Air Springs and Shocks

[TDV6]

I am preparing myself for the experience of replacing the air springs and shocks on my car, Arnotts say they have front ones but don't mention the rear.

Are the air springs and shocks the same all round or must I get front ones then get rear ones ?

Regards,

Ryall

[101RRS]

I cannot help with your question but can I ask why you are wanting to replace the air bags.

Cheers

Garry

[Graeme]

Fronts are different to rears. Also, IIRC pre 2007 rears are not interchangeable with later model rears.

[gghaggis]

Front and rear are different, and I'd only be using genuine fitted by someone with LR diagnostics - you can do it yourself if you have a diagnostic tool for calibration.

Cheers,

Gordon

[pohm66]

Hi Ryall,

Replaced all 4 corners myself last year without too much bother.

Definitely get yourself a decent ratchet spanner (13mm) comes to mind for the nuts on top of the housing. The ones inboard are tricky SOBs but do-able. Found replacing the rears easier than the fronts.

The air hoses are a bit fiddly as well as not much slack and quite rigid.

Also check you have the right size socket for the lower shock bolt. Can't remember either 24 or 27mm.

Did the change over before a service and did as Gordon suggested got calibrated then.

[TDV6]

Thank you all for that.

Garry I want the airsprings as well as Arnotts supply them that way, spring and shock already fitted together, they have just replied to my enquiry with the following info - $364.99 + $120.01 Shipping (3-5 days), for each of the front springs and Brillstein shocks pre-assembled, I assume its US$ but as long as I stay under the $1000 limit there's no customs duty to pay.

Thanks for your reply's,

Ryall

[101RRS]

Ok - thanks - I suppose you can keep the old bags as spares if required. You might want to do a search on Bielstein shocks on here as there were some issues with them some time back.

Garry

[TerryO]

After having two sets of a different brand of well known aftermarket shocks fail on my D3 and also reading other story's about failing Bilsteins on D3's, I wouldn't be in a hurry to do it again unless it was proven to me that they would last a reasonable amount of time past the 5,000 to 10,000 km's my two sets lasted before stuffing up.

[~Rich~]

After having two sets of a different brand of well known aftermarket shocks fail on my D3 and also reading other story's about failing Bilsteins on D3's, I wouldn't be in a hurry to do it again unless it was proven to me that they would last a reasonable amount of time past the 5,000 to 10,000 km's my two sets lasted before stuffing up.

Stick with OEM Terry?

[lrdef110]

I cannot help with your question but can I ask why you are wanting to replace the air bags.

One of the problems is that when the shocks go they typically leak oil into the bags and compromise the quality of the rubber in the bag. Also timewise its cheaper to replace the shock and bag than to separate the shock and bag.
Cheers

[TerryO]

Stick with OEM Terry?

Hi Rich,

The third set that the supplier provided gratis were the Delphi aftermarket ones, while they are from the same manufacturer who make the OEM bags and shocks I'm sorry to say they aren't as good.

If I still have the D3 when these ones wear out I will pay the extra for the OEM units.

[Graeme]

Front and rear are different, and I'd only be using genuine fitted by someone with LR diagnostics - you can do it yourself if you have a diagnostic tool for calibration.
There is no need to recalibrate the height sensors as they are not touched. They mount on the suspension arms, not the shocks. I have changed all shocks 3 times and not once disturbed the height sensors, not even removed the links.

[Graeme]

The third set that the supplier provided gratis were the Delphi aftermarket ones, while they are from the same manufacturer who make the OEM bags and shocks I'm sorry to say they aren't as good.
There is a version of these marketted as being for D4 rear which may be firmer but with the D3 versions' valving not nearly as good as MY09 genuine shocks, their valving may also be quite different to genuine ones.

[strangy]

TDV6, I would strongly urge you to reconsider your choice of supplier. Although mine and many others experiences relate to D2 bags the results are the same.
Friends with non LR vehicles also experienced atrocious quality and serviceability from this suppliers product. The use of OEM parts with their own hardware seems attractive and many have believed this to be a good move (self included) however, they just cant seem to put the pieces together properly.
Customer service was very good but is useless after 3 sets of bags failing within hours/days of fitting and you wait for replacements from the US.
Its even worse to head off on the road wondering when the bags are going to let you down (pardon he pun)
You save a few dollars which are quickly over ridden by a flat bed or worse.

Cheers

[Graeme]

TDV6, I would strongly urge you to reconsider your choice of supplier. Although mine and many others experiences relate to D2 bags the results are the same.I'm sure the airsprings fitted to the OEM but not LR spec D3 shocks are exactly what is supplied by LR, having bought and fitted a set of each and compared them side by side. LR D3/4 airsprings aren't too great anyway as the rears on my D4 had developed cracks inside on the folds against the shock by 95K kms.