Ref: My previous post "EAS problem sorted.. How fix" see subsequent posts and my eventual enlightenment!! i hope this post will be of assistance to any one replacing rear airsprings.
I got that it wrong thinking I'd found problem as above.....
T'was leaking off side rear Air Spring at root of problem as most sites and people were suggesting when looking at my symptoms. So having got two (obviously don't just do the one unless you are maybe marooned/stuck in the boonies) replacements from the web (£155 the pair and collected same day), changing them was not a difficult job just a bit dirty and fiddly at times due to limited top mount space you have to work in. Do use the info on;
Air Spring Replacementhttp://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/index.html#suspension2
Its all there, all you need to know to do the job yourself and save £££'s on dealer costs, but do be prepared to get dirty and swear a bit. It is easier with wheel off, but you do not need to remove the arch liner, I did one spring with it removed but then didn't bother for other side as it doesn't free up any more space to do the actual removal or replacement.
A piece of coathanger to make hooked puller for top 'R' clip removal is a good definite plus, all the clips came out fairly easily, top and bottom, even though a little corroded after 10 years service.
Keep open the tailgate to "freeze" suspension as advised in info above. If you have no EAS faults displayed prior to this work, you will not cause any if you follow instructions from Rangerovers.net
For all the detail use the web site above, its all straightforward, and not hard. Commonsense will guide you, just don't rush at it, if in doubt sit back, have a coffee/beer/fag and just look and think
The biggest issue I had was removing both the old springs out of the top mount, it was a real bitch as they were pressed well hard into the top mount and held in by mild rust on the chassis rail/mount, and you cannot get any real purchase with a lever or similar to prise them out. No real mention of that on any web forum I found!
So this is where "application" came in; as bags were basically shagged anyway, a thin mortar or an old wood chisel and a few good clouts with a "Birmingham screwdriver" ( taking great care indeed to not touch/trap airlines in any way..) into the top of the air spring, namely the top lug protruding through the chassis rail that takes the "R" clip. That facilitated the whole unit then virtually falling out no problem...
New spring installation very easy, again commonsense rules..Top "R" clip can be pushed in with a screwdriver blade, make sure no dirt goes into airline connection and that the push connection fit of the air line is pushed fully home. Juggling the axle on a jack will get the air bags into place fine, they only fit one way, again be a little patient and it will all work first time..
Postscript: if you have a EAS Fault warning prior to undertaking the work ( as I did) follow the method for inflating the suspension as on web link below, it works and I have ensured the work I've done is sound and I can now drive to garage to get faults dialled out without riding on the bumpstops and encouraging any damage to the car ( I've driven on the bumpstops and it ain't pleasant for you or the car)
http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/airsuspension/fieldrecovery.html#restoreoperation
I got that it wrong thinking I'd found problem as above.....
T'was leaking off side rear Air Spring at root of problem as most sites and people were suggesting when looking at my symptoms. So having got two (obviously don't just do the one unless you are maybe marooned/stuck in the boonies) replacements from the web (£155 the pair and collected same day), changing them was not a difficult job just a bit dirty and fiddly at times due to limited top mount space you have to work in. Do use the info on;
Air Spring Replacementhttp://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/index.html#suspension2
Its all there, all you need to know to do the job yourself and save £££'s on dealer costs, but do be prepared to get dirty and swear a bit. It is easier with wheel off, but you do not need to remove the arch liner, I did one spring with it removed but then didn't bother for other side as it doesn't free up any more space to do the actual removal or replacement.
A piece of coathanger to make hooked puller for top 'R' clip removal is a good definite plus, all the clips came out fairly easily, top and bottom, even though a little corroded after 10 years service.
Keep open the tailgate to "freeze" suspension as advised in info above. If you have no EAS faults displayed prior to this work, you will not cause any if you follow instructions from Rangerovers.net
For all the detail use the web site above, its all straightforward, and not hard. Commonsense will guide you, just don't rush at it, if in doubt sit back, have a coffee/beer/fag and just look and think
The biggest issue I had was removing both the old springs out of the top mount, it was a real bitch as they were pressed well hard into the top mount and held in by mild rust on the chassis rail/mount, and you cannot get any real purchase with a lever or similar to prise them out. No real mention of that on any web forum I found!
So this is where "application" came in; as bags were basically shagged anyway, a thin mortar or an old wood chisel and a few good clouts with a "Birmingham screwdriver" ( taking great care indeed to not touch/trap airlines in any way..) into the top of the air spring, namely the top lug protruding through the chassis rail that takes the "R" clip. That facilitated the whole unit then virtually falling out no problem...
New spring installation very easy, again commonsense rules..Top "R" clip can be pushed in with a screwdriver blade, make sure no dirt goes into airline connection and that the push connection fit of the air line is pushed fully home. Juggling the axle on a jack will get the air bags into place fine, they only fit one way, again be a little patient and it will all work first time..
Postscript: if you have a EAS Fault warning prior to undertaking the work ( as I did) follow the method for inflating the suspension as on web link below, it works and I have ensured the work I've done is sound and I can now drive to garage to get faults dialled out without riding on the bumpstops and encouraging any damage to the car ( I've driven on the bumpstops and it ain't pleasant for you or the car)
http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/airsuspension/fieldrecovery.html#restoreoperation
