Exploding new rear air bag P38 Thor.

Ruby Range said:

So when fitting new bags in from a total rebuild i.e converting to bags from springs do I keep a set of blocks in between the chassis and body or use a jack before I start her up and get some air into the system. Bearing in mind I have to use the blocks to get the heights before I rewrite the ecu ??

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Lift the car and place it on stands to fit bags. But DO NOT lower it until there is at least some pressure in the bags. Without pressure in them they can deform on lowering and pop off when pressure is applied.

Guess what........I've got myself into a real pickle. I've given the whole suspension from ecu through pump and valveblock a double checking over. Renewed all airlines.
Damn me, the pump still keeps running. The only thing left was the compressed air tank. I absolutely covered it and myself with suds. Definately no leaks.
On re-inflation, though, I heard a sharp clunk from the rear end. Out of desperation I gave the the new air bag a dose of suds. Leaking. So was the other side but not to the same extent.
I'm doing something really stupid, here. A suggestion is that I may have confused the front and rear shockers Terrafirma TF126 rear and TF125 front. The dimensions for both are quoted the same. How can I check which is which to see if I've made a pig's ear? I must say thtat looking at the rear bags, they do appear to be cranked somewhat, but no more than I've seen videos. I've ordered yet another pair of bags and I'm going to spend the morning "practicing" with the old bags in and out to see if I can spot anything obvious. I take the point about supporting the axle prior to re inflation. Is the idea to get them straight, not extended but not folded either? I did the whole set 10 years ago on my mum's drive and don't remember any other proceedure than locating the protrusions into the matching receivers and sliding in the R clips. I seem to be having a bit more of a struggle getting the top and bottom flat enough to easily slide the top and bottom R clips in, particularly on the side that went bang through me wrongly placing the top R clip. I'm certain you're all finding this thread as big a pain as I'm suffering but, any help will be more than appreciated. Regards all, Peter.

Got the shockers on right. Checking my installation. Looks like I'm paying the price for carelessness.

supapete said:

Got the shockers on right. Checking my installation. Looks like I'm paying the price for carelessness.

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Having shocks transposed will effect nothing until you get the rear axle into a extreme articulation scenario. Or hang the axle by lifting the body. Or over zealous crossing of a speed hump were the body bounces. That would overextend standard bags maybe causing them to flip off and also cause sensor problems. The plus 2" shocks available are NOT suitable for standard bags, more for use when coils are fitted or Gen III airbags. If Gen III bags are fitted extended shocks are used to accommodate the extended lift capability. But the sensor arms would also need to be modified.

Just followed this from Datatek: https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/airbag-replacement-guide.171318/

Thanks I've clocked that. Do air bags rely on air pressure to seal? I can't get bubbles now. I just can't get the pump to stop running for more than 10 seconds no matter what I do. The left front sensor height readout is always up to 10 points below the front offside. I've switched sensors back and forth, gone to town with switch cleaner. You name it. I've switched ECU, driver pack, valve block and renewed all airlines. No dropping overnight at all. I re read the gospel according to wammers and do some more switch cleaning. Thanks again.

supapete said:

Thanks I've clocked that. Do air bags rely on air pressure to seal?

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Shouldn't!

Sorry to hijack the thread but u said switch cleaning what do u use for cleaning them

In a previous life when I had to rely on nicotine loaded jack sockets etc I used polypropylene ......... Something..Easy for you to say which I bought from the chemist. Now I just buy the cheapest squirty cannisters off eBay.. It's called contact cleaner by bods more in the know than me. Hijack away. I get no visitors in here.

Cheers will get some of that and give mine a clean

Are you inflating bags manually or with the compressor?

I'm adjusting the axle/body so the bag is straight and unbuckled but not extended. Fire the car up going through the lift stages. In truth, I haven't paid that kind of respect until I got into this mess. Got no means of inflation other than this. The degree of crank is quite noticeable at extended. Is there a spec on this.? I'll report back at tea time. Thanks again.