I'm new to this forum but, I've read loads of past discussion about air to spring conversion for a P38. At the risk of attracting the wrath of purists, I have suffered five EAS failures in only three years and 10K road miles. I'm not an 'off-roader' and EAS has become very weary and expensive. My P38 is currently on its bump stops (again) and can't be used until it's fixed (again) for ££££. It already has had all the air bags replaced but despite this R&M, it's failed again. At my wits end, I'm seriously investigating air to spring conversion because my other cars have been various Volvo estates and they never dropped their spring - damper suspension, not once in thirty years of ownership and over 350K miles between them. So EAS has got to go before I really lose patience and the dump the entire car, which is a Yr2000, 4.6L. Can anyone advise the best kit to buy for a road going, standard height conversion. I heard the Britpart and similar UK kits are sourced from the far east. Is there any merit importing a British Atlantic or Strutmaster from the States or is a UK kit, e.g., Terrafirma OK ??. Given a choice between reliability and comfort, reliability is always my first choice. Thanks
Sadly the EAS can be a pita. And while a few claim they can be reliable, they are by far the very small minority....
Anything you do to fix them, they can still go wrong. In some ways the suspension is not that complex, but if you need to sort lots of bits, it is expensive.
As for coils, it really isn't such a bad thing. Most cars, even plenty of Land Rovers run coils even today. The only thing you really loose is the ability to change the ride height for access or if off road for extra clearance. The EAS on the p38 is pretty flawed conceptually anyway, as it is rock hard in the extended off road modes and super soft and saggy in the low down fast modes. 100% the wrong way round for both driving disciplines.
Going to coils will probably make it ride and handle better by and large and certainly take the wollow away that p38's have.
As for the conversion kits, tbh there isn't really much to them. The only key bit is the aluminium adapter for the lower spring seat, as p38 air bags clip in place. These adapters just let you run a Discovery 1/Defender lower spring seat. And that's it.
As for the springs, well as Rover never offered a coil p38, there are no factory rates. So the springs are generally just another Land Rover spring, that someone 'thinks' will be the correct length and spring rate. Once you know what part numbers are being used, you could easily look for alternative springs if you wanted to source elsewhere or go for a different spring rate.
Prices do seem to be crazy for the conversion kits these days though...
Worth shopping about or even seeing if you can buy just the adapters:
The only other bit you need that isn't generic Land Rover is the electronics to stop the warning light. Although it is just a few wires at the end of the day.
Everything else in this picture are bits from other vehicles. Disco 1 spring isolators, Disco 2 front spring isolators. Disoc1/Def lower spring seat and spring retainers. They are all cheap as chips to buy.
You can get a full set of quality springs from here:
https://www.flatdoguk.com/p38-std/hd-1~460
Unless of course it's an early one, you know the one's that weren't stuffed full of 'lecktronics & (in certain cases) could be mistaken for a London cab at first glance or have a propensity for slipping V8 liners.
No offence guys
What those London cabs with round headlights like a classic RR??
