What Does it Mean When Your Tyre is the Bump Stop?

When my P38 settles after being parked, it will sometimes rest on the rear n/s tyre. I am pretty sure a factory-fresh P38 would not permit the body to drop onto a tyre.

The other three tyres have a safe two-finger gap between tyre and arch.

I'm guessing a bump stop has decomposed and fallen off, or somebody's nicked it!

As soon as this terrible weather ends I'll have a good poke around and report back. In the meantime, I wonder if anyone else has suffered a tyre being sat on?

buggered spring??

First of all you have a leak on that airspring. Secondly you have a missing bump stop. If the suspension fails and falls to bump stops at least you have a chance of getting home even if it's a little bit of a bumpy ride, with the body on a tyre you have no chance. Actually i am amazed you took the time to type that question on here, would it have not been easier and quicker to get down and have a look and answer your own question?

It means that you're a low down bum


probably with a leaking air bag


and possibly missing your bump stop

It means time to fit coils.
Davie

Davie F said:

It means time to fit coils.
Davie

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There's always one in a group.

Ha ha and usually me, but in a good mood as the old girl went through her mot with no problems, regular maintenance is the number one with these baby's. EAS or not.
Davie

Davie F said:

Ha ha and usually me, but in a good mood as the old girl went through her mot with no problems, regular maintenance is the number one with these baby's. EAS or not.
Davie

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Same with anything Davie mate. But do fail to see how best case senario of pushing a pipe in a little further or fitting a couple of twopenny O rings. Worst case new air bag and a bump stop necessitates £400.00 for coils. It's a bit like having your fingers and toes cut off so you don't have to ever trim your nails again.

steviebabes said:

When my P38 settles after being parked, it will sometimes rest on the rear n/s tyre. I am pretty sure a factory-fresh P38 would not permit the body to drop onto a tyre.

The other three tyres have a safe two-finger gap between tyre and arch.

I'm guessing a bump stop has decomposed and fallen off, or somebody's nicked it!

As soon as this terrible weather ends I'll have a good poke around and report back. In the meantime, I wonder if anyone else has suffered a tyre being sat on?

Click to expand...

First, as said, it shouldn't drop that much overnight, airbags are probably shot. Second, the bump stop is missing or deformed.
What terrible weather? it's 22C and sunny here and has been all month

steviebabes said:

When my P38 settles after being parked, it will sometimes rest on the rear n/s tyre. I am pretty sure a factory-fresh P38 would not permit the body to drop onto a tyre.

The other three tyres have a safe two-finger gap between tyre and arch.

I'm guessing a bump stop has decomposed and fallen off, or somebody's nicked it!

As soon as this terrible weather ends I'll have a good poke around and report back. In the meantime, I wonder if anyone else has suffered a tyre being sat on?

Click to expand...

oversize tyres and wheels can also cause this [ l322 and range rover sport wheels ] i have 275/55/19 on my autobiography on access height you can get one finger in between tyre and arch

It was wonderful weather yesterday in Chesterfield, a bit hot for bashing steam trains but a great day all the same.

I agree with the others stick your head under the motor this morning have a look, an bump stop will stop it resting on the tyre and possibly new airbags all round.

Brand new air bags now fitted all round. The bump stops were in good order but replaced anyway as I'd bought new ones. And still the darn thing is resting its n/s rear wheel arch on its tyre. Other three arches safely an inch above their tyre.

My mechanic is almost as clueless as me so I think I'll have to locate a specialist. Anyone know of a good 'un in Sussex at all?

steviebabes said:

Brand new air bags now fitted all round. The bump stops were in good order but replaced anyway as I'd bought new ones. And still the darn thing is resting its n/s rear wheel arch on its tyre. Other three arches safely an inch above their tyre.

My mechanic is almost as clueless as me so I think I'll have to locate a specialist. Anyone know of a good 'un in Sussex at all?

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If it's still dropping you must have a leak or a height sensor giving erratic readings.

If you have fitted new bump stops even if EAS was buggered it would still leave a gap when fully lowered unless the bump stops are smaller than originals or the tyres are much bigger.

Has the wheel arch line dropped? daft question - maybe, but worth checking.

Hi Datatek - I did wonder if the line feeding the rear n/s bag was leaking, but then I thought that once the air is in, it should stay in, irrespective of how leaky the air line is? Perhaps, then, a leaky valve on the bag. But that would mean both original and new bags had faulty valves. Unless the valve is on the air line.

Dr W - the bump stops are LR originals, but you have worried me about my wheel size! (So I've attached a photo).

enery8 - I ran my hands round front and rear arches this morning, and all seemed well.

My usual mechanic is suggesting the wheels are too big (but why, then, don't all the arches rest on all the oversized wheels?). And my prospective new mechanic (an LR specialist) is pushing me to fit coils.

I've bought a couple of great books on the history and development of the P38. Maybe its time I tried to find a technical manual.

I think the valve is in the valve block not on the bag but even if it all leaked out then it should just sit on the bump stops with the gap. Leaks could be where the air hose joins the bag or where it joins the valve block. I'd squitr some soapy water round the connections and see if you can see any bubbles.

The wheels and tyres don't look unusual but I'd measure the wheels and check the tyre sizes just in case.

Can you post a picture of the offending wheel?

Don't just change to coils, the EAS is much better, with a bit of work you should have it up and running. In fact today I was able to park in an underground carpark at work (some low air con ducts) because I was able to lower the car to access mode, lock it and drive into the space. Can't do that with coils.

steviebabes said:

Hi Datatek - I did wonder if the line feeding the rear n/s bag was leaking, but then I thought that once the air is in, it should stay in, irrespective of how leaky the air line is? Perhaps, then, a leaky valve on the bag. But that would mean both original and new bags had faulty valves. Unless the valve is on the air line.

Dr W - the bump stops are LR originals, but you have worried me about my wheel size! (So I've attached a photo).

enery8 - I ran my hands round front and rear arches this morning, and all seemed well.

My usual mechanic is suggesting the wheels are too big (but why, then, don't all the arches rest on all the oversized wheels?). And my prospective new mechanic (an LR specialist) is pushing me to fit coils.

I've bought a couple of great books on the history and development of the P38. Maybe its time I tried to find a technical manual.

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There are no valves in the airbags, if it's leaking it will go down. It should not go down below access height in 24 hours, less drop than that if everything is perfect. The valves are, surprisingly, in the EAS valve block.
The wheel shouldn't touch no matter what either you have oversize wheels, the arch liner has dropped, the bump stop mounting is deformed or the axle is bent

Thanks Datatek. I live in a teeny house in a teeny village so nowhere to store or safely use trolley jacks and such. But I'll have a good wriggle around underneath and see what I can see. I was excited to find a Land Rover specialist just a few miles away, but my heart sank when he asked me what bump stops were . . .

wammers said:

...Worst case new air bag and a bump stop necessitates £400.00 for coils. It's a bit like having your fingers an, and toes cut off so you don't have to ever trim your nails again.

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Great answer.

People who dont understand the technology fit coils.
Why not go the whole hog and fit drum brakes too

Anyway, back to post.

Are your tyres normal size?