Member Since: 01 Nov 2016
Location: None
Posts: 4450
In my opinion yes.
I've had a Discovery TD5 on air
I've had a P38 on air and now a 3 on air
one of the reasons being the ride, have driven both the TD5 and P38 on springs and was unimpressed, no reason to believe the 3 would be any different.
TD5 (7 seater) had the air on the rear due to the increased weight capacity of 7 bodies, presume the 3 is the same. Unsure if the 3 came with the option of springs from the factory. If not wonder as Gary says how it might affect your insurance as it would be seen as a modification
24th Nov 2017 6:53 pm
Samson66
Member Since: 17 Sep 2016
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 99
John P wrote:
Robbie wrote:
Samson66 wrote:
For serious off road trips conventional is better...
Why is a dumb spring better for off-road use when compared to an actively controlled system?
I've often thought about converting to springs. I've been let down quite a few times with the air suspension. I been in some precarious positions, only to get the dreaded bong, and the car goes down onto the bump stops. Thank goodness I have D44 underbody protection, as the car gently comes to rest on the underbody protection. Also having the car try and self level just at the point you don't want it to.
I rest my caseiiD Bluetooth Diagnostic Tool
Cambs GLASS Rep
!970 Petrol 109 "Samson"
1972 Diesel 88 No top half body "rat landy"
1988 110 V8 Defender
1995 300TDI Discovery Auto
1997 Camel Trophy 110 Support Vehicle P232KAC
2001 Freelander GS V6
24th Nov 2017 6:53 pm
Compusmentis
Member Since: 18 Feb 2016
Location: Effingham
Posts: 237
Coil spring versions were made by Land Rover weren't they..? I think the commercials and some base spec ones...
So if you use LR parts, they will have been through the type approval process.
But you may have to be careful for 7 seat versions, or xenon lights - law requires self levelling suspension (or self-levelling light units) for those.
I'd rather keep the air if I can, but as the older D3's become worth less and less, the cost of keeping the sir suspension system working may get prohibitive. I'm sure air suspension is better, but that doesn't mean coils are a mistake.New gearbox & TC, 3 x front wheel bearings, belts changed, new oil pump, new battery, new rear prop, new front prop, new front diff, front arb refurbed, front cv boot kit, egr blank and BAS software patch, full rear suspension / drivelive rebuild, new front arms, LED trailer light fix, split charge.
Never had a 107, 90 or 127, but have had most of the rest!
24th Nov 2017 6:54 pm
G_Cam
Member Since: 12 Aug 2010
Location: Fife
Posts: 2048
I thought the 5 seat D3s that first came out DID have coils as a (cheaper cost) option..
So you could argue air suspension was an option... 1 TR6 Rusting away quietly
1 FARR UTV SOLD
1 International Harvester SOLD
7 x D3 all SOLD
2 x D4 both SOLD
1 x Mrs D4 'Panther' SOLD
1 x Outlander van SOLD
1 continual stream of car parts and me living in the garage...
24th Nov 2017 6:55 pm
Samson66
Member Since: 17 Sep 2016
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 99
Sea Raider wrote:
In my opinion yes.
I've had a Discovery TD5 on air
I've had a P38 on air and now a 3 on air
one of the reasons being the ride, have driven both the TD5 and P38 on springs and was unimpressed, no reason to believe the 3 would be any different.
TD5 (7 seater) had the air on the rear due to the increased weight capacity of 7 bodies, presume the 3 is the same. Unsure if the 3 came with the option of springs from the factory. If not wonder as Gary says how it might affect your insurance as it would be seen as a modification
A totally different suspension All above on rigid axles, D3 independent !! You cannot possibly compareiiD Bluetooth Diagnostic Tool
Cambs GLASS Rep
!970 Petrol 109 "Samson"
1972 Diesel 88 No top half body "rat landy"
1988 110 V8 Defender
1995 300TDI Discovery Auto
1997 Camel Trophy 110 Support Vehicle P232KAC
2001 Freelander GS V6
24th Nov 2017 6:58 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Coils can only move depending on apparent weight. If you don't want your weight on a given wheel to change your ground clearance then springs are not for you.
I remember trying to get up a ridiculous but smooth incline - those on air made it whilst those on coils tried to rip-out their wheel-arch liners.
I've never towed a caravan so cannot comment on that.Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 17 Sep 2016
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 99
G_Cam wrote:
I thought the 5 seat D3s that first came out DID have coils as a (cheaper cost) option..
So you could argue air suspension was an option...
The standard model does indeed.
Mine now has the ability to have full function of the terrain control too iiD Bluetooth Diagnostic Tool
Cambs GLASS Rep
!970 Petrol 109 "Samson"
1972 Diesel 88 No top half body "rat landy"
1988 110 V8 Defender
1995 300TDI Discovery Auto
1997 Camel Trophy 110 Support Vehicle P232KAC
2001 Freelander GS V6
24th Nov 2017 6:59 pm
garrycol
Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1115
gstuart wrote:
isn’t the D3 and D4 better on air suspension as surely it would have been designed with springs in the beginning
The D3 did have coils in the base models as a OEM fit.
I think the OP is trying to reassure himself he has made a good decision with his comments on how better the coils are over air - utter nonsense. Air is superior in all circumstances over coils especially when offroad. Yes I have experience with both.
Just wrecked a good vehicle. Buy a Crapota.
25th Nov 2017 1:14 am
G_Cam
Member Since: 12 Aug 2010
Location: Fife
Posts: 2048
Superior in all ways.. except on the wallet when you need new airbags or a new compressor
Back in the bad winter of 2010 I never once got stuck in my 200tdi 110csw... i did in the D3 despite air suspension and electronic wizardry..
However for elbow room and a smooth ride the D3 was the winner..1 TR6 Rusting away quietly
1 FARR UTV SOLD
1 International Harvester SOLD
7 x D3 all SOLD
2 x D4 both SOLD
1 x Mrs D4 'Panther' SOLD
1 x Outlander van SOLD
1 continual stream of car parts and me living in the garage...
25th Nov 2017 1:36 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13657
garrycol wrote:
gstuart wrote:
isn’t the D3 and D4 better on air suspension as surely it would have been designed with springs in the beginning
The D3 did have coils in the base models as a OEM fit.
I think the OP is trying to reassure himself he has made a good decision with his comments on how better the coils are over air - utter nonsense. Air is superior in all circumstances over coils especially when offroad. Yes I have experience with both.
Just wrecked a good vehicle. Buy a Crapota.
hi
agreed and must admit i can’t get over how smooth the D3 is on air suspension
also thinking how will the stability control work correctly on coils , cornering on coils surely has to be worse than air
whilst off road doesn’t the air suspension also try and keep the landy level as much as possible, surely air has to be better in all situations due to its superior control, as with a coil lift it’s bound to make it more unstable at motorway speeds
25th Nov 2017 3:55 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13657
Robbie wrote:
Coils can only move depending on apparent weight. If you don't want your weight on a given wheel to change your ground clearance then springs are not for you.
I remember trying to get up a ridiculous but smooth incline - those on air made it whilst those on coils tried to rip-out their wheel-arch liners.
I've never towed a caravan so cannot comment on that.
thks robbie
you’ve just answered my question ref the coils over air in off road situations , ie how the cross link valves work
Last edited by gstuart on 25th Nov 2017 4:27 am. Edited 1 time in total
25th Nov 2017 4:03 am
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13657
Sea Raider wrote:
In my opinion yes.
I've had a Discovery TD5 on air
I've had a P38 on air and now a 3 on air
one of the reasons being the ride, have driven both the TD5 and P38 on springs and was unimpressed, no reason to believe the 3 would be any different.
TD5 (7 seater) had the air on the rear due to the increased weight capacity of 7 bodies, presume the 3 is the same. Unsure if the 3 came with the option of springs from the factory. If not wonder as Gary says how it might affect your insurance as it would be seen as a modification
thks
does me u wonder what there opinions would be , but with coils surely it’s got to react differently with stability , cornering , driving at motorway speeds and especially under emergency braking situations
wonder how long the bushes last coils vs air
25th Nov 2017 4:12 am
KostasA
Member Since: 23 Aug 2015
Location: nairobi
Posts: 286
Samson66 wrote:
Old Man Emu 2" lift Wrex Racing Oxfordshire D3DAN on here tell him I passed you onto him he will gladly quote.
Thanks mate.
25th Nov 2017 4:59 am
Samson66
Member Since: 17 Sep 2016
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 99
garrycol wrote:
gstuart wrote:
isn’t the D3 and D4 better on air suspension as surely it would have been designed with springs in the beginning
The D3 did have coils in the base models as a OEM fit.
I think the OP is trying to reassure himself he has made a good decision with his comments on how better the coils are over air - utter nonsense. Air is superior in all circumstances over coils especially when offroad. Yes I have experience with both.
Just wrecked a good vehicle. Buy a Crapota.
So why are ALL serious off road land rover based vehicles on coil springs !!!!iiD Bluetooth Diagnostic Tool
Cambs GLASS Rep
!970 Petrol 109 "Samson"
1972 Diesel 88 No top half body "rat landy"
1988 110 V8 Defender
1995 300TDI Discovery Auto
1997 Camel Trophy 110 Support Vehicle P232KAC
2001 Freelander GS V6
2nd Dec 2017 1:29 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72788
ISTR that's what peeps said re leaf springs when coil springs first came in.
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