StuckAgainSteve

StuckAgainSteve

Well-Known Member
Hi folks, I like the idea of air suspension but am surprised how choppy the ride is - even compared to my old classic Rangie let alone more comfy cars. Do the air-springs age and make the ride worse? (This is a 2000 car on 116K miles) Are there more comfortable options? I was thinking of replacing the air-springs for reliability's sake anyway. The suspension appears to be in full-working order. Although I do get the impression that the ride gets worse the longer my journey (may be psychological!) and no, the car hasn't sunk to the 'stops at that point! :D

Is it worth changing from the current 18" wheels to 16s? Does it really make that much difference?

Still, choppy ride or not, I'm in love with the P38 already.

Thanks in advance!
 
air springs worn, worn compressor, corrupted height sensor calibration, worn height sensors worn shocks worn suspension bushs to name just a few of the problems.
all in all it comes down to poorly maintained and servcied system
 
Ahhh so the air springs do wear? I haven't had a good look at the shocks yet either. I'll be changing the compressor seals as soon as they arrive as a matter of course. I haven't detected any problems with ride-height or air leaks - not saying there aren't any!

Touch wood, haven't had any problems with it yet in 3K miles, 'cept the left-hand blend motor (grrrr!) Luckily the cold weather is looming and will delay the point where my girlfriend decides she had enough of being baked (didn't say "roasted" for obvious reasons!)
 
If the air suspension seems in working order, it would probably be worth replacing your shock absorbers - you should be able to do all 4 for £60 - £90 using Britpart or OEM.

As someone else has said, could be down to a general lack of maintenance, but at that mileage I'd be looking at the shocks before anything else. (and probably planning to replace the air bags at some point before they do cause problems if they're original - raise to full height and you'll be able to get a good look at them to see what state the rubber is in).

As for the wheels, the tyres make a bigger difference than the wheel size IMO. Mine drives just fine on 20" wheels during the summer, although I do change down to 16" for the winter tyres as it takes a few days for the gritters to come within 3 miles of me when it snows. I would have no problem driving on 18's all year round though.
 
StuckAgainSteve said:
Ahhh so the air springs do wear? I haven't had a good look at the shocks yet either. I'll be changing the compressor seals as soon as they arrive as a matter of course. I haven't detected any problems with ride-height or air leaks - not saying there aren't any!
Click to expand...

Air springs only wear in the respect of the rubber wearing/cracking due to the general use of the suspension, they can burst or be damaged in off road use but unlikely under normal use. Your poor choppy ride quality is more likely down to knackered shocks, suspension bushes will cause a directional problems. The further you travel the hotter the shocks become as the oil heats up and thins out, the less effective they become.
 
Coils will only make the ride worse. Shocks are the most likely cause. Airsprings do wear out, they have a life estimate of 7 to 8 years 80K miles according to LR. Arnott Gen 2's improve the ride slightly. It's never going to ride like a Jag with all that unsprung weight from those bloody great axles. It's cheaper to overhaul the EAS than fit coils and there is a risk coils will fail the MOT under the new rules due in next year.
 
its not unsprung weight that gives wallowy ride although that can be felt sometimes ,changing to gas shocks helps as does new bushes but is an intrinsic part of p38 on air some like it ,some dont,you get similar ride with disco on rear air bags and ride is improved on those with gas shockers and right coils ,but it is horses for courses
 
jamesmartin said:
its not unsprung weight that gives wallowy ride although that can be felt sometimes ,changing to gas shocks helps as does new bushes but is an intrinsic part of p38 on air some like it ,some dont,you get similar ride with disco on rear air bags and ride is improved on those with gas shockers and right coils ,but it is horses for courses
Click to expand...

He wasn't complaining about a wallowy ride, he was complaining about the ride being choppy. Heavy axles plus poor shocks equals a choppy ride in my book whether on air or springs:)
 
shocks and bushes. the ride should never be choppy in a p38. synthetic bushes and gas shocks however will make it harsh / jittery. if a previous owner fitted those change back to oem on both. also worth checking other suspension elements such as ball joints, tie-rods etc. can make the front end a little crashy when worn. your springs probably ok. simple visual inspection, does the rubber look perished, if not don't worry about them.
 
Before you spend any serious money check your tyre pressures, and I don't mean take it to the local supermarket. Buy yourself a digital pressure gauge and get a true 26 psi in the front and 34psi in the rear.
 
Datatek said:
He wasn't complaining about a wallowy ride, he was complaining about the ride being choppy. Heavy axles plus poor shocks equals a choppy ride in my book whether on air or springs:)
Click to expand...


Spot on, I was expecting wallowy, which I don't mind, but not choppy.

Looked on Britpart for shocks, it seems they want blood before giving you a price so I'll go elsewhere - I'll never trust a shop that doesn't list prices! Thanks for all your help peeps, what a cool forum.
 
dogsbody said:
Before you spend any serious money check your tyre pressures, and I don't mean take it to the local supermarket. Buy yourself a digital pressure gauge and get a true 26 psi in the front and 34psi in the rear.
Click to expand...

I would agree 'cept digital pressure gauges are usually rubbish, can't beat the simple "pencil" type, robust and very accurate. Digital gauges give you a very succinct number 32.69 or whatever, great - misinformation to 2 decimal places...
 
I put on coils and am totaly happy with the ride, niether choppy or wollowy, could be that the air springs were duff but they did not look too bad when I threw them in the bin.
Davie:D
 
StuckAgainSteve said:
Looked on Britpart for shocks, it seems they want blood before giving you a price so I'll go elsewhere - I'll never trust a shop that doesn't list prices!
Click to expand...

Except they're not a shop? They don't sell directly to the public and therefore probably don't actually have retail prices. Only wholesale or trade. Try one of the online retailers or something. Personally I'm using Britpart airsprings and am quite happy with them. Didn't like their shocks so after a while changed to Boge which I think are OEM.
 
StuckAgainSteve said:
Spot on, I was expecting wallowy, which I don't mind, but not choppy.

Looked on Britpart for shocks, it seems they want blood before giving you a price so I'll go elsewhere - I'll never trust a shop that doesn't list prices! Thanks for all your help peeps, what a cool forum.
Click to expand...

Lucky escape, Britpart is commonly referred to on this site as ****part:rolleyes:
 
StuckAgainSteve said:
I would agree 'cept digital pressure gauges are usually rubbish, can't beat the simple "pencil" type, robust and very accurate. Digital gauges give you a very succinct number 32.69 or whatever, great - misinformation to 2 decimal places...
Click to expand...

Cheap digital pressure guages can be as much as 10psi out:eek:
 
depends what you buy they also supply cheapest branded and genuine parts you get what you ask for, yes they are wholesaler you need an account to get price list
 
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