I love my Range Rover but… (coil springs)

I recently bought a beautiful 1997 diesel P38 for only 1150 euros. I knew it had the coil conversion on it already and had been on the look out for one of these as I had the belief that the air suspension was troublesome and expensive to fix. (Might be wrong on that!!) I got the thing home and went about modifying/fitting an old stainless steel roof rack to go on top and fitted out the boot to take my construction tools. I reckoned my "rig" was the bomb and headed of to my first job in it. Boy was the road handling ****ty and it wallowed left and right on the tight Irish boreens (tiny roads) and made a nice bang when the rear bottomed out on some of the bigger road dips. Parked up, the Rangey stands average high and quite evenly that doesn't suggest that it will bottom out. I am guessing that the addition of the heavy roof rack and my tools has caused this? So, I am now faced with the problem of remedying this unfortunate development. I know there are plenty of people here advocating the ripping out of said springs and reverting back to the air system. It's just that I paid so little for the thing and am attempting to get it handling right (just eliminate the bottoming and have the headlights pointing the same level) for the minimum spend. I am hoping to solve this with a new set of HD springs and shocks will set me back less the £100. The springs on it right now are blue in color, So, can anyone here recommend a brand, duty, colour to replace these?
Thanks Richard

Of course on air the suspension would automatically adjust to take the extra weight. Coils don't as you have discovered.

I had originally bought the thing to ship to Africa and go overland there - hence the coil springs - having the airbags fail on African corrugations would have been a big no-no. As it turned out, I lost the key a couple of days after buying it and had to wait 3 weeks for a new key from germany to arrive. So I shipped my trusty(rusty) 1993 Classic to Africa instead and it did me proud!

so..is this post relevent any more??

if it is....?there are springs and there are springs...you wont get a good set for £100..

if you must keep coils then spend more...who ever you buy them off MUST ask you load, use ride height..if they do not go elsewhere..(or you will be no better off!!)

also consider rear spring helpers..cant think of the name, but i have on my rrc rears..you fit in the coils and pump them up to take rear load in to consideration..
can be auto if you wish..matt savage (is that his name???does the 5 spoke wheels and compressors etc) sells them..made in usa..red in colour..

wouldnt have thought p38 was really suitable for africa expo though....too complicated for bush mechanic ??..also its not japanese..lol

Does it still have the air compressor in the engine bay? If they left it in then maybe worth having a look to see if all the pipe work is still there. For the price of a very good set of shocks you could get the arnott air bags. When it works correctly, it's the most sublime and confy ride I have ever had.

mick

P38Penguin said:

Does it still have the air compressor in the engine bay? If they left it in then maybe worth having a look to see if all the pipe work is still there. For the price of a very good set of shocks you could get the arnott air bags. When it works correctly, it's the most sublime and confy ride I have ever had.

mick

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+1

Gen 3, oem shocks and refresh the suspension bushes.

P38Penguin said:

Does it still have the air compressor in the engine bay? If they left it in then maybe worth having a look to see if all the pipe work is still there. For the price of a very good set of shocks you could get the arnott air bags. When it works correctly, it's the most sublime and confy ride I have ever had.

mick

Click to expand...

I think the compressor is still there. There is a black plastic box on the right side of the engine bay. I presume the compressor is in this. I have to admitt, I was very dissapointed in the ride and handling even compared to my old RRC which I do miss. Assuming the compressor is intact, is it an easy job to revert to the air? How much should I budget for it assuming I can do it myself.
Thanks R

If the EAS kist is still in place it will be cheaper to go with a set of Dunlop airsprings than frig around with coils and end up with a still unsatisfactory ride handling compromise.

zen said:

there are springs and there are springs...you wont get a good set for £100..

if you must keep coils then spend more...who ever you buy them off MUST ask you load, use ride height..if they do not go elsewhere..(or you will be no better off!!)

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I guess that answers my question. I was hoping someone had acheived a cheap fix. I am just reluctant to get stuck into the air system as it was ripped out for a reason and knowing my luck it will be problematic to get working.
Thanks R

Richardq said:

Thanks for the reply. I guess that answers my question. I was hoping someone had acheived a cheap fix. I am just reluctant to get stuck into the air system as it was ripped out for a reason and knowing my luck it will be problematic to get working.
Thanks R

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The EAS is dead simple, it gets ripped out as you put it because garages do not understand it and can't be bothered to learn, an owner using a garage to fix it cannot afford to keep throwing money at it. If you DIY it's cheap and simple to maintain.

Datatek said:

If the EAS kist is still in place it will be cheaper to go with a set of Dunlop airsprings than frig around with coils and end up with a still unsatisfactory ride handling compromise.

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Ok, you've convinced me to start reading up on the air system.

I've been through this process.

Check:

Height sensors
Compressor, valve block, driver pack
ecu under front lh seat.

That's a start.

SpiggyTopes said:

I've been through this process.

Check:

Height sensors
Compressor, valve block, driver pack
ecu under front lh seat.

That's a start.

Click to expand...

Thanks, will let you know how I get on. R

Happy to help if you decide to go ahead ...

The air compressor should be inside the black box on the right hand side of the engine. Check the fuses, hopefully they've just taken them out. IIRC, the height sensors are like square black boxes on all corners (someone will correct me if I'm wrong).

Mick