rear spring conversion or not?

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Nige4927

Nige4927

Active Member
Posts
132
Location
Manchester
Just want opinions on whether its worth doing... YET!!!

My 2001 D2 TD5 is well looked after (only had it 5 days) chassis is mint, it's still on air suspension which is working great, no leaks does what it should.. my thoughts are wait until the airbags start to give me issues if at all and THEN do the conversion or should i consider just doing it now and get it over with..

Nige

AyA7lci.jpg
 
If it ain't broke, why fix it?
Air bags are fairly cheap, but like the other four rubber bags filled with compressed air on the vehicle, they don't last for ever. Expect to change them every five years or so, and it's a pretty easy job to do too.
Looking at your pic, you seem to have some fairly aggressive tyres so you might be thinking of some green-laning or something. Changing from air to coils you would lose some pretty useful facilities.
You sound like you've been listening to too many of those blokes down the pub who know everything about everything!
 
It came with those tyres, previous owner did not go off roading but he was a caravan club sort and had these tyres so he didn't get stuck apparently. I'm not looking to go off road either so looking into getting a full set of alloys with road tyres so i can easy switch back when the bad weather returns..
 
Nige4927 said:
It came with those tyres, previous owner did not go off roading but he was a caravan club sort and had these tyres so he didn't get stuck apparently. I'm not looking to go off road either so looking into getting a full set of alloys with road tyres so i can easy switch back when the bad weather returns..
Click to expand...
First off, keep the air bags, they're cheap enough and it's a nice basic system to keep running and a little maintenance here and there will keep it trouble free.

Don't bother wasting money on separate ally rims with road tyres, you won't change them over for bad weather, human nature says you won't, leave them on and replace when worn out or they'll be perished and cracked by the time you do want to use them in about 15yrs time lol Just wear them out and replace in a few years time when they're done.
 
Nige4927 said:
It came with those tyres, previous owner did not go off roading but he was a caravan club sort and had these tyres so he didn't get stuck apparently. I'm not looking to go off road either so looking into getting a full set of alloys with road tyres so i can easy switch back when the bad weather returns..
Click to expand...

I can understand your thinking about a second set of wheels and tyres, I do exactly the same. I have a set of wheels shod with "ordinary" road tyres for use in the warmer months and then a nother set with cold climate road tyres for those cold, dark months.
While the tyres in your picture will probably be good for winter, a true cold climate tyre will carry the "Three Peaks and a Snowflake" logo.
 
it does look like someone has purchased those tyres fairly recently.

Maybe selling them on after you have got a set of tyres that will fit your needs would be better?

Cheers
 
Nige4927 said:
Just want opinions on whether its worth doing... YET!!!

My 2001 D2 TD5 is well looked after (only had it 5 days) chassis is mint, it's still on air suspension which is working great, no leaks does what it should.. my thoughts are wait until the airbags start to give me issues if at all and THEN do the conversion or should i consider just doing it now and get it over with..

Nige

AyA7lci.jpg
Click to expand...
The air suspension was a cost option. Aka an upgrade. Why would you want to get rid of it????
 
300bhp/ton said:
The air suspension was a cost option. Aka an upgrade. Why would you want to get rid of it????
Click to expand...

often wondered if the ins premiums dramatically change if it’s converted from factory fitted air suspension to springs

alas i’m the same would never dream of fitting coils , often wondered if it changes the stability of a D2 alot when converted to the coil system
 
gstuart said:
often wondered if the ins premiums dramatically change if it’s converted from factory fitted air suspension to springs

alas i’m the same would never dream of fitting coils , often wondered if it changes the stability of a D2 alot when converted to the coil system
Click to expand...
why would it,ive changed quite a few and theyve never wished they hadnt though mine still on air
 
EAS may be sometimes problematic, but its also a really nice ride, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I'm looking at mine and the bags are a bit "gnarly" but replacements are cheap enough it seems and I suspect that even a wanner-spanker like me could do the replacement job. ;)
 
gstuart said:
often wondered if the ins premiums dramatically change if it’s converted from factory fitted air suspension to springs

alas i’m the same would never dream of fitting coils , often wondered if it changes the stability of a D2 alot when converted to the coil system
Click to expand...

I don't think that a change to coils would adversely affect the stability of the D2. Stability is largely a function of the dampers (shock absorbers) and anti-roll bars whether they be active or static.

The springing would contribute more to the harshness or softness of the ride and if the right selection of springs is made, the ride height.

Air does have some advantages over coils in that it's possible to raise the ride height with just a press of a switch for off-road driving, it can also increase further automatically should it detect that the chassis has bottomed. If the owner has the correct remote control, it can be lowered to allow easier access to the rear load space or for easier hitching of a trailer. But the main advantage is that it is Self Levelling, irrespective of the load placed in the rear loadspace, within the operating constraints of the vehicle it will remain level on the road.
 
gstuart said:
often wondered if the ins premiums dramatically change if it’s converted from factory fitted air suspension to springs

alas i’m the same would never dream of fitting coils , often wondered if it changes the stability of a D2 alot when converted to the coil system
Click to expand...

It doesn't affect the stability at all even with a full load in the back & a canoe on the roof tried & tested mine last night :D
 
kevstar said:
It doesn't affect the stability at all even with a full load in the back & a canoe on the roof tried & tested mine last night :D
Click to expand...

is was out of curiosity if it did and as long as ur happy that’s the most important thing :D
 
DanClarke said:
EAS may be sometimes problematic, but its also a really nice ride, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I'm looking at mine and the bags are a bit "gnarly" but replacements are cheap enough it seems and I suspect that even a wanner-spanker like me could do the replacement job. ;)
Click to expand...

thks, am replacing my front air struts and never done them before , got the drivers fitted and next week starting on the passenger side, i just made sure i got all the air out first , axle stands under and found a jack under the bottom of the strut very handy , alas don’t know how they compare with removal between the models

indeed, giving a very nice comfortable ride and takes out a lot of the bumps
 
Last edited:
brian47 said:
I don't think that a change to coils would adversely affect the stability of the D2. Stability is largely a function of the dampers (shock absorbers) and anti-roll bars whether they be active or static.

The springing would contribute more to the harshness or softness of the ride and if the right selection of springs is made, the ride height.

Air does have some advantages over coils in that it's possible to raise the ride height with just a press of a switch for off-road driving, it can also increase further automatically should it detect that the chassis has bottomed. If the owner has the correct remote control, it can be lowered to allow easier access to the rear load space or for easier hitching of a trailer. But the main advantage is that it is Self Levelling, irrespective of the load placed in the rear loadspace, within the operating constraints of the vehicle it will remain level on the road.
Click to expand...

still learning a lot and was curious in how different systems interacted with the suspension etc and appreciate the reply,

many thanks :D
 
brian47 said:
I don't think that a change to coils would adversely affect the stability of the D2. Stability is largely a function of the dampers (shock absorbers) and anti-roll bars whether they be active or static.

The springing would contribute more to the harshness or softness of the ride and if the right selection of springs is made, the ride height.

Air does have some advantages over coils in that it's possible to raise the ride height with just a press of a switch for off-road driving, it can also increase further automatically should it detect that the chassis has bottomed. If the owner has the correct remote control, it can be lowered to allow easier access to the rear load space or for easier hitching of a trailer. But the main advantage is that it is Self Levelling, irrespective of the load placed in the rear loadspace, within the operating constraints of the vehicle it will remain level on the road.
Click to expand...

Was there ever an option for front EAS on the D2? I would imagine it would have truly rivalled the P38 with full EAS option and maybe excelled beyond with the ACE when new?
 
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