How-To: Install Coil Spring Conversion Kit on a Land Rover Discovery

Jess Alvarezi provides tips and info on how to replace the air suspension on a Land Rover Discovery with a coil spring conversion kit.

He starts:

This write-up is intended to guide those that want to convert their stock SLS airbag suspension to a coil suspension, thus allowing them to install a taller coil lift on the rear of the vehicle. This is not intended to be a complete description on how to install a new suspension in your vehicle. Expedition Exchange has a really nice write up on their website for those who want to learn how to do it. You can find it at http://www.expeditionexchange.com/disco2frontcoils/ In their instructions, however, you will notice that they left the SLS airbags alone. Here's how to convert it.

Below is a diagram of how the rear axle is put together with SLS. The air springs are the items labeled #5 and #15. These will be removed and replaced with coils.

Since your vehicle is equipped with the air springs, it doesn't have some of the necessary parts you will need to get your coil springs to sit on your axle. Specifically, you will need to get two spring seats (one for each side) and the four bolts that hold them to the axle (two for each side), and also the spring seat isolators (two total) Below is a diagram that shows the spring seats and bolts. They are Items 19, 20, and 22. Purchase the spring seats that are made for the Discovery II only. DO NOT purchase Discovery I spring seats. They are shallower, and will not provide you a balanced lift front to rear on your Discovery II. Additionally, the springs have more of a chance of unseating with them. Use Discovery II parts to upgrade your Discovery II.

Read the rest here.