Arnott Air Bags any one had problems with them?

Arnott Air Bags any one had problems with them?

I ask because the F/O/S one drops after a few days, everything else seems fine, Saint (bless him) came around and had a look for me, and he coud'nt find anything wrong, no leaks from the block or the tube coming out of the block or going in to the bag itself, and he squirted some soapy water all over and again no leaking could be found

No when I fitted them, (this is all about the O/S/F) the first time it poped as it went up the first time as it was filling with air (much like a tyre poping on to the rim when fitting a tyre) i had a leak on it, so took it off and fitted it again, and yet again it popped (none of the other 3 did this) the leak this time was a lot less it now takes a few days to deflate, but always just that one


anyone have a clue as to what's going on, before i get on the the guy that sold me the bags and ask for a replacement??? thanks

Hi Dopey,

Was great to met you yesterday...hope all is well and standing in the cold wasn't to bad for your recovery....

Just to reiterate....

We made sure the pipes were seated correctly
We made sure the pipe was in the valve block correctly
We made sure the pipe wasn't crushed under anything including the battery
We sprayed soapy water along the pipe under the radiator
We sprayed soapy water along the pipe into the airbag and also the airbag collet too
We sprayed soapy water on the connection to the valve block and nothing there either
We sprayed soapy water on the airbag on all sides and still nada.....

The car rose to High swiftly, and stayed there with no adjustments constantly being made, the compressor only ran during and for a couple of minutes following the height change to High and shut off for pretty much the 50 minutes I was there.

All pipe connections where given a spraying with no result - and given a damn good tug to check for security too....

I have to say I am rather jealous of Dopey - his P38 is in fantastic condition, the engine bay almost sparkles...I was a little embarrased when I lifted the bonnet of mine and had to fight the barrage of old leaves that blew out of it..!!!

The leather is soft and supple, the suede style headling and pillars look and feel fantastic....even the carpets still have a plush, shag-pile feel to them.....

Are those Gen II that you have fitted? IIRC those are known to leak from the metallic crimp that is used to the top of the bag.

Saint.......Mine sounds like yours.....

The popping is more than likely because you did not fill them before you let the jack down. NEVER let the jack down without putting some air in bags first, NEVER.

hey dopey,

i thought i had a problem with one a while back because it had popped while i was loading a trailer and i couldn't get it to seal after. Turned out the brass collet had given up and the guy I bought them from sent me a new one free of charge (ok, they only cost about 50p, but thought this was good of him - not even postage cost). Anyway, doesnt sound like thats your problem cause if was leaking rightly - wouldn't lift from the bump stops at all.

The reason i do post though(!) is that Arnotts have a lifetime warranty so if you find the problem and photograph bubbling/leakage they'll just send you a new bag...

Good luck!

wammers said:

The popping is more than likely because you did not fill them before you let the jack down. NEVER let the jack down without putting some air in bags first, NEVER.

Click to expand...

I learnt this doing mine! If you fit the new airbag then drop the car on the floor, it's too much strain on the new bag to inflate, seat itself and raise the car, so they pop off.

In the end we let it down about halfway, started the car and let the air spring inflate without any real weight on it. Worked like a dream!

I've had (did have) Gen 3's on for 3 years and 30K miles without issue. Quite amazed really as when I changed them I was fairly new to P38's and was convinced they would all fail to inflate and if they did would soon deflate. But they never leaked in 3 years.

Time to test out that lifetime guarantee Dopey.

I had one that developed a slow leak after 2 years use. First I disconnected it from the EAS and fitted a pipe with a schrader valve direct and inflated it off the workshop compressor, that corner still went doen (the EAS was frozen with a door open) I then took it off the car, strapped it up and gently inflated it under water. I got a very few bubbles at low pressure that appeared to come from the lower plastic cap. A few Emails and photo's and it was replaced under warranty although I did have to pay the postage.
Now after that and overhauling the valve block, fitting a new dryer etc the car doesn't drop at all over a week.

Yea there the II gen bags I will get in touch with the suppler and see what he has to say, if there are any common problems whit them, he may have a solution to the problem, who knows?

I've Gen III's on and one of the rears has a slow leak from the top clamp ring.
Took it off and blew it up to 100psi with a valve in the air pipe. Then dunked it in barrel of water to show up the leak. It was s/h so can't get it replaced.

dave4x4 said:

I've Gen III's on and one of the rears has a slow leak from the top clamp ring.
Took it off and blew it up to 100psi with a valve in the air pipe. Then dunked it in barrel of water to show up the leak. It was s/h so can't get it replaced.

Click to expand...

Bottom seal must be different than standard bags then. Because if you put anything like that pressure near one of those off the car, the piston would travel a very long way indeed. Like a connon ball.

I couldn't get all the way to the top of the bag as it was mounted in the turret and the rest of the bag and bottom seal checked out fine.....

Seems like there is a common thread pointing towards the top seal of the spring....the part I couldn't spray or get to....

I think that is probably a good place to start....

Wammers wrote:

Bottom seal must be different than standard bags then.

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Yes they are different. OEM bags don't use a clamp ring like the Arnotts do.

Putting 100psi in the bag fully extends the piston out. Getting it back in requires a bit of force.

dave4x4 said:

Wammers wrote:


Yes they are different. OEM bags don't use a clamp ring like the Arnotts do.

Putting 100psi in the bag fully extends the piston out. Getting it back in requires a bit of force.

Click to expand...

Are they internally clamped at the bottom aswell?

wammers said:

Are they internally clamped at the bottom aswell?

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Yes they are and the instructions specifically state do not pressurise off the car All the failures I have heard of (very few) have been the plastics causing the problem, never the top crimp or the bottom one for that matter.

Wammers wrote:

Are they internally clamped at the bottom as well?

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Don't know about internally, but Gen III's are clamped top and bottom externally with a clamp ring.

It seems to be the top that usually leaks based on my experience and many comments on RangeRovers.net

Have you taken a picture of your front bumper yet?

Datatek wrote:

Yes they are and the instructions specifically state do not pressurise off the car

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I have not read that, maybe it is only Gen II's. They are plastic top and bottom unlike
Gen III's which have an aluminium piston at the bottom but plastic at the top.

If you can't pressurise the bag off the car it is very difficult to check for leaks.
The alternative is to check while it is on the car which doesn't reveal everything.
I wouldn't put full pressure (150psi) in the bag off the car but I found 100psi fine. The only problem I found was pushing the piston out.

Maybe with Gen II's 50 psi maybe a sensible limit imho.

dave4x4 said:

Datatek wrote:


I have not read that, maybe it is only Gen II's. They are plastic top and bottom unlike
Gen III's which have an aluminium piston at the bottom but plastic at the top.

If you can't pressurise the bag off the car it is very difficult to check for leaks.
The alternative is to check while it is on the car which doesn't reveal everything.
I wouldn't put full pressure (150psi) in the bag off the car but I found 100psi fine. The only problem I found was pushing the piston out.

Maybe with Gen II's 50 psi maybe a sensible limit imho.

Click to expand...

You will never have 100 psi in an air bag on the car unless you have a ton of cement in the boot.

dave4x4 said:

Datatek wrote:


I have not read that, maybe it is only Gen II's. They are plastic top and bottom unlike
Gen III's which have an aluminium piston at the bottom but plastic at the top.

If you can't pressurise the bag off the car it is very difficult to check for leaks.
The alternative is to check while it is on the car which doesn't reveal everything.
I wouldn't put full pressure (150psi) in the bag off the car but I found 100psi fine. The only problem I found was pushing the piston out.

Maybe with Gen II's 50 psi maybe a sensible limit imho.

Click to expand...

I welded up a frame to put mine in to test it so that it couldnt extend beyond normal ride height 50 to 70 psi on the car took mine through normal settings so 100psi is pushing it anyway. I think what you did is likely to be destructive