air bag problem, maybe ???

stevered · May 21, 2012

Hi
Can anyone shed any light on a problem I have with my td5 air shock?
About 3 weeks ago my td5 dropped on rear right hand side, I started it up and pushed the button to lift the back up, all went ok and I thought I would have to change the air bag.
So for 3 weeks all was OK!
However, 2 days ago it went down again, this time, in 10 mins
I have lifted it back up and all has been ok for the last 2 days,
any ideas?

HenryD · May 22, 2012

You need some airbags mate,they always start failing the way your describing,do them asap before you overload the compressor

Silverlandy · May 22, 2012

Exactly the same thing happened to mine. Changed airbags, no more problems.

ratty · May 22, 2012

another vote for air bags from me.

stevered · May 22, 2012

Hi thanks for the replies,
That's what I thought at first but then it worked for 3 weeks, so I am finding it hard to
understand. If the air bag had a leak would it not leak all the time? ie, it went down in 10 mins but stayed up for 3 weeks? sorry if this is a silly question.
Cheers

HenryD · May 22, 2012

stevered said:
Hi thanks for the replies,
That's what I thought at first but then it worked for 3 weeks, so I am finding it hard to
understand. If the air bag had a leak would it not leak all the time? ie, it went down in 10 mins but stayed up for 3 weeks? sorry if this is a silly question.
Cheers

When I first got my D2 it would sometimes drop one side quickly but could go a week at a time with no problem,the bags seem to have the ability to self seal where they fold which is why it starts off intermittently,just fit a couple of bags and be done with it, oh and don't forget the four new retaining clips( 2 for each side).

stevered · May 22, 2012

Thanks for the info I will change them

Thanks

owl · May 22, 2012

How to test air bags. if you can't find a leak with soapy water but the suspension occasionally drops then set the suspension at normal ride height with the engine running and let it settle, then switch off, open the tail door, jack the rear up under the tow bar about 3-4 inches, then remove the jack and stand back. if there is a problem with a air spring they very often go down to the bump stops. Opening the tail door and jacking up makes it think a load has been removed from the rear and it then tries to level it's self which shows up the leak and once the leak has started it won't stop until pumped up again. This was told to me by the engineers at Land Rover when the problem first showed up and it has worked for me many times.

Silverlandy · May 22, 2012

stevered said:
Hi thanks for the replies,
That's what I thought at first but then it worked for 3 weeks, so I am finding it hard to
understand. If the air bag had a leak would it not leak all the time? ie, it went down in 10 mins but stayed up for 3 weeks? sorry if this is a silly question.
Cheers

Not a silly question, mine did the same, very intermittent I thought it can't be a leak it would go weeks no problems, but it was, old airbags looked fine when they came off, did the soapy water test before and nothing showed up, even went to a LR dealer on diagnostics they couldn't find anything so I decided to change them anyway. Easier, cheaper in the long run and solved the problem.

HenryD · May 22, 2012

owl said:
How to test air bags. if you can't find a leak with soapy water but the suspension occasionally drops then set the suspension at normal ride height with the engine running and let it settle, then switch off, open the tail door, jack the rear up under the tow bar about 3-4 inches, then remove the jack and stand back. if there is a problem with a air spring they very often go down to the bump stops. Opening the tail door and jacking up makes it think a load has been removed from the rear and it then tries to level it's self which shows up the leak and once the leak has started it won't stop until pumped up again. This was told to me by the engineers at Land Rover when the problem first showed up and it has worked for me many times.

Thats how I found out mine was fecked,good advice

stevered · May 22, 2012

Thanks everyone for the help, I will do the test tomorrow but change them anyway
sounds like its does not take long to do

Thanks again

xat44 · May 23, 2012

theres some good "how to change them" threads on here.

HenryD · May 23, 2012

stevered said:
Thanks everyone for the help, I will do the test tomorrow but change them anyway
sounds like its does not take long to do

Thanks again

Yeah they are easy to change,longest job will be removing the remains of the retaining clips.

air bag problem, maybe ???

stevered

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HenryD

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Silverlandy

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ratty

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stevered

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HenryD

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stevered

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owl

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Silverlandy

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HenryD

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stevered

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xat44

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HenryD

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