What are the pros and cons to Air Suspension applications on Land Rovers?

What are the pros and cons to Coil Spring Suspension applications on Land Rovers?

Specifcally with regards to the Discovery series 1 & series 2 models. What does everyone prefer? And why? Which last longer? Which improves gas mpg on the highway? Any other benifits of either application etc.

again thanks in advance.

 

Neither will have any effect on MPG.
And no if's and's or but's about it this is the answer you seek, you just need to decide which is best for you...
The air ride (SLS-self leveling suspension) will be a smoother ride on road and off, BUT it WILL fail at some point in time, 100% GUARANTEED TO FAIL.
The cost of repair could be free to very expensive and it can fail at anytime with no warning.
Coils springs will last forever, they will ride rougher on road and off, how much rougher?
I think not enough to say so.

You can switch from the SLS to springs, there are kits out there to convert to coil springs.
So I would suggest driving both types of truck, even if it is not a truck you are interested in buying so you can compare the ride of the two types of suspension.
Try and drive them on the exact same road so you can better compare.

The DI never came with SLS, only the Range Rover Classic, the DII and the P-38 Range Rover.

 

Have seen the SLS fail out on the trail - just the back end and the owner was left tearing up the larger than stock mud tires as it rubbed the body, etc. Can't recall if the body sustained any damage.

That doesn't happen with coils.

 

I agree with Spike. Air products are built to fail. I'd go with coils. My buddy has a disco II with Strutmasters coils. Not sure if Arnott would have them or not, but I've never had good luck with them, so I'd check out the strutmasters website. Also I'm not sure if they have coils for the disco I.

 

Save air suspension for '64 Impala hoppers with wire spoke wheels and bass-boat metal flake paint; it has no place on an off-road expedition vehicle.

 

BRAVO! BRAVO!!
Well said man!!

 

Hey there, totally new to the forums here, but I have questions about spring conversions on the Discos.

Specifically, does converting to springs effect any of the electrical systems that would have been linked up with the air suspension?

 

On the electrical side all you'll have to do is ignore the light that comes on on your dashboard that says your air suspension isn't working. If it bothers you that much you can take it to a dealer who will reflash your computer to make it think it's a coil spring truck

P-38 Range Rovers are a different story

 

Shiftonthefly1, thanks a lot, that’s a relief. I’m looking to buy my first Disco, and hope to either pick it up with a spring conversion already done, or install it later. Rather not deal with the eventual issues associated with the air suspension.

Do you have an idea of how much a dealer would charge for reflashing the computer?

 

I like just some classic coil springs. By the way, guys. Have you ever made some custom springs for your vehicles? I have found a company which specialises in it - sterling-springs Have you ever tried using such a service before?