Disco 2 coil conversion

SLS has given up and Disco is on its bump stops at the rear. Dealer thinks it is "probably" the valve block (tested and SLABS ECU showing no faults). Famous Four will do me a new valve block for GBP132, and apparently it's an easy fit. On the other hand, I can get a coil spring conversion kit from several places for GBP70-100, although it seems that I will need to visit someone with the right kit to fool the ECU afterwards.

Watcher think, chaps? Bear in mind I like the SLS and am a big fan - when it works. :-(

Reply to
Rich B
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Personally wouldn't move it away from stock spec. I've been looking to buy a Td5 Disco and pretty much top of the list was the air suspension - if someone had removed it and replaced with coils I wouldn't even bother looking at it. Although conversely I suppose there are those who would say the exact opposite!

At the end of the day it's dependent on whether you want to continue maintain a system that will never be as reliable as springs - tho having just spent 730 euros fixing the front suspension on my Espace (including a broken spring!) I may disagree that 'spring' suspension is cheap to maintain if something goes wrong compared to air! Normally the air suspension needs nothing more than a new set of air springs - you say you like the SLS, in my opinion, spend the cash fixing it. You'd be unlucky to have much more go wrong other than worn air springs.

Matt

Reply to
Matthew Maddock

Well, I'm unlucky then, because the springs are fine! It's the rest of the system that's giving the problem.

Reply to
Rich B

Would you have problems with insurance if you changed to springs? It must be a fairly significant modification.

Julian.

Reply to
Julian

Maybe I should have worded that better!! I meant that "**once you've fixed it**, you'd be unlucky........"!! What I was trying to say was that once you've got this issue sorted you're not likely to keep having to spend lots on it to keep it going.

Matt

Reply to
Matthew Maddock

Aye, fair point.

Reply to
Rich B

I would certainly check with them before doing anything.

Reply to
Rich B

Wise move - if it is a 7-seater then it was "type-approved" with air, not coils. Fitting coils to a 7-seater invalidates the vehicle's type-approval for UK use. Badger.

Reply to
Badger

Insurance companies may have a view on the modification but 'type approval' as such is irrelevant once the vehicle is sold. It's a way for the manufacturer to get acknowledgement of safety and other regulatory compliance in bulk and avoid having to certify each vehicle individually before it is placed on the market.

Individual insurers may insist that modification away from the specification which was approved for type makes it unacceptable to them but that is very different from being 'illegal etc.' to modify your vehicle.

It may be true that the the air-sprung version of the RHD 7 seater (i.e. what might be termed the UK spec.) was the only version which LandRover put forward for type approval as they did not intend to sell any other in Europe but once sold ... it's yours to do with as you wish subject to keeping in line with Constuction and Use Regulations etc. and, of course, your insurer's agreement. You do not have to maintain the type-approved specification.

Reply to
Dougal

Indeed - or all lifted vehicles would be illegal too.

Richard

Reply to
beamendsltd

It seems that today the insurance companies will look for the slightest excuse to refuse to pay a claim. If they haven't been informed of a modification then the insurance will be invalid leading to the driver potentially being in very hot water. Anything like wider tyres, 'competition' brake pads, engine mods, winches etc etc must be declared to and approved by the ins. co.

I'd think that written acceptance of the mods should be held by the policy holder, otherwise the ins. co. will just lie like a cheap clock if a claim is made.

Julian.

Reply to
Julian

And some will even pick up on competition numbers that have not been crossed-out/removed.

Richard

Reply to
beamendsltd

That's just one step away from refusing to pay out on a dirty vehicle!

Reply to
Dougal

type-approval

Nowhere did I say it was illegal.

What I meant, was if you modify it away from the condition in which it passed type-approval, it is now a modified vehicle in the eyes of the law and the insurers. There is a train of thought that suggests that if the vehicle is not in a state which passed type-approval (mechanically, at least) then it ought to be SVA tested..... I'm not sure that I'd agree with going that far however, but at the very least your insurers need to know and ok the fact. Badger.

Reply to
Badger

Which is why I said "I would certainly check with them before doing anything."

I think it will probably go back to the dealer for a "proper" fix, as

a) I am not certain it is the valve block, so GBP150 might be wasted if I'm wrong b) I might save GBP50 or so by converting to coils, but I would have to take it to them to inform the ECU of the change, so I wouldn't be saving much, plus the hassle with the insco possibly refusing cover and having to start the round of quotations all over again, and c) The weather is getting better and I would rather be out on the bike than lying under a Land Rover yet again.

Nige will understand (c).

Reply to
Rich B

Rich B uttered summat worrerz funny about:

Fix it Standard Richard. You know you want too.

Mods are for toys in my eyes. Think about the caravan , headlight alignment etc etc etc.

Lee

Reply to
Lee_D

On or around Fri, 9 Mar 2007 16:56:52 -0000, "Badger" enlightened us thusly:

I looked at this recently in respect of the project (1 step nearer, got a suitable transit body today, 170 quid) - back to plan A, using unmodified (which means bolting rather than welding bodywork brackets, or so I read it)

110 chassis means, according to my reading of it, that I don't need SVA.

the technically nicer solution of modifying the transit monocoque to allow fitment of LR drivetrain and suspension would land me squarely in SVA territory, as they're quite clear about original unmodified chassis or monocoque.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

And the prize for the correct answer goes to Professor Davies!

Dropped it in at the dealer's on Saturday after they'd closed. They fixed it yesterday and dropped it back today (Di is recovering from an operation and can't drive). Good thing I listened to the group and not my own irritation and bad temper. It was a faulty height sensor at the N/S/R. Total cost, including labour, under 65 squid. If I'd listened to my own instincts, I would have sprung 150 for the valve block and spend a precious weekend day fitting it, and it would still have been wrong. To be fair to myself, they did tell me they were 99% certain it was the valve block when I last took it in, mind.

Thanks Lee and Matthew for keeping me on the straight and narrow. Breathe again.

Cheers guys.

Reply to
Rich B

Excellent - glad it was sorted easily, and cheaply too - always a bonus!

I wonder why the ECU wasn't reporting a height sensor problem. On the P38 that's probably one of the most commonly recorded problems in the ECU (happened twice on mine!) Maybe they changed it on the D2 to stop it happening too often?!!

Matt

Reply to
Matthew Maddock

Yep, a few things don't quite add up. They told me the SLABS ECU reported no faults last time, but this time it had. So I'm to believe that the height sensor just happened to fail during the two weeks it was back with me, while at the same time the valve block had repaired itself? No, I reckon they've been doing a bit of guesswork and stumbled over the answer. Never mind, on a Land Rover, a dealer repair under a hundred quid is a result, no matter how it happens.

Reply to
Rich B

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