Right, after more than a year without major problems, I found the car leaning on the rear right side. I suppose the rear air spring has a leak, it only has a visible drop after a few hours. The question is, can I replace the air spring? The procedure seems rather simple, except for the suspension depressurisation using the testbook... Is this really necessary? Did anyone change a rear air spring? And, since I don't see any visible damage on the rubber part, could it be another cause for the drop? There is no hiss, and once started, the car raises to normal height in seconds. Thank you!

I may be corrected... but if it is sat down and deflated then what is there to depressurise

I'd say give it a go!

Of course check it with soapy water first or park it the opposite way around to be sure.

That's a great idea! Funny thing - there are no error messages - yet. I wonder if anyone already tried to change a rear air spring without going to the dealer.

I spent a few pleasant hours soaping the rear air springs, the connectors and the valve block which is in the right rear wing without finding any leak. Wonder what to do next…

Due to the make up of the springs it may be worth leaving it overnight in the various suspension modes , Hi , normal and access. The leak if it is on the spring may only be exposed when the spring is in a certain position as the fact they fold on themselves sometimes allows them to block their own hole.

You may be lucky and it was just a quirk of the system.. Depending on how much you rely on the car it might be woorth swapping the spring out just for peace of mind.

Lee

Last edited by elpeede on 23rd Mar 2010 12:05pm. Edited 1 time in total

Thank you for the advice. I don’t think it’s quirk as this is already the third day it’s doing it. It was parked in normal position, I will try the other modes too.

Might just be a sensor, each corner has one. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

Thanks, didn’t think of that. I wonder if I’d swap it with one from another wheel, would it change the behavior?

Yes probably badly!

I seem to recall a thread about this before, each sensor is different and also has a different cost! Typical eh!

Do some searching for air spring or sensor, its bound to come up. Discovery 4 HSE
1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF
1982 Series 3 Hard Top

*Gone:L462 D5 HSE LUX, L663 Defender 110 HSE, Discovery 3 HSE, 2014MY Range Rover Sport 5.0 Supercharged AB Dynamic; L405 Exec Vogue SE 4.4, 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography, Defender TDCi XS CSW, Defender TD5 HT, Vogue SE TDV8, Vogue TD6, RRSport SC 4.2V8, Classic 3.9 Vogue Auto, Land Rover Series 3 SWB

I take the swap idea back, a look through RAVE and a search through posts show that each sensor is different.

I left the car in access mode last evening and this morning the height was unchanged.

Well a week after having the rear right side lowering every night, the car stopped leaning and now I find it at the correct height in the morning. Can’t find a reason, it is warmer outside, but not more than a 5 degrees difference…

This may or not be relevent, but...

When I bought mine the dealer told me it's better to leave it parked for any time in low or access mode.
The reason I was told that it stops the system from trying to self level (or something like that) and is supposed (according to the dealer) to be better for the vehicle long term.

Truth or not I don't know. But I do it.

I suspect that the bag on the side affected has gone pourous, as in will let air through its structure rather than a full on hole that leaks all the time. The change in temperature will make a big difference to the rubber.

I had a 101 not so long back and the tyres felt oval for the first 2 miles in the winter, in the summer they were fine.

Thank you for your suggestions. I wonder though if the lowering of the car at each stop wouldn’t use the air compressor even more in the long run though… As for the pores I was thinking the same, maybe that’s why I had no bubbles when soaping the air springs…