Help! what's happened here? pics

My wife just e mailed my a picture of our TD5 half an hour ago. It hasn't been used since yesterday when I didn't notice a thing. She says the tyres are inflated but it shouldn't be as low as it is, looks like the rear suspension has gone, any other thoughts?

seriously have you not searched for 'disco 2 rear suspension'

Mine used to do this all the time but went back up when the car was started and all the doors were closed.

It is due to the air coming out of the suspension? I take it its both sides? Mine just used to do it on one side.

Get the car started and keep an eye on it. If the suspension has gone I would recommend just converting it.

I paid £100 for the conversion kit from craddocks and £25 for the dyno and got my money back off the parts I sold. Plus its only an hours job.

Best thing I ever did.

I don't know much about the rear suspension on TD5's, it's Never happened to it before, I have a fob to raise and lower the back would this solve the problem for now and what exactly is the problem with it?

When you start the car and close all the doors, the rear end should raise it back up. You shouldn't need the key fob, with the engine running the suspension should automatically adjust the pressure in the air bags to get the car to the right height.

If the suspension has gone down whilst the car is not in use, I would guess that you have an air leak somewhere in your system. But I couldn't tell you anymore than that.

These are renowned for having problems with the air suspension which I guess is why the conversion kit is so cheap.

If it won't go up I was told to jack it and whack a log in next to the spring to keep it up just to get you home so you can do the required work.

New airbags can cost between 70-100 and a compressor can be upto £300 so well worth getting it converted.

ya, i have a td5 heard they have lot of prob with the air suspemsion, not had any problm my self yet. touch wood

cueball said:

ya, i have a td5 heard they have lot of prob with the air suspemsion, not had any problm my self yet. touch wood

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Hi Cueball, the most likely cause is leaking air springs at the back. The priority for now I guess is to get the vehicle home - if not there already.

Second thing is to test to see if the air compressor is working. To do this you need to have all doors and bonnet close and the engine running - if the compressor is working it will pump up the back end to it's normal height. If it doesn't you either have a blown compressor fuse or blown compressor (new fuse about a £1; new compressor about £330).

Assuming the back-end does pump up, you need to replace both air springs. It's a very easy job takes about 15mins per side and each air spring costs £63+vat from: www.paddockspares.co.uk.

Incidently, if the air springs and ride height sensors are treated as service parts and replaced every 5 yrs there will be no trouble with air suspension. Unfortunately many people don't believe in preventative maintenance and wait til something breaks down.

Cheers
Dave

Can't say I would believe in preventative maintenance on this one.

For the cost of replacing the bags, just put springs on. But then I guess that is a matter of opinion.

I have had mine a year and the garage I bought it from only changed one bag, plus they put a Dunlop bag on when the other was a Land Rover one which didn't help situations.

They are completely different.

Hustler said:

Can't say I would believe in preventative maintenance on this one.

For the cost of replacing the bags, just put springs on. But then I guess that is a matter of opinion.

I have had mine a year and the garage I bought it from only changed one bag, plus they put a Dunlop bag on when the other was a Land Rover one which didn't help situations.

They are completely different.

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What makes you say they are completely different? Mine were identical to the Dunlop ones that I fitted myself?

I have photos but they wont upload, the dunlop was very skinny and tall and the land rover one was shorter and fatter.

Strangely I always thought the Dunlop side was lower too.

Hustler said:

Strangely I always thought the Dunlop side was lower too.

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if so then it would be your ride height sensor out of calibration.

Hustler said:

I have photos but they wont upload, the dunlop was very skinny and tall and the land rover one was shorter and fatter.

Strangely I always thought the Dunlop side was lower too.

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U dont speak about a new one and an used one do u????.......coz if yes then..........no comment :doh:

Hustler said:

I have photos but they wont upload, the dunlop was very skinny and tall and the land rover one was shorter and fatter.

Strangely I always thought the Dunlop side was lower too.

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The LR one was like that because it was old. Dunlop supply LR with this part they are the OEM.

Air springs should only ever be changed both sides at the same time for the reasons you outline.

sierrafery said:

U dont speak about a new one and an used one do u????.......coz if yes then..........no comment :doh:

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No I don't, I know new ones are folded down and the olds ones that come off aren't.

I can supply photos if you think I'm just being a dumb ass?

Well, when I got back home last night I did what was suggested and jumped in closed all the doors and started her up. The compressor works as it pumped up the back and all was level again but as soon as it was switched off, down it went again and this time I noticed a "windy" noise coming from the back which I pressume is the air springs. So is this an easy job to fix? I have a Haynes manual somewhere so I hope there is a fix it guide in there, or maybe there's a link on here somewhere. Is there anything I should be aware of before I start, maybe a clip or two I should buy as well so I'm not stuck over the weekend. Right then, off to my local Landy dealer to get parts on the way home!

Also I'm wondering how this happened? The night before I had gone to Ikea to buy a flat pack warderobe which I'd left in the back overnight (weighing 40kg) could this be a reason as to why the air springs broke?

Yeah, you have an air leak but you will need to know where if you plan on repairing the air suspension.

As per my previous advice I would convert it to air springs.

The compressor which is positioned mid way along the near side of your car (underneath) can come off with the housing and you should easily get your money back for the cost of the conversion kit.

Just don't take the compressor off until you have had the dyno done otherwhise it will constantly bong at you at any speed over 18MPH.

Thats just my personal advise though.

I experienced the same problem and it was because of the common problem, the airbags had perished in the creases where they fold back into themselves.

The holes are so small you wont see them. The general advice is to spray soapy water on the airbags to help diagnose the problem but if you have a 7+ year old TD5 on the original airbags it's going to be pretty obvious that's what the problem is.

If your TD5 is a 7 seater I think i'm right in saying the air suspension was standard (for a reason) and therefore would think before you converted to springs.

yup, it's older than 7 years. It's a 2002 model 7 seater. I can't find any help about how one actually replaces them. I guess jack the back up, whip the wheels and hopefully the rest will be obvious...

broadoakboy said:

I experienced the same problem and it was because of the common problem, the airbags had perished in the creases where they fold back into themselves.

The holes are so small you wont see them. The general advice is to spray soapy water on the airbags to help diagnose the problem but if you have a 7+ year old TD5 on the original airbags it's going to be pretty obvious that's what the problem is.

If your TD5 is a 7 seater I think i'm right in saying the air suspension was standard (for a reason) and therefore would think before you converted to springs.

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First thing to do would be contact your insurance company cos your changing it from factory spec?