This is not true. The LR3, with the independent setup, doesn't have solid axles with in-line diffs. EVERYTHING moves up with the EAS except of course for the wheels themselves.

 

THANK YOU! Exactly - and one of the reasons that these things (even stock) are SO much more capable than many other vehicles out there. It cracks me up when I pull my stock LR3 next to jeepers who drop probably $5k on tires and suspension and I still have a similar center clearance in offroad mode lol.


As far as the OP is concerned, PERSONALLY I believe these things were built around the air suspension system - it really is the core of their capabilities, drivability, comfort, performance, and one aspect which makes them truly unique in this age/market/pricepoint.

I just got a 2016 Kia rental the other day to visit my parents for Thanksgiving, and while I know this thing was just an economy car - it had 3k miles on it and the ride quality was HORRIBLE! That's when I realized just how spoiled I was by the EAS. If you read a lot of the original LR3 reviews from 05/06, and even the LR4 ones, you'll see unanimous praise at its ability to completely absorb most road conditions.

Of course it also gives you an ideal vertical center of gravity for everyday driving/highway use while still giving you the ability to clear obstables / ford crossings, lets you lift the thing with reprogram/jhonson rods, etc. You can lower it so the grandparents can get in/out, etc.

The biggest thing for me is the auto-leveling for trailer loads, or even payload and rear seat passengers. This impacts EVERYTHING - you retain complete suspension travel once it re-levels itself, your headlights are pointing normal/level (instead of up at the sky) and the vehicle is MUCH more stable, especially on bridge expansion joints and crappy roads. I've towed everything, up to near 7000lbs and 24' boats and this (and RRS) were on rails, completely anchored to the road.

A lot of this is the suspension geometry and the frame design but it's still a huge part of what defines the LR3. Plus it's part of terrain response - sure it's a gimmick but it's kinda cool and nice to retain that functionality.

If you feel the need to rip out the EAS on these things, either due to cost or lack of motivation to diagnose one of more issues with the system, you almost might be better off getting a different vehicle, as I just feel it totally changes what makes the LR3 an LR3.

Sure, if you don't NEED any of those capabilities I mentioned, and just want to commute/drive around town, then just throw in springs.. but if you don't NEED those capabilities, why are you driving around an overly complex SUV that gets 14mpg on premium gas? lol

Besides FWIW most of the parts can be found for FAR less than the entire EAS suspension kits/components, and you eliminate all the delete headaches with modules/components being angry with you etc.

 

If I decide to convert to springs/shocks from AB, and hence lose the function of selecting modes, will my factory rear locking diff still activate? I believe it is activated when the car is put in rockcrawl mode. If I lose the ability to select rockcrawl mode, will my differential still "lock?" Anyone install the rocky-road OME kit?

 

First off your locker works in other modes, too.

Secondly, I'm not sure the coil-conversion effects on Terrain Response but I wouldn't think it would impact that. Be that as it may, it would be foolish to convert to coils, that's the main thesis of this tread.

Don't do it.

 

Sorry, I simply meant that height adjustments plus text cues on the dash info display are integrated with the different modes of terrain response. "Recommend suspension off-road height" or whatever it says. I don't even remember, I think it does it automatically too?

 

Like the others I would strongly advise against doing this. IF you have this overwhelming urge to do so I would say you need to find a conversion kit that INCLUDES a magic-box solution (like the AB kit) to fool the terrain response into normal operation, that way you still get as much of the traction control, throttle input adjustments, etc that the LR computer gives for the different off road modes. If someone went to coils WITHOUT such a box, at least on a NAS truck (not the TDV6 manual with coils, which I hear do fine), it would be like kneecapping a racehorse and having it pull a donkey cart the rest of its life, blind. Would probably get the job done but it aint a racehorse no more.