Air suspension question

Hi all,

Just moved over from the Defender forum as my defender was stolen and I couldn't face trying to recreate the same so I've gone and bought myself a Discovery 2 TD5 ES (2000MY).

I've read loads of stuff on here and elsewhere about what to look out for and think I've bought a good 'un. But....

When I park it 85% of the time the air suspension stays level but if I reverse a couple of feet before switching off it often sits down at the back. Imediately on start up suspension lifts and everything is OK. Off-road button works fine, lowers as you pick up speed as it should. Compressor only running when it has sat down. No hissing from air bags after parking.

Anyone else experienced this. Its as if reversing a few feet has the same effect as I would expect from the suspension 'plip' which I don't have.

Kind regards

Hi, I suspect you probably have a leak in one of your air bags. Does it sit down to the bump stops ? It may be that the movement of reversing is exposing a leak, the bags roll down and effectivly seal or hide a leak. It will work your compressor harder if it has a leak and wear it out quicker. The bags are recommended to be changed at 5 year intervals anyway so if you dont know their history it may be worth doing. Do a search on here will give you all the info yopu need.

Thanks for that, it seems to explain what is going on.

I'll keep an eye on whether one air bag or the other has a leak and report back.

If an air bag has a leak does it leak when you park it, half an hour later or at any time?

Regards

it's the air bags, just change 'em... **** easy to do: http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f38/disco-ii-air-suspension-definitive-guide-61211.html

Check the sensor arms, they have a habit of the lower centre bush corroding and bursting the plastic, so the arm varies its position as you move the vehicle.

The bush is alloy, bolted to the radius arm, and differential corrosion plus road salt means the bush just grows with white rust. The link to the sensor is moulded on, until the body bursts.

Peter

Follow the link in Batternberg's reply and be sure to fit both sides before you try pumping the new bags up as doing one side and then the other wont work, as my mechanicly minded mate found out !