roverandom
Adventurer
I've been prompted to start a thread concerning the EAS to Coil spring conversion I completed approx a year ago. This is to be an honest, unbiased report of what it is like to live without the EAS long term on my own Land Rover.
The vehicle concerned is a 2006 North American spec LR3 HSE currently showing over 270,000km (yep, I'm Canadian) and driven on dirt roads every day as well as seeing some light off roading with extensive HWY and family use, year round. It does have a few other mods such as aftermarket 18" wheels and TOYO OCAT tyres, an ARB winch bumper with a 9K Warn winch, LR roof rack and will have LS rock sliders as soon as I can find the time to fit them but lets not get too much into that other stuff.
So first of all lets get the obvious question out of the way.
Q, Why on earth would I want to replace such a major feature as the EAS with old fashioned coil springs?
A, Short answer, it was worn out and broken. It goes a little deeper than that but that is the gist of it.
Q, So why not fix it?
A, I did, and have repaired previous faults but the time had come where a major overhaul of system was in order to maintain any semblance of reliability. The value of my vehicle is now probably quite low but the cost of repair is the same as it was when it was brand new. The nearest Dealer or Land Rover specialist with the needed computer software for calibrations and such is a 660KM round trip away.
But more than that, although I had been drinking Land Rovers "Kool Aid" about how fantastic the modern EAS was, deep down I know if I had had the option of buying a bare bones factory no EAS model in the first place I probably would have done so.
Q, So how did I do it?
A, I used the Atlantic British kit. http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/L319SRK-OME.cfm
Q, Was it hard to install?
A, Nope. It's a little tight at the front but it's all pretty straight forward and you could do it on your driveway as long as you have a decent tool box. Instructions are good too. Here is a write up I did at the time. http://www.landroversonly.com/forums/f41/how-i-converted-my-lr3-air-coil-suspension-68194/
Q, So how do you like it?
A, This is the big question I want to address in this thread. As you may or may not of read in the install thread I had problems with the first kit being too low. So I had a discussion with AB tech guy and he had the OME +2" sent out to me. I had been initially concerned with ride quality as I had the impression from the UK forum that the EAS was far superior to coils. I can tell you with absolute confidence that the ride is as good, if not better than with EAS on the hwy and a big improvement off road over the EAS in "off road" mode. It still handles very well for a heavy SUV, it carried big loads with no issues, it off roads as well as it ever did and all the functions of the TC is retained (except height control obviously).
Q, What maintenance has been done?
A, None. None at all. It's working just fine. There was one incident that took me back to the specialist and that was to do with the transfer case module. As many have found out LR decided to put one of the most important control modules in a $2 leaky plastic box right under the windscreen to ensure water contamination? Anyway, it failed. The box is cheap (ish),easy to diagnose and easy to get at behind the battery. It does however need to be synced to the vehicle requiring the factory testbook or faultmate type scan tool so I had to take it to the specialist for that. Once this had been done the EAS factory parameters were re-enabled confusing the tech`s working on the car. I reset the system using the AB kit install guide and all was as it had been.
Q, Would you do it again or recommend it to another?
A, Yes, but only if there was doubt or existing problems with an EAS system on an older LR3/4. As time passes I think we will see more of this.
That`s about it. If you have any questions fire away.
The vehicle concerned is a 2006 North American spec LR3 HSE currently showing over 270,000km (yep, I'm Canadian) and driven on dirt roads every day as well as seeing some light off roading with extensive HWY and family use, year round. It does have a few other mods such as aftermarket 18" wheels and TOYO OCAT tyres, an ARB winch bumper with a 9K Warn winch, LR roof rack and will have LS rock sliders as soon as I can find the time to fit them but lets not get too much into that other stuff.
So first of all lets get the obvious question out of the way.
Q, Why on earth would I want to replace such a major feature as the EAS with old fashioned coil springs?
A, Short answer, it was worn out and broken. It goes a little deeper than that but that is the gist of it.
Q, So why not fix it?
A, I did, and have repaired previous faults but the time had come where a major overhaul of system was in order to maintain any semblance of reliability. The value of my vehicle is now probably quite low but the cost of repair is the same as it was when it was brand new. The nearest Dealer or Land Rover specialist with the needed computer software for calibrations and such is a 660KM round trip away.
But more than that, although I had been drinking Land Rovers "Kool Aid" about how fantastic the modern EAS was, deep down I know if I had had the option of buying a bare bones factory no EAS model in the first place I probably would have done so.
Q, So how did I do it?
A, I used the Atlantic British kit. http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/L319SRK-OME.cfm
Q, Was it hard to install?
A, Nope. It's a little tight at the front but it's all pretty straight forward and you could do it on your driveway as long as you have a decent tool box. Instructions are good too. Here is a write up I did at the time. http://www.landroversonly.com/forums/f41/how-i-converted-my-lr3-air-coil-suspension-68194/
Q, So how do you like it?
A, This is the big question I want to address in this thread. As you may or may not of read in the install thread I had problems with the first kit being too low. So I had a discussion with AB tech guy and he had the OME +2" sent out to me. I had been initially concerned with ride quality as I had the impression from the UK forum that the EAS was far superior to coils. I can tell you with absolute confidence that the ride is as good, if not better than with EAS on the hwy and a big improvement off road over the EAS in "off road" mode. It still handles very well for a heavy SUV, it carried big loads with no issues, it off roads as well as it ever did and all the functions of the TC is retained (except height control obviously).
Q, What maintenance has been done?
A, None. None at all. It's working just fine. There was one incident that took me back to the specialist and that was to do with the transfer case module. As many have found out LR decided to put one of the most important control modules in a $2 leaky plastic box right under the windscreen to ensure water contamination? Anyway, it failed. The box is cheap (ish),easy to diagnose and easy to get at behind the battery. It does however need to be synced to the vehicle requiring the factory testbook or faultmate type scan tool so I had to take it to the specialist for that. Once this had been done the EAS factory parameters were re-enabled confusing the tech`s working on the car. I reset the system using the AB kit install guide and all was as it had been.
Q, Would you do it again or recommend it to another?
A, Yes, but only if there was doubt or existing problems with an EAS system on an older LR3/4. As time passes I think we will see more of this.
That`s about it. If you have any questions fire away.
. I agree that you are one of the first of many who will end up doing this as these things age. One day, coil conversions will become standard on the lr3 as they have on RR classics. I'm glad the one system is working out for you.
