Renew shocks inside D3 Air Springs - whosdunnit recently?

**Graeme** · 11th May 2020, 06:55 PM

I removed the original shocks from my 2009-build 3.0 D4 at 30K because I didn't like their excessive (IMO) firmness which hadn't softened by 30K and fitted genuine D3 shocks. The D3 shocks lasted 60K before they became too sloppy so the originals were refitted for a 2nd try. However they lost all damping within 5K, presumably because they had been stored on their sides for 2 years. I then purchased the non-genuine set locally in a hurry to get new air-springs plus a try of the cheapies, which while initially they were better than the worn-out D3, by 40K kms they were too sloppy. I then purchased the 2012-revised D4 shocks from Duckworths which I thought were the best of all the shocks that I had tried on the D4 - firmer than the new D3 but more supple than the 2009/2010 D4 original shocks.

**jh972** · 14th May 2020, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by Tombie

Airbags over 7+ years and higher kilometres are really not suitable for rebuilding the shock only.

I’d certainly never trust one.

Hmmm.... At 13 years and 300+ k maybe I should get ready to replace!

**INter674** · 14th May 2020, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by jh972

Hmmm.... At 13 years and 300+ k maybe I should get ready to replace!

Don't tell the Toyota fans about that ..geez you might even make the magical half million club reserved for Toyotas😃

**scarry** · 14th May 2020, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by INter674

geez you might even make the magical half million club reserved for Toyotas😃

Without a single repair

Back on topic,I go along with Tombie,having had bags fail at less than 6 yrs,yes I know Ron must have made the ones on my D4.

First thing I would do is pressure test them,which is pretty easy,the fitting is 1/8 BSP,so easy to put a line on it.Drop in a container of water,but be careful I don’t know what the max pressure would be out of the vehicle,(maybe same as in the vehicle?)and at that sort of age anything could happen.I have had one up to 150 PSI,but they operate at around 250 PSI.

If not leaking,it’s still a lot of work and some cost if the bag then fails shortly after.

In my opinion,not worth doing.

**Graeme** · 14th May 2020, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by jh972

Hmmm.... At 13 years and 300+ k maybe I should get ready to replace!

That's a bit of a change of plans JH, from a whole vehicle down to maybe just the air-springs!

Thread: Renew shocks inside D3 Air Springs - whosdunnit recently?

Thread Tools

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions