disco 2 2" lift kit with ACE

[k82marr]

i just bought a 2" lift kit for my discovery 2 td5, i want to replace the airbags with springs but still want to retain the ACE system. i have the new halkeye diagnostics tool to reset any warning lights and to turn off the SLS, but im not sure if the ride height sensors should be retained and lifted 2" off the radius arms to fool the car into thinking everything is the same as before? im not actually sure what sensors tell the ACE unit to do what!!?
With the lift kit on and the expedition roofrack installed the disco will be pitching and rolling allot more than normal, not sure if the extra strain on the hydraulic ACE unit will be able to constantly correct the car under normal driving conditions?
if anyone has lifted a ES model and encountered any of the above problems i would greatly appreciate any advice.

cheers

Keith

[23skidoo]

Height sensors are purely for the SLS ,and talk to the SLABS ECU , so you can remove or leave in place if you are removing the Air suspension.

ACE has its own ECU and has its own (2) sensors .

Why dont you leave the Rear Air suspension in place and raise the height calibration 2 in's using the Hawkeye , thats what I did (using Nanocom so assuming Hawkeye does have that ability) . Saves all the messing about with springs and retains all the refinement of the Air and ability to raise it even further if you get into rear end overhang trouble.

[k82marr]

Thanks Graham,


I have been plagued with suspension problems since i got the disco a few years ago, over the last two years i spent £2k getting the ACE system replaced completly following an accident, i have replaced both airbags, a sensor, had a recon copressor unit fitted, but last week the drivers side bag went again. I feel like i have been on a first name basis with some of the local RAC staff for a few years!! So i just got the complete coil kit with bushes for the price of a couple of air bags, it is a shame to de-evolve the work landrover did developing the air suspension, but for pure reliability reasons, probably better to stick to old fashioned engineering!?

I havent really had time to play around with the Halkeye yet, i dont think it is as good as the nanocom, but it has been out of its box a couple of times this month clearing a couple of regular warning lights so im glad i bought it. saves paying the regualr £80 plugin charge at the local landrover garage!!

hopefully with the suspension kit i should start getting some trouble free roaming like i got with my old tdi disco!
cheers

[23skidoo]

Yeah some people seem to get more than there fair share of problems with the SLS so understand . So to answer question , ignore the height sensors (probably leave them in .. in case you , or next owner want to go back to air or heaven forbid you DO have problems with coils and ACE )

I have so say that the lack of reples from others on raised or indeed any messing about with suspension and ACE is kinda what I got from forums and land rover upgraders when I was doing this . Whilst ACE is a bang on feature that I love , it does seem to have not many people , even those who work with Discoverys all the time prepared to answer these sorts of questions . I get the impression its something that whilst some understand the principle not many understand the finer points and its more the reason for the (relative) lack of upgrdae kits for the D2 than SLS , since SLS in itself its really simple to raise , basically a couple of clicks on a computer.

Be interested to hear , like you , of anyone who has more experience on this as to the ins and outs , since I would NOT say I am in any way an expert or speak from good knowledge of ACE . I personally just raised it as I said with uprated front springs and re-calinrated rear SLS , not noticed any serious degrading of the ACE and just like in standard ride height I think ACE is a great stability device . I have driven a couple of raised Defenders and found them very "wallowy" , perhaps too much so in comparison.

[Urban Panzer]

Raising the height settings to get a lift on the airbags is not really a good idea as you are increasing the pressure to much and "if" you ever go into extended mode when offroad, theres a chance you could "over stretch" the bags. It also makes the ride harsher due to the increased pressure.

There is kits out there to lift a D2 and keep the rear air, and imo this is the only way to do it.

As far as the ACE goes, it should compenstae for any lift on a D2, which is a huge advantage and will most likely "remove" any wallowing when conering

[23skidoo]

"if" you ever go into extended mode when offroad, theres a chance you could "over stretch" the bags. It also makes the ride harsher due to the increased pressure.

There is kits out there to lift a D2 and keep the rear air, and imo this is the only way to do it.


Unfortunately those kits are few and far between since discoparts stopped making them. Other than importing from the US I havent been able to find them. Love to find a set but not found anyone offloading on ebay from around my way so far.

I am hearing you on the overstretch , 2 in is effectively running in Off Road Mode all the time so cant remember ever having to put it into higher mode for any amount of time . It did as you say make the ride a little hasher , but not that bad , which I attemped to compensate by having the Koni HT's adjusted to max.