Hi all

I have A 2012 L322 TDV8 Vogue with adaptable dampers

I had noticed 2 month ago that I had a slight dip around the rear right (around 10-15mm = wheel to arch) wheel.
My JLR dealer told me my rear air dampers were shot and offered to change them (muchos €€€), so I did.
now they are all new in the back but my car is still dipping in the same way (rear right) ...
I asked to see the dampers but he told me that (though I had asked to keep the parts) they had been thrown away already

Now his diagnostic is that the front ones need to be changes because "they compensate for one another..." and now the replacement is
1- extremely expensive
2- they don't have the parts
3- cant order them cause there are none available, with no visibility on availability...could be months...

I've contacted Duckworth for the parts if necessary, but I would like your honest opinion... "it needs some intelligence to undestand you may not have enough"

The height of each corner is controlled by the air bags... NOT the dampers...!!!

It is fully adjustable and it can be reset to bring the car level, you can do it very easily with the IID and some other tools... Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

You might be better finding a specialist rather than a dealer. Sounds like they want to change everything till the problem goes away, and have you pay. If they diagnosed the rear dampers, and it didn’t fix it… I’d be wanting my money back…

As Pete says, the air bags control ride height, and can be reset if needs be. Can you see the height difference on the 4x4 screen? Only a thought, not sure how accurate that is…

Don’t give them any more money.

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

My bad I wasn't accurate, excuse my poor wording

They did change the dampers and the air bags (they're brand new and clean !)
and they sais they adjusted the height.

Does anyone know if there is a relationship between the front and the rear aibag suspension that could explain that, though I have changed the rear ones, it still leans from the back because of the front ones ? "it needs some intelligence to undestand you may not have enough"

Ah, ok, no worries. Your English is a million times better than my French… 🤣

I can’t think of a situation where the front will affect the rear, but happy to be corrected.

Definitely seems strange. I would imagine if a height sensor was the issue, it would be the same lower height all the time.

I don’t know enough about how it all links together to help much further.

I would have thought if the bag was leaking, it would drop all the way down if left long enough?

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Changing dampers and airbags will not adjust or effect the ride height, the ride height is adjusted by the amount of air that is pumped into the airbags. This is controlled by the ECU for the suspension

The only way to level the vehicle is to calibrate the suspension using a diagnostic tool.

Changing the front will have absolutely no effect on the height of the rear suspension....

If there is a leak in an airbag that corner may drop but if the rears are all new, changing the front will not make any difference.

Ask them to calibrate the suspension height all round...  Pete

__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Last edited by Haylands on 14th Sep 2022 4:38pm. Edited 1 time in total

Well if they've calibrated the height, then the issue may be the height sensor on that corner (possible mechanical, not electrical defect). There is some relationship front-to-back, but only diagonally, not same side. The tolerance is +/-6mm so it's just about possible that your 'drooping' corner is due to all corners being in tolerance but the tolerances combining to a negative visual aspect.
When I did mine (using Autologic) I went around it three times measuring and calibrating before I was happy, moving the vehicle between each measurement to take any side load off the tyres, there's no way I'd have done that at the dealers though, twice max. - and that would only be if the visuals were odd after a quick up, down, back to std. on the suspension. (and yes, I know what the published procedure is, no-one has time to follow that exactly!)

Well if his diagnosis after the rears we’re changed, that the fronts need doing why didn’t he suggest it in the first place. Smells of BS to me. Find another garage. visiting from www.rrsport.co.uk

If left for any length of time a leak won't dip in one corner as periodically the system wakes up and levels the car so a leak will gradually lower the whole car. A faulty height sensor will do this though as will a faulty calibration procedure as the car may think it's levelling itself but is infract doing the opposite. I have a 'theory' that when the car is raised on a lift or jack so that the suspension is stretched to it's full extent then possibly on old sensors this can upset the reading and recalibration is needed. Also The GAP IID guided calibration procedure is not as straightforward as described in the manual and requires an extra step to load the values by entering the other height control menu to set custom heights. I've had various similar issues with mine that have been resolved by recalibration using the GAP IID esp after the car has been lifted or it's been in a workshop and the battery disconnected. I'd also find another garage ASAP  2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Hi,

THANK YOU ALL !

I wasn't sure about the BS the dealer gave me but the stench was a giveaway

You are right, it makes no sense to blame the front wheels air system for the slouching back (which is quite stable)

SO I'll wait for my IDII to finally get delivered and look into it on my own first then search for a trustworthy independant...

I might change the front Airbags damper whole some day though, but when it'll be necessary only, the car is 100 000 Miles.

AGAIN, great help !

Cheers
Sylvain "it needs some intelligence to undestand you may not have enough"

[quote="Also The GAP IID guided calibration procedure is not as straightforward as described in the manual and requires an extra step to load the values by entering the other height control menu to set custom heights. I've had various similar issues with mine that have been resolved by recalibration using the GAP IID esp after the car has been lifted or it's been in a workshop and the battery disconnected." [/quote]

If you don't mind JayGee, I'll come back to you once I have my GAP IID delivered for a quick refreshing on the "proper" procedure.
Cheers
Sylvain "it needs some intelligence to undestand you may not have enough"