Suspension Airbag Replacement | FerrariChat

Suspension Airbag Replacement

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by Roth, Feb 14, 2017.

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  1. Roth

    Roth Formula Junior

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    #1 Roth, Feb 14, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I'm not a mechanic. I don't own many tools beside the one on me. However, I am mechanically inclined. So to keep things interesting, my Rover has an airbag leak in the front passenger wheel. The remaining 3 wheels level itself to match so now the dog litterly sits on the tire. I'm tempted to replace the air suspension myself but I'm afraid to open the bottle for fear I can not put the genie back in. Anyone out there in the World Wide Web done this before? On a scale of one to five, how hard it would be to rub the genie the wrong way? Thanks! Before and after pics
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  2. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    I think it's just P.O.'d over those really, really awful wheels and tires on a Rover.
     
  3. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    I would get the part number, but before doing anything pull the wheel off and see how involved the process is.


    My guess is since its a RR, you can't just replace it without also resetting the entire air system. Do a little internet search and YouTube too, I'm sure there are videos or detailed posts of how-to.

    Not much experience with air, but have installed coilovers before.
     
  4. Roth

    Roth Formula Junior

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    LoL I think it's safe to say Tcar prefers big rubber tire over big rim. There are two sides of a coin. Head or tail, either you like it or hate it.

    They say you have to own a set of tool and mechanically inclined to own a Ferrari. I have to start somewhere. This is a perfect opportunity to unvirginize my mint condition socket set I have since high school. I just hope once once the cap comes off the bottle, the genie is not too scary. :)
     
  5. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    All you can do is try. As long as you have back up transport I'd give it a shot.

    The only issue I ran into on the A3 was having to remove the wipers to remove the cowl to get to the top suspension bolts. So theoretically it should be an easy swap. I was into the sport truck scene for a while and so I'm familiar with air ride. I would suggest one other thing before moving forward.

    Fill a water bottle of soapy water up and poke a hole in the lid and douse the bag with the liquid. Hit the setting for the highest setting so it fills all the bags all the way up. If air is even going to the bag you should see where the hole is. But this just made me think that possibly it's not a hole at all, but just a punctured airline?
     
  6. Flash G

    Flash G Three Time F1 World Champ
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    It's a pretty easy process and if you're mechanically inclined and have the tools, you can do it yourself. I've done one spring on an L322 Rover, and unlike its predecessor, you don't have to reprogram the ride heights or fix the alignment. It's about a 2 hour job.

    It's been a while, but if I remember correctly, everything came off easily except one bolt that needed an impact wrench or breaker bar. Everything else (3 bolts) connects at the top of the strut tower under the hood. Just make sure if the air strut drops out after being unbolted, it doesn't rip out the air lines. You need to lower it down slowly to get access to the air line.

    Once you swap it out, the system levels itself.

    One more thing, those "rubber band" tires are murder on air springs and suspension bushings. They'll cut your spring life in half. Also, I'd consider doing both front air struts. Once one goes, the other is close behind.

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9jF8HDzgfQ[/ame]
     
  7. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

    Don't hate it but you can only 4-wheel to the local mall with those... :)
     
  8. Flash G

    Flash G Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 Flash G, Feb 16, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  9. Roth

    Roth Formula Junior

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    #9 Roth, Feb 16, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2017
    LoL is that Tcar new ride? I bet he caught many tails in the back seat of that chick magnet and I don't mean fish. :)

    Well, the cap is off and the genie doesn't look that scary.
     
  10. Flash G

    Flash G Three Time F1 World Champ
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    How did it go? What type of replacement bag did you get?
     
  11. Roth

    Roth Formula Junior

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    The control display in the 4x4 screen shows a blinking red light over both front wheels. When attempting to raise, I hear air hissing out the right front side where the suspension sits. "raising slowly" pops up in the instrument panel. After a few minutes, it read "suspension malfunction." According to the WWW, it appears the suspension failure happens at around 95,000 miles and the leak occurs within the crease of the fold as a result of constant folding and unfolding of the rubber air sack. What interesting, my Rover only has 60k miles. Though I admit, I lower the car when I park. This, repeated many times over creates a lot of friction thus facilitate the rubber failure. Lesson learned. The moral of the story, to avoid premature rubber failure, reduce unnecessary friction. :)
     
  12. Roth

    Roth Formula Junior

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    #12 Roth, Feb 17, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    arrived his morning but rain throws a wrench into my plan. Tomorrow i might be going to the PetersonMuseum for Enzo birthday. Sunday is fun day so this weekend is booked. :)
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  13. Flash G

    Flash G Three Time F1 World Champ
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    The blinking red light means you are at the suspension bump stops. The pump in the trunk is running constantly trying to inflate the bag. If you keep running it, it's going to burn out the pump. The "suspension malfunction" warning is telling you that the pump is running but the car is not raising (because of the leak.)

    I wouldn't try to run the car until you replace the air spring, or you might have to replace a burned out air compressor pump as well.
     
  14. Roth

    Roth Formula Junior

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    #14 Roth, Feb 19, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Flash, two hours is just about right. The time it took me to remove and install a new air spring. I'm planning to do the left when time is willing. $460 for the left. $540 for the right. Not sure why the descreptancy. Well, I think I'm ready to do an engine out now. Anyone needs an engine out service on their 355 willing to let me experiment. I meant willing to let me service, I got tools. Will travel. :)

    Pic below. New air spring
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  15. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Seven Time F1 World Champ
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  16. Flash G

    Flash G Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Congrats. Like I said, if you have a basic wrenching-ability, it's a pretty straightforward job.
     

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