air spring - slightly worn

Thanks to the high standard of maintenance by the previous owner(s) I had a hard fault on the EAS a few days ago. Could also hear air leaking when I got out the car from the front nearside airbag. Jacked it to high setting, took a quick look, airbag knackered - big time.

Wasn't until last night when I got it in my hands I realised quite how bad it was. Staggered it lasted as long as it did.

Pointless post I know, but needed to tell someone

Hope you have changed them all?

Datatek said:

Hope you have changed them all?

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I could only afford the front two this month, but will do the rear two next month. The others oddly whilst perished, are nowhere near as bad. Positively serviceable!

As long as you do them 2 at a time.

Datatek said:

As long as you do them 2 at a time.

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yep - although I've never changed one before I was approaching it like you would standard shocks, or brakes etc. Do both sides together

Thanks for the tip though!

2 fronts or 2 rears, never side to side.

Yes evidence of a little wear starting to appear.

On the upside, you didn't have to limp home at 30mph and that's it for at least 8 years now.

Datatek said:

As long as you do them 2 at a time.

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What exactly is the reasoning for that? It's in every manual, is it just to avoid mismatched wear levels?

its to avoid the vehicle looking lopsided the older bag will have settled and expanded a bit the newer one will jack it up a bit higher ... i think

seanmull said:

its to avoid the vehicle looking lopsided the older bag will have settled and expanded a bit the newer one will jack it up a bit higher ... i think

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How can it? It will level depending on the height sensors. A used bag will effectively have a different spring rate as the stretchiness (technical term!) of the rubber changes.

TCubed said:

What exactly is the reasoning for that? It's in every manual, is it just to avoid mismatched wear levels?

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New airbag will have a totally different spring rate to the old one, odd spring rates side to side is not a good idea It will not affect the height as the sensors determine that

Datatek said:

New airbag will have a totally different spring rate to the old one, odd spring rates side to side is not a good idea It will not affect the height as the sensors determine that

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There's an echo, echo echo...