fit a standard Defender/Range Rover/Disco rear lower spring seat.

And that's it.

90% of the kits then use standard Land Rover springs from other models. Just some bod has decided they are the right length and/or spring rate to use on the p38. Nobody really makes a bespoke spring set for the p38, bar one or two options.
 
300bhp/ton said:
It is worth trying to get the EAS to play ball, some issues should be fairly easy to solve. Sadly I did throw the towel in on mine and went coils. But I don't think the fix was easy or cheap in my case, at least nobody was able to tell me what was wrong or even what steps to take to try and fix it.

Coils are perfectly fine. You just don't get the variable ride height, but they will do the same thing otherwise as the airbags. Ride will be dictated by the spring rate you go for. Bodyroll should not really change and to be fair the p38 is a rather wallowy thing on initial turn in anyway. Coils generally improve this. The EAS is a cool characteristic of the p38, but it is a compromised setup that works the wrong way round. Hard stiff suspension when raised for off road, and soft even more wallowy suspension when lowered in the motorway/high speed mode.

As for shocks, you don't need to change them. But if they are worn or original, a refresh might be worthwhile.

Ultimately the 'conversion' kit for coils is actually only one item. A machined aluminium lower spring seat adapter. The air bags are held in with clips, this aluminium adapter fits the clip in point and allows you to fit a standard Defender/Range Rover/Disco rear lower spring seat.

And that's it.

90% of the kits then use standard Land Rover springs from other models. Just some bod has decided they are the right length and/or spring rate to use on the p38. Nobody really makes a bespoke spring set for the p38, bar one or two options.
Click to expand...
Ive actually more or less decided to keep the EAS and not go with the coils.

Following Wammers guide I have deduced that the EAS Compressor is very weak. New one due on Tuesday (Repair Kit would take around 10 days to get to me!) Once I've fitted it, hopefully I'll be good to go.

I'm fairly sure the bags are OK, my mechanic mentioned there were no leaks from them a couple of weeks ago and I've not used it much since. I have used RSW software to depressurize the system, so very little air in the system. Using current EAS Compressor, they just do not fill up at all. I'm hoping the new EAS Compressor will solve the issues.

I'll probably fit new bags at some point too
 
mousemat said:
Ive actually more or less decided to keep the EAS and not go with the coils.

Following Wammers guide I have deduced that the EAS Compressor is very weak. New one due on Tuesday (Repair Kit would take around 10 days to get to me!) Once I've fitted it, hopefully I'll be good to go.

I'm fairly sure the bags are OK, my mechanic mentioned there were no leaks from them a couple of weeks ago and I've not used it much since. I have used RSW software to depressurize the system, so very little air in the system. Using current EAS Compressor, they just do not fill up at all. I'm hoping the new EAS Compressor will solve the issues.

I'll probably fit new bags at some point too
Click to expand...
As I said before, if one bag has failed, the rest will not be far behind, they have a design life of 8 years 80K miles. Compressors fail due to feeding leaks which are usually from worn airbags.
If the bags are leaking, you new compressor will soon be toast.
 
Datatek said:
As I said before, if one bag has failed, the rest will not be far behind, they have a design life of 8 years 80K miles. Compressors fail due to feeding leaks which are usually from worn airbags.
If the bags are leaking, you new compressor will soon be toast.
Click to expand...
As mentioned earlier, until I get the new compressor on, I can't tell if the bags are leaking. As soon as the compressor is on, i'll do the soapy water test. Once I know the outcome, I'll be better informed and will order them if required.

I'll probably replace them anyway, but until i know for sure, I'll wait.
 
mousemat said:
As mentioned earlier, until I get the new compressor on, I can't tell if the bags are leaking. As soon as the compressor is on, i'll do the soapy water test. Once I know the outcome, I'll be better informed and will order them if required.

I'll probably replace them anyway, but until i know for sure, I'll wait.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that leaks open and close with height changes where the bags fold under.
 
Datatek said:
Keep in mind that leaks open and close with height changes where the bags fold under.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about having it on full height and seeing if it drops over the course or a day or two and then the other heights too if the soapy water test doesn't prove conclusive. Do you think that would be more appropriate a test?
 
mousemat said:
I was thinking about having it on full height and seeing if it drops over the course or a day or two and then the other heights too if the soapy water test doesn't prove conclusive. Do you think that would be more appropriate a test?
Click to expand...
Testing for drop at different heights is certainly a good idea. Unplug the EAS relay under the passenger seat just behind the trim, this will stop it self levelling and highlight if just one bag is leaking.
 
Do you have garage compressor ? If so make 6mm & 8mm adapter to standard airline fittings. That way you can (partially) fill the tank via the dryer top pipe.

also if you're ordered pump & repair kit, then refurb the old pump & keep as spare in boot.
 
pwood999 said:
Do you have garage compressor ? If so make 6mm & 8mm adapter to standard airline fittings. That way you can (partially) fill the tank via the dryer top pipe.

also if you're ordered pump & repair kit, then refurb the old pump & keep as spare in boot.
Click to expand...
I've not the luxury of a Garage Compressor sadly. Only the bog standard tyre inflator for the wheels. However, new pump will be here on Tuesday.

I have indeed ordered a repair kit so I will refurb the old and add it to my spares box.
 
Datatek mentioned that above so that's what I'll be doing

I guess I need to have the engine running for a while when I initially re install the new compressor so the tank fills up?
 
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