Hi there, last week (ironically whilst parked up at the land rover show) the air spring on my 2007 L322 exploded. Result was I came back to the car park to find the car listed to one side, with an oil leak from the air spring area. The recovery company put the car on a flatbed and took it back to the garage. The garage said that when the spring exploded, it took out the shock as well, hence the oil leak.


Now I've had that entire air strut assembly (incl shock abosorber etc) replaced by my local garage, and the car is good again.

I do however have a few questions:

1.) If the air spring had gone bang whilst driving would it have caused the car to lose control? Would I have been able to drive the car a short distance with the air spring gone?
2.) Having had only 1 strut replaced (front drivers side), should I get the other side done as well? Just wondering what the service life is for the other air struts given my car has done 140K miles (although the garage said the other side looked in good condition).
3.) The genuine LR part (air strut 32566) was chaged at £435 (excl VAT). However I have seen non-genuine LR parts from around £230ish. Would a pattern part work just as well if I get the other ones done?

Thanks for your replies!

Based on my experience with an 06 L322 I would answer as follows:

1. Unusual for them to go "bang". They seem to perish at the "fold" where the bag loops back on itself as this is the bit that is continually flexed. When mine went it was a gradual leak for a couple of weeks (car looking low on one side) then when it went properly it just failed to hold pressure at all but I haven't seen one "explode". When mine did loose pressure completely I was able to limp home a few miles. It isn't like a catastrophic suspension failure, everything is still connected just sits lower on one side which may affect geometry etc but no worse than a flat tyre and probably not as bad IMHO.

2. My 2nd front strut went at 140k, this was a factory original as far as I could tell. The other one had been replaced by the PO before I got it (116k). The two rear struts were still original. I "could" surmise that the fronts go quicker but have no empirical evidence to back that up.

3. I used Delphi struts from Island 4x4 - these are quality items made by the same people who make the OE ones (I believe). They are about £300 incl. I would not recommend the Dunlop versions as the PO had fitted one of these to mine and after 15k the top bearing was knocking like mad so I had to replace - a common problem on Dunlop ones I believe. You can also buy just airbags, but at this price it seems a waste of effort as you get a new shock with the Delphi ones.

HTH

Paul. 2011 TDV8 AB
2006 TD6 AB (Gone to Wales)

Only seen a report of one other airbag seriously letting go, this was reported on here a few years ago and was a left hand rear bag. It let go when on the move, but the owner was able to safely pull onto the hard shoulder and stop. Control in this situation possibly easier if the rear one goes.

You would get a suspension drop of @ 20cm at most, the shocker and the suspension arms would take up some of the slack, and car systems, e.g. traction control & 4x4 would also help. Probably not as bad as a tyre puncture blowout at speed. .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Scary thought but I'm glad it burst whilst parked sir...

My professional advice would be to change the other side ASAP with a matching unit (from the same supplier) It doesn't make sense to change one spring or one shock absorber on an axle sir... I certainly wouldn't!

Might i also suggest, at 140k you look at getting the rear shockers changed at the same time. It would certainly make a fair difference to the car, for not a huge amount of money...

I changed my front strut assemblies at 10 year mark, as anacdotally seems to be increased reports of failure after this time.

I used Delphi too, which are ORM units. ______________________________
Vogue tdv8 08MY poverty pack - wow

On our old L322 (2002) I had the front left airbag go when I hit a pothole at about 30 mph - it just exploded and the corner dropped to the bump stop instantly. There was no pull on the steering or any loss of control - the corner just dropped. It was drivable enough to get it the 10 miles home (albeit rather slowly).

I then had a two day wait whilst waiting for new front struts to come and needed to use the car to get to and from work, so lowered the whole lot to the bump stops and disabled the AES (it had gone into hard fault mode). It was pretty uncomfortable, but managed it fine, but I'm not sure I'd want to drive too far like that.

And yes, as above, do change both - you don't want unbalanced shocks.

Thanks for all the replies - makes sense - will get the opposite front air shock fitted as soon as possible.

Just another thought - is there a preferred suspension height to leave the Range Rover in - just wondering if it's kinder on the system to leave it parked in access mode rather than (for example) off road mode, as the pressure in the system would be less?


Philip.

Don't think it will make any difference TBH. Pressure is probably the same anyway as it still needs to support weight of the FF regardless of height setting.

Cheers,

Paul. 2011 TDV8 AB
2006 TD6 AB (Gone to Wales)

The lower you leave it, the less you scuff/wear your seat edges

Im 6'3" and drop mine to access mode every time i exit for this reason

My drivers side front went a loud bang while I was parked .
Eventually got the strut out bottom 2 bolts were a right pain to get out (18st pulling down on a breaker bar and just got it to move).
Once removed saw the extent of the damage, Got to do passenger front next.

Yes, the garage had a difficult job with the bolts on mine which were sacrificed in the end, and new bolts put in along with the new strut!

About putting it into access mode for getting in and out, I am doing that now, and as said in the post above - a lot more pleasant to get in and out of the car (and it looks cool parked up like a lowrider!)

Philip.