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View Full Version : Bilstein rear air-spring RKB500240 for MY07+ issue



Graeme
17th July 2022, 08:24 PM
RKB500240 is the LR part number for the rear air-spring for MY07+ 3.6 TDV8 (not the MY07-09 petrol 4.4/4.2) and MY10-12 all engines. Note that the shocks for MY07+ 3.6 TDV8 have different part numbers to those on the 4.4/4.2.

Last August I fitted the Bilstein versions to my MY12 TDV8 and both have burst in the last 10 days while travelling slowly at off-road height with the vehicle unladen. I suspect that the later air-springs must be longer than the earlier versions and that Bilstein may not have properly allowed for the extra travel at off-road height particularly as the suspension articulates and that mine had become weakened by my recent increased use of off-road height to get through the deep mud on my lane. The failure point of both air-springs appears to be where the rubber is inside at normal height but on the outside at off-road height where a patch of rubber has pulled off the underneath layer then the whole length instantly split.

Laurie
19th July 2022, 03:17 PM
Thanks Graeme, I've got 2 year old Bilsteins on the back of mine, I will check the part number tonight. I have used extended height , but only a couple of times and for brief periods.

Laurie

Graeme
19th July 2022, 03:58 PM
Has a rear wheel been off the ground (eg jacked for changing) with them fitted as that fully extends the springs providing the spring hasn't burst, in which case the ARB will prevent full extension. I refitted the 2 originals removed last August including the leaking one and they extend to nearly their maximum with the wheel off the ground, stretching the rubber significantly on the longer outside such that a slightly less tolerant spring could fail.

Laurie
19th July 2022, 06:48 PM
Graeme my new shocks are Bilsteins, but the newish air-springs on inspection are genuine LR ones. I just remembered seeing Bilstein on the shock when I changed a tyre, hence my concern. Thanks for keeping us posted.

Laurie