AIR SPRING NOISE/ ROUGH OPERATION

[bluegreygreen Rangie]

Hi Guys'

I just brought my second l322 which is a 03TD6, it has had both front air springs replaced but one was done later and is very new looking

Problem is that this new air spring does not operate smoothly... It does not glide up and down but rather goes up and down in sharp movements in order to keep up with the other side of the car if it is been raised or lowered. I thought perhaps a new spring will do this for a while and wear in but it does not seem to be changing at all, it even transmits a sound thru the cab when it does this glitchy/ non smooth movement

Has anyone experienced this or have I some dodgy spring?

I was thinking of lubricating it with something but I don’t want to apply chemicals that may damage the rubber or whatever it is, I also raised the car to offroad height and washed it real good with a hose and brush to remove any dirt etc but still no difference, On that note does anyone hear clan their air springs in such a way if they are covered in mud and grit etc... Is it or would it be recommended (anyone know?)

Oh its the drivers side front spring ....

I did google this but came up with nothing!



Dave

[spudboy]

I'd say it's going to be the strut (shock absorber section) that's got "Sticktion". The spring is just a layer of rubber stuff, so it won't have any potential to be jerky.

I pulled one apart when I changed my air-springs and there are some very big rubber washers inside and these may be sticking to the main shaft. I'd not recommend pulling them apart though, as I never got it back together again (so much for my idea of having a spare strut on hand!).

If you end up replacing it, do it yourself if you have even a modicom of mechanicing skill in you - it is an easy job. Get the strut from the UK. I paid GPB 210 for a brand new genuine strut, and it got here in about 6 or 7 days.

[bluegreygreen Rangie]

The "Sticktion" hey :D

Its weird but i can see and feel it doing it if i have my hand on it when it is doing it and i swear its the bag and it even has a weird texture... i think you have a very valid point though so ill have to figure out whats what now, even weirder though is its a complete brand new strut assembly :angel:

I guess if i lube the bag up with inox or lanox or something it might tell me if its it or not... ill give that a go anbd let you know




Dave

[jsp]

I knew a lass once who had a lot of rubber garments, and she recomended armorall, all I can say is it will not fix bad products but liberal application on a regular basis did stop my classic rear bags getting worse where they were dry and splitting, and a few years down the track I replaced one because the bead gave up the ghost.

you could try a few polishing attempts with amorall?

[spudboy]

I knew a lass once .... amorall?

I'm reading 'lass', 'rubber', 'amoral'... sounds interesting!

BGG Rangie - The wall of the air-bag is only 1mm thick (or something like that) so I can't see how that would impede progress unless it is catching on something.

Does it only happen when the car is raising or lowering itself? What about if you bounce that corner of the car by hand? If it is only sticking when being aired up or down, maybe it is the valve block 'chattering' in the control unit.

[bluegreygreen Rangie]

Ok.. well i have some interesting news, In total disregard for what it might do to the bag i raised the car and sprayed cheap supercheap auto tyre shine which i know is slippery like silicon spray all around the bag... and what do you know, Problem gone!!

It looks like this is very odd and rare, i have wiped off the spray as best i can as im now quite worried what it might to to the bag material.. oh well

I wish i took a video of it now as it was quite bad... to the point one side of the car would raise and the other jump in steps to try to keep up which was very noticable

I was getting quite some noise inside the cabin and could even feel it when driving so ill go for a drive and see if thats gone or if i have a flogged ball joint or rubber elsewere

Spent the afternoon getting rid of the EGR system :)!!!.. Time for a drive



Dave

[Homestar]

Good news you fixed it, but it sounds like it is on borrowed time. I would order a pair of new ones for the fronts to be on the safe side - they have come down a lot in price, so it's not the end of the world...