Air Suspension - slow air leak

Sorry guys but I have to say, all this sounds bonkers to a Defender devotee. Is air suspension really worth it? My suspension does nothing! in a car park. If I can't fit in a carpark I park somewhere else. Not meant to be cheeky, I genuinely want to know if air suspension is really worth it?

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Originally Posted by scarry

If the two fronts go down over 48hours with the electrical plug removed from the front cross over valve,one side about 12mm,the other about 8mm,how can you tell 100% that the valve is leaking?Also fuse 26 under bonnet out.

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One corner lowering will always partly lower an adjacent corner because the chassis doesn't bend, not that easily anyway. I would park the vehicle at off-road height and repeat the test to give the opportunity for an air-spring hole to be opened further or not so much to produce a different rate of leak.

Thanks Graeme,i did that once before,and from memory it went down slower,i put that down to the extra amount of air in the system,but will try again.

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Originally Posted by MrLandy

Sorry guys but I have to say, all this sounds bonkers to a Defender devotee. Is air suspension really worth it? My suspension does nothing! in a car park. If I can't fit in a carpark I park somewhere else. Not meant to be cheeky, I genuinely want to know if air suspension is really worth it?

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I think so, but it comes down to individual opinion. 5 years ago when my main drive was the Perentie wagon, I wouldn't really have consider it. 3 years ago I was looking at air springs in the rear of the Perentie, and maybe something more comfortable like a Puma. However, I would ask myself is all the electronics on a Puma and a weaker rear diff really worth it. Like every choice there will be a compromise. As I said for me it's with it. I can lower the RRV so older relatives can get in or in an off road situation I can have a 2" lift, and when back on road down to normal height. The ride on Landy coils is impressive, on air springs it's better. Air springs are like tyres that never have contact wear.

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Originally Posted by rar110

I think so, but it comes down to individual opinion. 5 years ago when my main drive was the Perentie wagon, I wouldn't really have consider it. 3 years ago I was looking at air springs in the rear of the Perentie, and maybe something more comfortable like a Puma. However, I would ask myself is all the electronics on a Puma and a weaker rear diff really worth it. Like every choice there will be a compromise. As I said for me it's with it. I can lower the RRV so older relatives can get in or in an off road situation I can have a 2" lift, and when back on road down to normal height. The ride on Landy coils is impressive, on air springs it's better. Air springs are like tyres that never have contact wear.

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But if you have issues with the system,it will certainly lighten your pocket,and some issues are a PITA to resolve….

Parts of the EAS wear out a lot quicker than coils..

Get it into super-extended mode and do some serious soapy water spraying on the one that sinks the most. You could loosen the compressor to valve block line at the valve block to do a soapy water check for escaping air after the initial pressure is released indicating a leaking valve. Indeed, as any escaped air from the corner valve would be blocked by the compressor's exhaust valve, a corner valve could leak badly and go undetected except for minimal lowering of the corner.

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Originally Posted by scarry

But if you have issues with the system,it will certainly lighten your pocket,and some issues are a PITA to resolve…. Parts of the EAS wear out a lot quicker than coils..

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Yep, that's the sort of compromise I was referring to.

The newish corner valve was the issue,hope this one lasts a lot longer than the last.

Now after sitting for a week the air compresser doesn't even run after the vehicle starts.:)

Mines done 280k+ and the only thing I do know that has been replaced is the compressor - found a receipt for it in the service history papers!

But, it's now getting the dreaded bong sound and amber fault showing....and it's leaking for sure at the front somewhere.....but I've got no complaints because that sort of kms with no faults (that I know of) seems pretty reliable....and I had a P38 some time ago, again if maintained was quite reliable too.

I spent loads on my D2 coil suspension too, so overall I still like the advantages of air over coils, especially the convenience of height change...and the ride is just great.

I think I will just start changing everything because I have no doubt it's all overdue to crap itself sooner rather than later (and Sod's law dictates it'll be in the middle of nowhere) and I'd like another 200k to be just as reliable as the first.

Hi brains-trust!

In the last 2 weeks, I have noticed a slow leak (overnight) in the front end somewhere. I thought it may have been the front left, as it was ~15-20mm lower overnight.

2 days ago, I changed all 4 struts as I had already planned to do this before I noticed the 'slow leak'.
I was hopeful that this would fix the issue.

Alas, I have noticed the same 'slightly drooping' front left corner after the last 2 evenings (sitting overnight). Is this likely/possibly the cross-link/valve block? I'm assuming this is the only other piece in the puzzle (for the front's at least).
Is there a foolproof way of checking???

Also, does the 'valve check' process on the IID Tool (under Service - Suspension...) detect leaks? I would suspect not...???

Thanks.

Rob