D3 wallows on the freeway- is this normal?

[BSM]

Greetings,

Ive noticed that my recently putchased D3 TDV6 SE (approx 120k kms), has an unsettling wallow or fore/aft rocking motion that occurs when driving over those little bumps you get on the freeway. I am wondering if this is a sign of shockers that have gone - or if I am just not used to the motion of the vehicle.

When I lean on the front bumper and let go, the front clearly oscillates a few times before coming to rest, wheras the wife's VW Golf simply returns to position with no oscilation at all.

Is this a sign of dodgy shockers or am I imagining things??
What sort of dampers go into an SE (with air suspension) anyway? Does it take just normal shocks?

thanks

[Graeme]

Shocks will be worn-out. D3s have soft suspension that can get a little floaty at times but that's quite different to general wallowing. Mine expire by 60K.

The shocks are fitted with a mount for the air spring so whilst they work on the same principle as "normal" shocks, they must be made to suit the D3.

[BSM]

Shocks will be worn-out. D3s have soft suspension that can get a little floaty at times but that's quite different to general wallowing. Mine expire by 60K.

The shocks are fitted with a mount for the air spring so whilst they work on the same principle as "normal" shocks, they must be made to suit the D3.

I was told, by a service centre a price of $1700 per shock to replace them. Nearly fell off my chair. Graeme, Are you paying that sort of price every 60k?

[sheerluck]

What? :eek:

I priced them up recently to bring some over with the rest of the bits for my D3 and they were about $220 each corner for OEM ones with the air springs, or about half that for just the shocks.

There is cheaper available, as aftermarket parts, but I think the consensus on here is to avoid them.

[Graeme]

I was told, by a service centre a price of $1700 per shock to replace them. Nearly fell off my chair. Graeme, Are you paying that sort of price every 60k?
$1700 per set is more like it for just the shocks or OEM shock and airspring assemblies.
I currently have EOM fitted and feel that the valving is not as firm as LR MY09 ones previously fitted, perhaps using valving specs from early LR versions which have changed over time. However I'm used to them now. There is an OEM D4 available which might be firmer.

[BSM]

$1700 per set is more like it for just the shocks or OEM shock and airspring assemblies.


$1700 per set is certainly more digestible. I hope I misheard. I'll have to summon up the courage to ask again. :(

[~Rich~]

Just done this myself, $1568 for the 4 corners - complete replacement struts incl shocks.
Saved the $$$ and fitted them myself.

[BSM]

Righto, I've now confirmed the cause of the wallowing.

I've been driving the vehicle with the air suspension lowered. There being no air in the shocks it's been bouncing on the springs.

Now you might think, what a dummy, but there was absolutely no indication in the cabin, either down by the suspension height adjust lever or on the console that it was running at anything other than normal height. Perhaps I should have taken more notice of the wheel arch clearance but I didn't.

Anyway the compressor works fine and pumps it up no problems, but the strange thing is that it was running in low mode and wasn't detecting that it was.

[~Rich~]

Righto, I've now confirmed the cause of the wallowing.

I've been driving the vehicle with the air suspension lowered. There being no air in the shocks it's been bouncing on the springs.

Now you might think, what a dummy, but there was absolutely no indication in the cabin, either down by the suspension height adjust lever or on the console that it was running at anything other than normal height. Perhaps I should have taken more notice of the wheel arch clearance but I didn't.

Anyway the compressor works fine and pumps it up no problems, but the strange thing is that it was running in low mode and wasn't detecting that it was.

Well something can't be right then - the D3 won't allow any speed over 12 kph in Access mode. The suspension automatically raises at 12 without a bong warning.

[TerryO]

D3/4's automatically raise up to normal ride height once you go over about 20 kph from memory.

So if yours is still at access height at freeway speeds then there is a problem.

(I stand corrected 12 kmp.)

[PerthDisco]

I also would not describe the D3 at Access Height 'wallowy'. More like a race car stiff. I find driving around a carpark or negotiating speed humps in AH painful given how severe any bump feels.

In fact I think it lowers automatically above 160kmh for autobahn users.

I have noted you can select AH at speed and it will lower and then return to normal.

[discotwinturbo]

I also would not describe the D3 at Access Height 'wallowy'. More like a race car stiff. I find driving around a carpark or negotiating speed humps in AH painful given how severe any bump feels.

In fact I think it lowers automatically above 160kmh for autobahn users.

I have noted you can select AH at speed and it will lower and then return to normal.

It only lowers about 20mm at warp speed.

Mine wallows like all buggery at access height, and even worse at access height with LLAMS -20.

Brett....

[Geedublya]

And on the bump stops it's like driving on a trampoline.

Air springs are (unfortunately) stiffer the more air you add, so at access height the spring is at it's softest and at off road extended it is at the stiffest.
The lowering at high speed is to help aerodynamics only, the suspension will be softer and body roll will increase. Not that important on an autobahn as the curves are gentle and the bumps are smooth.