Hi, Newbie needing P38 advice

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
benthomas

benthomas

Active Member
Posts
216
Location
Holmes Chapel Cheshire
Hi there all,
I've been looking for a economical and reliable mode of transport and just bought my first range rover, yes I do have a sense of humour!
Sorry to ask a question you are probably sick of answering but I need some quick advice.
It's suspension Drops evenly on all four corners overnight, I've checked the air bags with washing up liquid spray and can only find one air bag leaking. Can the whole system loose air through just one faulty bag?
Is it worth replacing air bags or would I be wiser to fit springs? Would like to get the job done this weekend.

Many thanks
 
Fixing the air suspension costs the same as a coil conversion. Once the air springs are fixed they will be good for 7 or 8 years. Replace the air springs.
 
The car will self level if you have a leak so will drop evenly overnight if you have a bad leak on one bag. Replace the airbags. Please don't consider replacing with coils...it was never designed to run on coils & IMO is dangerous to do so.
PS, how did economical & reliable pre requisite lead to a P38?
 
Totally agree with the above, the vehicle will settle automatically to keep its self level.

Replace all four airbags, if you're a diy'er the parts are about 250.00 quid from Island 4x4 (set of 4 oem airbags and retaining clips).

Also helps if you state your location in your profile (User CP>Your Profile>Edit Your Details>Location), that way if you have trouble, most members will offer to help out if you're near to them.
 
Last edited:
When switched off the car 'wakes up' every six hours or so and self-levels. So, if one corner drops the system lowers the rest to match it. If the car then lifts fairly quickly in the morning the system is working well and it would be a shame to remove the air suspension because of one leak from an item that should be considered a consummable anyway.

Replace the bags. Replace the two on the axle with the leak immediately but all four would be good. Then forget about them for another seven or eight years.
 
Hmmm. When I had a leaking rear air bag only that corner of the car would drop overnight. The rest stayed up?
 
benthomas said:
Hi there all,
I've been looking for a economical and reliable mode of transport and just bought my first range rover, yes I do have a sense of humour!
Sorry to ask a question you are probably sick of answering but I need some quick advice.
It's suspension Drops evenly on all four corners overnight, I've checked the air bags with washing up liquid spray and can only find one air bag leaking. Can the whole system loose air through just one faulty bag?
Is it worth replacing air bags or would I be wiser to fit springs? Would like to get the job done this weekend.

Many thanks
Click to expand...
Airbags have a design life of 7/8 years 80K miles, if one is leaking you can bet they all need to be replaced. Easy DIY job, my guide is in the "How To" section or I can Email it to you.
:welcome2:To the mad house:)
 
Replace the bags, fully agree with all above. The air suspension is excellent if maintained and well worth keeping on top of. She wasn't meant for coils and you can feel the difference and not in a good way.
 
Thanks for all of your quick and informative replies guys.
I will definately not change to springs on your advice and will get the air bags and replace myself.
How big a job is it? an hour a corner?
I'm a savvy spanner monkey but do i need any special tools?
 
No special tools required....maybe a large crow bar if the rears have corroded themselves in place buts thats it...

Datatek can supply a very good guid to Replacement and is dead simple for a spanner savvy.

He can also supply the EASSoftware and Diagnostics Lead too for aorunf £16 plus the Postage too!!

Good luck with it - the EAS system is simple and aslong as maintenance tasks are in check, will remain mostly fault free!
 
Thanks for all of your quick and informative replies guys.
I will definately not change to springs on your advice and will get the air bags and replace myself.
How big a job is it? an hour a corner?
I'm a savvy spanner monkey but do i need any special tools?
 
benthomas said:
I'm a savvy spanner monkey but do i need any special tools?
Click to expand...


Trolley Jack with 18 inches of lift approx (standard 3 ton type).

Axle stands 2 pairs make life easy (1 pair for chassis, 1 pair for axle).

Long flat blade screwdriver to loosen off /push back pipe collet.

Big/medium crowbar to remove airbag from rear chassis bracket (they get surface rusted in).

Lump hammer and chisel.

13mm (?) socket/spanner to remove/replace front airbags clip bolt.

Long long nose pliers for replacing rear airbag clips.

Washing up liquid or rubber grease to help refit the 6mm air hoses.

Kettle, coffee/tea, milk, sugar and plasters...

Datatek's lead and disc, most useful allows you to de-pressurise the system via a laptop/computer, but not absolutely totally necessary unless the eas system has a hiccup.

About an hour for the first corner, then gets faster, N/S/R being the worst I find...

Have I missed anything major out lads???

hth
 
Last edited:
zzr1200 said:
Trolley Jack with 18 inches of lift approx (standard 3 ton type).

Axle stands 2 pairs make life easy (1 pair for chassis, 1 pair for axle).

Long flat blade screwdriver to loosen off /push back pipe collet.

Big/medium crowbar to remove airbag from rear chassis bracket (they get surface rusted in).

Lump hammer and chisel.

13mm (?) socket/spanner to remove/replace front airbags clip bolt.

Long long nose pliers for replacing rear airbag clips.

Washing up liquid or rubber grease to help refit the 6mm air hoses.

Kettle, coffee/tea, milk, sugar and plasters...

Datatek's lead and disc, most useful allows you to de-pressurise the system via a laptop/computer, but not absolutely totally necessary unless the eas system has a hiccup.

About an hour for the first corner, then gets faster, N/S/R being the worst I find...

Have I missed anything major out lads???

hth
Click to expand...
To do it the easy way, 2 jacks are needed, one a bottle jack as supplied by LR:)
 
Bix said:
Fixing the air suspension costs the same as a coil conversion. Once the air springs are fixed they will be good for 7 or 8 years. Replace the air springs.
Click to expand...

This is nothing personal Bix but I do wish you and others would inform yourselves a little better before offering potentially costly and potentially dangerous advice.

There's been plenty of discussion in this forum that for those of you in the UK its a very real possibility that your MOT changes next year will invalidate the spring conversion and force those who've done it to convert back. It may or may not turn out that way but at least you should mention the possibility when suggesting surgery.

Secondly the P38 is designed specifically to work with air suspension. I remember reading it may fulfill an anti roll function when cornering and certainly an anti dive function when braking. Most importantly it maintains a consistently level platform for example when towing or with uneven loading and it raises or lowers the vehicle's centre of gravity according to the type of use its being put to. Keep in mind that before off the shelf kits became readily available coil conversions were only done by specialists who expected to carry very heavy loads or were going on very extreme terrain for which they (A) had expert drivers and (B) fully expected to roll-over at some point in time anyway!

Perhaps equally importantly (to me), is the ride quality. For a 19-20 year old design the EAS has been superceded in technology but not matched in ride quality. If you set up and maintain the suspension as intended (In my case 16" tyres, rubber and not poly suspension bushes, OEM shocks and springs) that firm yet cosseting ride is just amazing and signature RR. Frankly its what sold the car to me, otherwise I'd be driving a Pajero today and have saved thousands on repairs! :p
 
Last edited:
Isn't that what Bix was suggesting? That maintaining the EAS system is no more expensive than a coil conversion :confused:
 
rasheed said:
This is nothing personal Bix but I do wish you and others would inform yourselves a little better before offering potentially costly and potentially dangerous advice.

There's been plenty of discussion in this forum that for those of you in the UK its a very real possibility that your MOT changes next year will invalidate the spring conversion and force those who've done it to convert back. It may or may not turn out that way but at least you should mention the possibility when suggesting surgery.

Secondly the P38 is designed specifically to work with air suspension. I remember reading it may fulfill an anti roll function when cornering and certainly an anti dive function when braking. Most importantly it maintains a consistently level platform for example when towing or with uneven loading and it raises or lowers the vehicle's centre of gravity according to the type of use its being put to. Keep in mind that before off the shelf kits became readily available coil conversions were only done by specialists who expected to carry very heavy loads or were going on very extreme terrain for which they (A) had expert drivers and (B) fully expected to roll-over at some point in time anyway!

Perhaps equally importantly (to me), is the ride quality. For a 19-20 year old design the EAS has been superceded in technology but not matched in ride quality. If you set up and maintain the suspension as intended (In my case 16" tyres, rubber and not poly suspension bushes, OEM shocks and springs) that firm yet cosseting ride is just amazing and signature RR. Frankly its what sold the car to me, otherwise I'd be driving a Pajero today and have saved thousands on repairs! :p
Click to expand...
Think you missread Bix's comment, he said fix the airsprings as I read it:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
P38 Thor 2002 airbag blues
Replies
15
Views
1K
tomcat59alan
T
E
advice suspension drops only on drivers side back and front
Replies
6
Views
650
emcm0034
E
R
complete newbie need advice please
Replies
4
Views
563
TigerHunter
TigerHunter
B
Another Newbie that needs advice.
Replies
7
Views
1K
Bigwheels
B
jackstringer
  • Sticky
Disco II Air suspension – the definitive guide!
Replies
19
Views
34K
neilarmo
neilarmo
Back
Top