The system works by softening the dampers, not by making them firmer as by default the bypass valves are closed and only opened when the system determines that softer damping is applicable.

For the ride to be softer with the system disabled perhaps the valve for that corner at least was opened with the shock moving in only 1 direction trying to soften the ride due to faulty articulation signals from a faulty height sensor, which could have lead to the air-spring becoming more compressed thus making the ride firmer.

LandyManSam wrote:

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

Sam, having watched your vids including your latest one, can I make a suggestion? Instead of making some gastly spare wheel holder for the rear! It would be far easier to cut the spare wheel well out and fabricate a central well (for the original compressor) weld in a flat floor and mount the spare wheel underneath a la Discovery 3 & 4...

Hmm... sounds like a decent idea, I'm just trying to picture if it would work. Wouldn't it be dropping down where the exhaust & back box sit currently? Also, I've always hated how you can see the spare wheel hanging down underneath the RRS / D3/D4 from behind. It probably isn't as much of a hindrance off-road as it looks though.

The 4.4 TDV8 doesn't need a backbox as the DPF kills the engine sound... Try it, remove the whole exhaust from just behind the DPF, you may well be surprised sir...

GraemeS wrote:

Static levelling is done by the air suspension but headlamps that turn also level during hard braking and hard acceleration.

I know this is getting slightly off Sam's original topic, but are we saying that:

* Up until 2010, FFRR's with Xenon's had motors in the headlights to do the levelling (as per my quote from the workshop manual and as per my own experience with my 2002 FF which defininately has levelling motors in the headlights)
* After 2010, unless the cars have adaptive headlights that swivel around corners (as per my 2011 car as it happens), the headlight levelling is taken care of ONLY by the air suspension?

Confused, and wanting to learn more

Jon 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

Correct Jon, although I suspect that the change occurred with the MY07 when Terrain Response and the D3/L320 RRS air suspension system was introduced rather than at MY10.

Thanks GraemeS  1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

Any update on the height sensor fix? I’ve found that after off-road if the ride quality improves drastically for a few miles then goes back to harsh 1995 4.6 v8, green/tan (long gone)
2005 4.8iS X5, blue/black
2011 4.4 tdv8, black/black (gone)
2003 3.0d X5, Oxford green/black/manual
2021 p575 SVR, BR green/vintage tan

I have the exact same issue. Did you get to the bottom of this problem??

So did I - my fix was new oem front struts/dampers 1995 4.6 v8, green/tan (long gone)
2005 4.8iS X5, blue/black
2011 4.4 tdv8, black/black (gone)
2003 3.0d X5, Oxford green/black/manual
2021 p575 SVR, BR green/vintage tan

Hi thanks for the reply.

So did you change both front/rear?

I was thinking about doing a cvd re-calibration? Mine is a 66 plate 41k, would think this is early for strut to go bad?

Rears made no difference, front fixed it. Is yours an L405? L405 Front dampers failing has come up here a few times 1995 4.6 v8, green/tan (long gone)
2005 4.8iS X5, blue/black
2011 4.4 tdv8, black/black (gone)
2003 3.0d X5, Oxford green/black/manual
2021 p575 SVR, BR green/vintage tan

Yeah its a l405. Did yours bounce a lot on the slightest imperfections on the road? And did yours have cdv?

Yep I could see the leading edge of the bonnet bouncing. I didn’t notice the movement at first and need a good eye to know what to look for. Yes it had cvd.

Felt like the suspension dampers were stuck on firm - could feel every bump. My theory is that either the solenoid in the damper was knackered or the damper was gone and the cvd system was trying to compensate 1995 4.6 v8, green/tan (long gone)
2005 4.8iS X5, blue/black
2011 4.4 tdv8, black/black (gone)
2003 3.0d X5, Oxford green/black/manual
2021 p575 SVR, BR green/vintage tan

Early L405 front dampers were prone to leaking oil into the air-spring, with failing to lower to access height due to the oil being one of the symptoms. Oil doesn't compress so isn't a good substitute for air in an air-spring. The lack of oil in the dampers causes them to be ineffective.

when I got mine, I had an adaptive dynamics issue, car sank at front over a few days.. , but looking at the height sensors, one front one, was bent up, and wedged by the rubber elbow of the rod...found whilst first diagnosing the fault with IID. so could BOTH your fronts be wrongly fitted/positioned, and trying to adapt/increase etc? I flicked the sensor lever over, and it slowly settled, and error cleared.

Inspected car ride heights today and the o/s/f is sitting higher than the n/s/f. The rears are both the same height.

I have no faults on the dash or codes logged on the suspension diagnostics when it was looked at by the garage, they told me that dynamic suspensions along with the ACE are meant to be hard. I disagree to some extent! I get its meant to be firm, not bouncy as if your wheel nuts are loose when going over slightly bumpy road in a straight line. My seat feels most imperfection on the road, not steering wheel though.

Im willing to try a few things which include changing out struts/damper BUT.. is there not a way of telling if a damper is gone? I think its a lack of dampening but i can’t be 100% sure. I will start by getting ride height sorted and then it will have to be the front dampers. What do you guys think? Cheers