EVOeng · Mar 14, 2013

Evening All,

An update from a previous thread, I found the cause of the suspension drop - it turns out the connection where the air line meets the air spring was leaking for both front air springs I ordered some new Collets and O-Rings and installed them.

I do now have another issue. Rather than the car slowly lowering itself to bump stops like it did previously, now the front of the car just collapses after about an hour of being left on the driveway. Obviously if I get back into the car, it readjusts itself to the lowest point.

I searched for this issue but most people seem to be affected by one side of the car dropping as opposed to the whole front. Upon further inspection with some Fairy Liquid suggests I still have a leak at the top of one air spring but for some reason this is spontaneous - I can test it at one point and there would be no leak and I can try it another time and a small leak would appear.

My apologies if that is a bit confusing and thanks for the continued help.

dogsbody · Mar 15, 2013

It's not unusual for leaks in the bags to appear and then vanish. The bags are flexible so if the leak is a crack then it can seal itself temporarily depending on how the car is sitting, the pressure in the system and the height of the suspension.
What it will mean is that your compressor will be working overtime to compensate. If you don't replace that bag soon then you will be spending money on a compressor.
Then, unless you know that the bags are relatively new, you'd be better to bite the bullet and replace the other front one and have a careful look at the rears. Like brakes or shocks it's good practice to, at least, do them in pairs.

Saint.V8 · Mar 15, 2013

dogsbody said:
It's not unusual for leaks in the bags to appear and then vanish. The bags are flexible so if the leak is a crack then it can seal itself temporarily depending on how the car is sitting, the pressure in the system and the height of the suspension.
What it will mean is that your compressor will be working overtime to compensate. If you don't replace that bag soon then you will be spending money on a compressor.
Then, unless you know that the bags are relatively new, you'd be better to bite the bullet and replace the other front one and have a careful look at the rears. Like brakes or shocks it's good practice to, at least, do them in pairs.

He said his leak is intermittent from the pipe input and not the bag.....

Pull that pipe out and ensure the end is cut square with no blemishes, a quick rub with some fine wet & dry to take the sharp edge off the end, push it into the collet fill the bag then push the pipe in again as this will hopefully seat the pipe better.

But everything dogsbody has said is perfectly valid also and worth checking!

EVOeng · Mar 15, 2013

Thanks for the input - bags are brand new as of a few weeks ago.

awillemsen · Mar 15, 2013

Make sure the pipes are properly pushed in. Sometimes they are difficult to get fully past the O-rings.

wammers · Mar 15, 2013

Smear of silicone grease on O'rings smear of silicone grease on pipe. Insert pressure system push in again. NEVER fit them dry.

EVOeng · Mar 15, 2013

Maybe the pipes are not pushed in properly. We did put some grease on the o-rings and the end of the air line. I'm thinking maybe if I get another bit of air line and use a connector, I will get a better connection.

dogsbody · Mar 15, 2013

EVOeng said:
Thanks for the input - bags are brand new as of a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately brand new doesn't mean flawless.

wammers · Mar 15, 2013

EVOeng said:
Maybe the pipes are not pushed in properly. We did put some grease on the o-rings and the end of the air line. I'm thinking maybe if I get another bit of air line and use a connector, I will get a better connection.

As long as they are pushed in properly and the pipe is clean and burr free there should be no leaks. O'rings are sealed by the air pressure inside pushing against them and forcing them against the wall of the connector and the pipe. You either have burred pipe or damaged O'rings. Make sure there are two O'rings behind the collet.

EVOeng · Mar 15, 2013

There are two new O-Rings behind each Collet - I guess it has to be a burred pipe as you said Wammers. I might have another go at it, otherwise I may pop it down to Land Rover.

Saint.V8 · Mar 15, 2013

EVOeng said:
There are two new O-Rings behind each Collet - I guess it has to be a burred pipe as you said Wammers. I might have another go at it, otherwise I may pop it down to Land Rover.

All they will do is shrug, try and push them in further, try and flog you new pipes then financially butt-feck you for the privilege !!!

EVOeng

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dogsbody

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Saint.V8

Dyed-in-the-wool 100% RR Junkie

EVOeng

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awillemsen

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wammers

No longer with us, RIP

EVOeng

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dogsbody

Very senior member

wammers

No longer with us, RIP

EVOeng

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Saint.V8

Dyed-in-the-wool 100% RR Junkie

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