Disco II Air suspension – the definitive guide

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I have an air suspension problem and I don't think it's covered here. Mine is fine until I hitch up the trailer or put something in the "boot". Then it sinks to the ground. Once the engine is running it is fine and if I raise the ride height to max before parking up with the trailer still hitched, it stays up. If the air bags were leaking, would it not sink everytime I left it? Has anyone else had this problem and what was the fix.? Thanks.
 
Excellent forum and a brilliant post Battenburg - I followed your instructions and the replacement went "by the numbers" - right down to the "chasis needs wax oil" too.

One contibution I would like to make - I read elsewhere in ths forum that the connector had changed from a screw fit to a push fit. I got my spares on Ebay from 4X4 Mail Order (Kopdaz) and they had the new style connector - LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 REAR AIR SPRING 99-04 `DUNLOP` on eBay (end time 23-Sep-10 11:32:55 BST)

I found that rather than cut the pipe, there is a little brass compression ring? that is split and so you can tease it apart and slide it and the nut off. It was just a simple matter of giving the end of the pipe a clean and then pushing it in as far as it would go.

Did have one moment of doubt when the bag didn't inflate properly but this was because I hadn't raised the axel enough so the ride height sensor was obviously convinced that the car was at the right height. I was very suprised at how rapidly it did inflate once it got going. In the end. my daughter got to take her horse eventing so big smiles all around here.
 
I have got a problem with my air suspension, I've changed the air supply unit that was not working but now I'm not getting a live feed down to it.
I've checked the fuse link 9 this was blown so replaced it. Now the bags are not going up and they have no air in them, I've also blown the bags up checked for leaks but no signs of any, has anyone on here come across an electrical probs with this, Many thanks
 
Apologies for resurrecting an old - though highly useful - thread but I have 2 quick questions with regards removal of the air suspension. There is no mention here of depressurising the system. The Haynes workshop manual I have suggests this is essential - Does jacking the car up high effectively do that?
If so the looks like a relatively straightforward DIY job - but is it really?
Advice welcomed
 
Doesnt the haynes manual suggest just loosening the pipe unions at the compressor housing? Just loosen the brass nuts on the two thin pipes in the compressor housing (these run to the rear bags) and they will slowly depressurise. Make sure that the car is supported on the chassis, not the axle (obvious really..)

Alternatively, impatient people just knife the bags to depressurise the system, again, works fine if you have an anger management problem!

David
 
Thanks I'll do thyat - The Haynes manual has this as a 5 spanner job - ie for experts. But it does seem fairly straightforward. Will have a bash thanks
 
I'm by no means an expert, but it is simple. The hardest was removing the two retaining clips which came off in pieces on mine. Even with the axle fully extended, you going to have a tough time getting a spanner in there to release the 10mm nut - and probably get a blast of dirt in the eye for your trouble. Much better to loosen the nut off at the compressor, deflate the bag and then pull it down through to get at the nut ontop of the air spring. My replacement air spring came with the new style push fit connectors so even easier to refit. Five spanners, it certainly is not.:)
 
horseskeepmepoor said:
1..... you going to have a tough time getting a spanner in there to release the 10mm nut
2. ....Five spanners, it certainly is not.:)
Click to expand...

1. no you're not.......if u deflate the bags first, remove clips then push down the bag to make space for the spanner....though i stick on stabbing the bags instead of disturbing the connections in the compressor housing......u might get an air leak there after.

2. on the nose:)
 
Ihadajeeponce said:
I have an air suspension problem and I don't think it's covered here. Mine is fine until I hitch up the trailer or put something in the "boot". Then it sinks to the ground. Once the engine is running it is fine and if I raise the ride height to max before parking up with the trailer still hitched, it stays up. If the air bags were leaking, would it not sink everytime I left it? Has anyone else had this problem and what was the fix.? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Faulty height sensor(s)?
 
Hi all, my disco suspension is playing up, (it has had new air springs on 6months ago) when you leave it, it drops down to its stops.
but if you leave it in 'extended height' it will stay up all night !
I am thinking it may be the height sensors ?

Any help would be greatly recived

Cheers

Richard
 
elisencooper said:
Hi all, my disco suspension is playing up, (it has had new air springs on 6months ago) when you leave it, it drops down to its stops.
but if you leave it in 'extended height' it will stay up all night !
I am thinking it may be the height sensors ?

Any help would be greatly recived

Cheers

Richard
Click to expand...

sounds like the bags have gone pourus, replace them.
 
Thanks for an excellent and informative thread but I've one or two related questions to ask.

My son recently mentioned that the Disco has a list towards the drivers side, which when I measured the height of the wheel arches, is certainly the case. The height difference at the wheel arches when measured on level ground (my garage floor) is approximately 1" lower on the drivers side than on the passengers side (doors closed, nothing in the boot etc). The guide mentions the heights should be pretty much the same on both sides, but it doesn't actually give a height, can anyone give me an approximate height to work with from the wheel arches? My left side = 19", right side = 18" when measured from the centre of the wheel. (Add 2" in both cases when offroad mode is selected). Suspension returns to 19 and 18" when offroad mode is deselected.

I physically checked the height sensors on both sides, but on the drivers side, found the rod end which attaches to the radius arm to be split and the rod can be lifted off the nut and bolt arrangement. (Is this rod adjustable or is it a fixed length?) With the engine running, I can move this rod up and down and get the suspension to operate, so pretty much everything is working as advertised (I think) apart from the discrepancy of the ride heights which may possibly be cured when my new sensor arrives. I've done a temporary fix on this for the moment so it doesn't jump off the bolt when the car is being driven. If however, this doesn't cure the height issue, is it possible to do an SLS calibration with a 'Hawkeye' diagnostic tool, rather than take it to a main stealer?

To recap - three questions:

1. What should the height between the centre of the wheel and the wheel arch be?
2. Is the rod length adjustable between the platic arm and the radius arm i.e, do the ends screw in and out to alter the overall length?
3. Can the SLS sensors be calibrated using a Hawkeye diagnostic tool?

Many thanks!
 
Glad you have found the thread useful :)

To answer your questions:

1) Dunno
2) No - the sensor settings are calibrated using software. The official process uses some blocks, which are placed between the axle and the floorpan, the suspension is then lowered down onto these, and then calibrated at that height as 'standard'.
3) Afraid I use nanocom - that can, but I am not sure about hawkeye. I know it DIDNT offer this functionality, which is why I chose the nanocom, but I understand they have been adding new features.

David
 
elisencooper said:
Hi all, my disco suspension is playing up, (it has had new air springs on 6months ago) when you leave it, it drops down to its stops.
but if you leave it in 'extended height' it will stay up all night !
I am thinking it may be the height sensors ?

Any help would be greatly recived

Cheers

Richard
Click to expand...

i have just found a pin hole in 1 of the bags so going to fit coils
 
David Pye said:
Glad you have found the thread useful :)

To answer your questions:

1) Dunno
2) No - the sensor settings are calibrated using software. The official process uses some blocks, which are placed between the axle and the floorpan, the suspension is then lowered down onto these, and then calibrated at that height as 'standard'.
3) Afraid I use nanocom - that can, but I am not sure about hawkeye. I know it DIDNT offer this functionality, which is why I chose the nanocom, but I understand they have been adding new features.

David
Click to expand...


Thanks for your reply David. Your 2nd answer is useful to know since I'm still waiting on my replacement unit (which could be a while yet as I just got my first mail delivery today since 9th December! They said it was the weather - I can't understand that, it didn't affect the Disco :rolleyes:). I didn't want to go messing with the ones on the car incase I broke summit - the rods a a bit rusty etc....


I'm told there's an upgrade for the Hawkeye which will address this feature, so we'll see what happens in the New Year. Speaking of which, a happy New Year when it comes!

Cheers

Jim
 
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