Checking front airbags.

M

my95mark8

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Hi. What is the best way to check the front air bags for leaks?
Every couple days or so, I find the car lowered down all the way.
Would something like this cause a message on the screen? It says "air suspension ok". I am asking because when my mom owned this car, she said her mechanic "bypassed" something...and I am wondering if it was that.
Checking around, it seems that a conversion kit is more cost effective, but I really don't have the money for it right now.
Other than this, and the CD changer, I love this car.
Thanks.
 
i found out i had a leak on mine when i had it up on a hoist. it had a little burr on the ring undernath the left front bag. that caused a small hole which i put a little rubber cement to cover and smoothed out the burr. so far so good. your compressor fills your bags up when running so if you check it then it'll come out air suspension ok
 
my95mark8 said:
Hi. What is the best way to check the front air bags for leaks?
Every couple days or so, I find the car lowered down all the way.
Would something like this cause a message on the screen? It says "air suspension ok". I am asking because when my mom owned this car, she said her mechanic "bypassed" something...and I am wondering if it was that.
Checking around, it seems that a conversion kit is more cost effective, but I really don't have the money for it right now.
Other than this, and the CD changer, I love this car.
Thanks.
Click to expand...


If you dont want to deal with anything regarding air ride, switch to conversion. The conversion is about the same price as the bags, so if you want that, id say go for it. Im just a fan of the air ride myself, so i kept it.

BTW, could you find out what he bypassed, cuz my air ride is perfectly fine, but i keep getting check air ride for no reason, and i would like to bypass it.
 
Any opinions on conversion kits?
So far, I have checked Arnott, $501, Strutmasters, $479, American Air Suspension $399, and Suspension Alternatives, $359 (on Ebay).
Who's the best?

I will see if I can find out what was "bypassed".
 
Last edited by a moderator:
my95mark8 said:
Any opinions on conversion kits?
So far, I have checked Arnott, $501, Strutmasters, $479, American Air Suspension $399, and Suspension Alternatives, $359 (on Ebay).
Who's the best?

I will see if I can find out what was "bypassed".
Click to expand...

Either AAS or Strutmasters will do just fine. Mine was from AAS and it said made by Strutmasters.

Great decision if you convert - you won't regret it. I got the lowering kit b/c the car drives better lowered, and it will never adjust after conversion.
 
So, from AAS, you can get strutmaster parts cheaper? COOL!
Mr Wilson, I wonder anyone who did the conversion could give you instruction on how to shut that off?
 
my95mark8 said:
Hi. What is the best way to check the front air bags for leaks?
Every couple days or so, I find the car lowered down all the way.
Would something like this cause a message on the screen? It says "air suspension ok". I am asking because when my mom owned this car, she said her mechanic "bypassed" something...and I am wondering if it was that.
Checking around, it seems that a conversion kit is more cost effective, but I really don't have the money for it right now.
Other than this, and the CD changer, I love this car.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you haven't done this yet? Start the car up... Let the compressor put up the bags... The turn off the air ride using the switch in the trunk.

If the car goes down the bags have a leak... This could take a few hours for the bags to go down. If they stay up over night good change it's not the bags.

Otherwise to find the leaking bag take off the front wheels.. (make use air ride is turned off) and spray down the strut with soapy water.. look for bubbles.
 
my95mark8 said:
Any opinions on conversion kits?
So far, I have checked Arnott, $501, Strutmasters, $479, American Air Suspension $399, and Suspension Alternatives, $359 (on Ebay).
Who's the best?

I will see if I can find out what was "bypassed".
Click to expand...

The ones on eBay are sold by Struts R Us one of our venders or by Strutmasters also one of our members....

All Struts that I have seen from all three above except from Eddie are seem.

If you are a gold memember - I got my conversion for my 93 from Strutmasters for $350 to the door...

If you don't know Eddid at American Air... I would have to say he's the best.

I do like strutmasters but I will back Eddie 100%..... Also a member of this forum.... Call Eddie he'll work with you...
 
The weird thing is, sometimes it stays inflated for days, and sometimes it doesn't. I mean, there's no rhyme or reason to this, like i can't say it stays for 1 day, or 2, etc...or hot weather or cold...it varies. When my mother owned the car, someone put used airbags in it.
Are there replaceable cartridges in the new struts?
 
my95mark8 said:
Are there replaceable cartridges in the new struts?
Click to expand...

?

You can replace the strut but what are you calling the cartridege...

You could have faulty senosrs...

If you turn off the air ride nothing else will work except the bags holding the air. If they still let down in a few days, it's the bags.

Call Eddie at American Air Ride.. Eddie is very helpful and love to help people solve air ride problems. Eddie won't try to push his products only help out. If you don't need to replace the bags he won't try to sell you his bags. He's not just out to make a buck... and alway happy to help.
 
That does tend to sound more like a valve problem, I really don't know a thing about the Air Ride suspension, but if it stays up for more than a day at times, I wouldn't think the bags were leaking...
 
Brozly said:
but if it stays up for more than a day at times, I wouldn't think the bags were leaking...
Click to expand...

Not really, the bags can have small leaks that the pressure of the car seals but when sitting the car slowly leaks.

I had this same problem and these same questions with my 85 Mark VII. I was hoping that it wasn't the bags. But what I found out is that even though my car could stay up for a day or more at time it was still the bags leaking. After I put in new bags I had no more problem.

If you turn off the air ride system the values do not work. If the car does not go down. 99% it is not the bags. If it goes down even if it takes 2 days, 99% it is the bags.

Call Eddie he's the best!
 
Ok, Thank's for the correction, I've been putting pretty big miles on mine since I got it, and didn't think a slow leak would be objectional, I know mine, the pump runs quite awhile, sometimes when I start it or at a stop, but I wouldn't dream of converting to springs...
 
Brozly said:
Ok, Thank's for the correction, I've been putting pretty big miles on mine since I got it, and didn't think a slow leak would be objectional, I know mine, the pump runs quite awhile, sometimes when I start it or at a stop, but I wouldn't dream of converting to springs...
Click to expand...

A leak will slowly kill your compressor...

The conversion is nice and easy to do...
 
Strutmasters offers a 25% discount on conversion kits for LVC Gold Members - If you decide to go that route.


-
 
Here is a quick rundown of the past 24 hours or so.
Yesterday 7:30 am suspension was all the way down in the front, temperature approximately 30 degrees. Drove the car about 10 miles to work, bags were still inflated when I left work at 3:00....temps were probably in the 50's all day. Left work, ran a few errands (about 15 miles) got home about 4:30, parked the car, bags still inflated. Car sat until about 10:00, when I went out to use it, and the bags were deflated. I drove the car for about 10 minutes, then parked it for the night. Overnight temps were in the 30's. This morning, the car was at normal height.
I think later today, I will spray the bags with soapy water, and see what they look like.
Maybe I am overthinking this.....I just hope it can last me until after x-mas, then I will be better able to afford to fix it.
 
Have you turned off the switch in the trunk? By doing this you will know if it is your bags or not.

I went through the same thing you are doing right now. Cold days warm days. Bags up bags down.. Everything running good and thinking that all was OK then damn back down again..

I talked to both Eddie and the guys at Strutmasters. Eddie explained the whole process of what happens. Eddie use to work with Ford with the air ride system.. He really knows his stuff when it come to the air ride. He even invented the spider valve which can help prolong the life of the compressor.

Both Eddie and Strutmasters told me that by turning off the air ride system in the trunk you will be able to tell if it is a bag or another component.

If they bags go down while the switch is off it is the bags leaking.

I'm just trying to save you a lot of extra work as I've been where you are already... I wanted to cling to the hope that it was something cheap like the height adjuster. Good Luck...


my95mark8 said:
Here is a quick rundown of the past 24 hours or so.
Yesterday 7:30 am suspension was all the way down in the front, temperature approximately 30 degrees. Drove the car about 10 miles to work, bags were still inflated when I left work at 3:00....temps were probably in the 50's all day. Left work, ran a few errands (about 15 miles) got home about 4:30, parked the car, bags still inflated. Car sat until about 10:00, when I went out to use it, and the bags were deflated. I drove the car for about 10 minutes, then parked it for the night. Overnight temps were in the 30's. This morning, the car was at normal height.
I think later today, I will spray the bags with soapy water, and see what they look like.
Maybe I am overthinking this.....I just hope it can last me until after x-mas, then I will be better able to afford to fix it.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks.
I did the soapy water test...it looks like i have a leaky left front bag.
 
Otherwise to find the leaking bag take off the front wheels.. (make use air ride is turned off) and spray down the strut with soapy water.. look for bubbles.[/QUOTE]

lol thats what i was thinking to say...haha you beat me too it!;)
 
Brozly said:
, I've been putting pretty big miles on mine since I got it, and didn't think a slow leak would be objectional, I know mine, the pump runs quite awhile, sometimes when I start it or at a stop, but I wouldn't dream of converting to springs...
Click to expand...



hey don't feel bad..mines a 98 with appx about same miles as your...umm urs is about 111k on it?
as for the pumps...when im drivin at high speeds and slow down boy does my pumps sound loud from inside the car...does yours sound kinda loud?

my car sits pertty good,no saggin in the ass or in the front...hmm she just right!;)
 
It's close to 117, now. I notice the pump more some time than others, but I wouldn't call it Objectionly loud, it's got a pretty good stereo though. I do tend to wonder how loud it is from outside, and what people might think at times...
 
Thanks everyone.
Now I have to try and decide how I am going to fix this. Replace the leaking bag....replace both sides....convert to coils....money's tight this time of year.
I might just have to put in a used one to get me by for a while.

Hmmm, someone mentioned bicycle patch....how about one of those self vulcanizing radial patches.....j/k.
 
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