Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Yeah, undid 10mm nut on black plastic air pipe in order to remove the old air bag. Looks like I cut the black pipe now, square and just back from the old fitting (to save as much air line as possible and then just push the new end into the fitting (10mm nut with dab of paint) on the new Contitech air bag; there is a little white plastic plug in the fitting (10mm nut) at the top of the new Contitech airbag. So, yes, no need to touch the nut on the new air bag.
ronsealdeath
Sagging Member
You sure your compressor hasnt just got a sticky valve? Mine did similar to yours and it was that. It opened on exiting the car to lower the height but wouldn’t fully close. So that side sagged occasionally. Freed it up and fine since. Worth checking
jamesmartin
Well-Known Member
if its nut and olive you have no choice but to remove and refit with pipe, i use a little silicone sealant smeared around olive and nut threads,with push fits you just cut pipe or remove olive and nut
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
All good!
Contitech bag all good - perfect now! Few hiccups to start though in what should be a quick and simple job (jacked up the rear diff and the height sensor woke up and pumped up the new air bag. Drove up the road and back again to test - 5 minutes and it was down again! Checked the Wabco compressor, but this time I dropped the compressor down onto a brick and tried again after spraying soapy water on the 10mm nut and black plastic line going to the driver's side air bag. Small bubbles! Nipped up the 10mm nut - this time I could see it and wasn't going by feel from underneath! Small leak stopped, compressor returned to support frame and all good. When I do the one on the other side I'll make sure and drop the compressor first (let out air and then tighten when new bag goes on). First time around going by feel I didn't want to cross-thread or overtighten the 10mm nut at the compressor - turns out it wasn't tight enough!
Contitech bag all good - perfect now! Few hiccups to start though in what should be a quick and simple job (jacked up the rear diff and the height sensor woke up and pumped up the new air bag. Drove up the road and back again to test - 5 minutes and it was down again! Checked the Wabco compressor, but this time I dropped the compressor down onto a brick and tried again after spraying soapy water on the 10mm nut and black plastic line going to the driver's side air bag. Small bubbles! Nipped up the 10mm nut - this time I could see it and wasn't going by feel from underneath! Small leak stopped, compressor returned to support frame and all good. When I do the one on the other side I'll make sure and drop the compressor first (let out air and then tighten when new bag goes on). First time around going by feel I didn't want to cross-thread or overtighten the 10mm nut at the compressor - turns out it wasn't tight enough!
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Here's the air line with fitting after LR Genuine Contitech bag removed. Cut black plastic air line square with sharp Stanley knife just back from the nut.
Here's the new Contitech OEM air bag (RKB101200). Remove the white plastic plug and I just pushed the freshly cut black plastic air line in - didn't touch the 10mm nut. Is this what they call a VOSS fitting?
Here's the new Contitech air bag installed. I cleaned up the old clips and reused them - both in good nick! Note the green dab of paint in same position on the nut (10mm nut not touched - just pushed the air line in).
Now, if I need to change this air bag again years in the future (I have grown attached to my Disco!!!), is the black plastic air line going to get shorter again? Will I have to cut it again?
[The fitting on the top of the new Contitech is not the same as the Dunlop - the Dunlop I saw didn't have a 10mm nut - just had a small push-in collar.]
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Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
That did cross my mind until I found the leak! Phew! The valve would just be a solenoid valve? Three solenoid valves in all - one for each side and one for exhaust?
How did you free-up the sticking solenoid valve out of interest?
Compressor sounds good and looks good but I'm going to take a proactive approach and look at overhauling the compressor - guy at bagpipingandy.com sells a seal kit, and also at 4x4airseals.com. Also came across dessicant and filters from 4x4airseals.com on ebay: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wabco-Air-Suspension-Compressor-Air-Dryer-Repair-kit-/111735458714
Any thoughts on these?
sierrafery
Well-Known Member
Yes
I'm watching this with interest cos it's a sealed unit and i doubt that you can do much with it
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Yes, was worried about potential for solenoid valve to sporadically stick as I was under the impression that meant a new compressor (or take a punt on one from the wreckers)?
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Anyway, will shortly order bag for the other side and investigate compressor overhaul - purely proactive measure! I might get a trolley jack as well!
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Here's an email (extract) I received from Continental FYI:
The air spring should’ve come with some level of installation instructions (attached) but you are correct to not remove the voss connector from the new air spring, if the paint seal is broken warranty is void.
When you push a clean good piece of pipe into the connector it will pass through an olive that creates the seal, make sure its pushed firmly in, but not too firm to damage / kink the pipe. The main culprit for leaks on these air springs, is due to incorrect installation, where the fitter has let the air spring hang from the top fixings and pull the rubber bellow away from the crimp ring, or become creased on inflation.
The air spring should’ve come with some level of installation instructions (attached) but you are correct to not remove the voss connector from the new air spring, if the paint seal is broken warranty is void.
When you push a clean good piece of pipe into the connector it will pass through an olive that creates the seal, make sure its pushed firmly in, but not too firm to damage / kink the pipe. The main culprit for leaks on these air springs, is due to incorrect installation, where the fitter has let the air spring hang from the top fixings and pull the rubber bellow away from the crimp ring, or become creased on inflation.
sierrafery
Well-Known Member
the valves are available as spare but if they fail usually they fail for good https://www.glossyautoparts.com/air...1-415-403-103-0-anr4868-4154031030-p3003.html
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Hi, The nut you'll be undoing is on the pipe not the one on the bag that it screws in to. I thought a voss connector was the push in one. Perhaps I'm wrong (usually am)
Griff
Yes, Continental Contitech confirmed their bags have a VOSS connector on top - you are correct, air line is pushed into 10mm nut (nut on top of bag has a dab of paint, if moved, will void warranty). The Dunlop bags from what I seen are similar, push-in type, but uses a retractable collar set-up and there is no 10mm nut.
I assume if/when I have to change this new Contitech bag that I will have to then remove the 10mm nut with the attached air line. In order to put a new bag in place again the air line will have to be trimmed/cut again! If the air line is too short by this time (likely), then I will have to run a new air line from the compressor?
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Running currently with new bag (Contitech OEM) on driver's side and old bag (LR Genuine- Contitech) on passenger side. Feels good - used trailer to remove a large load of rubble and ride was perfect - no droop at all and raised up to maximum height quickly and then down again (without trailer attached)! I will however change the other old bag soon - just for symmetry reasons!
I can understand how grit can get into the fold and cause a pinhole and subsequent leak - the bag folding over itself could contain the leak?
I can understand how grit can get into the fold and cause a pinhole and subsequent leak - the bag folding over itself could contain the leak?
MAF Diver
Member
How would you clean the valve? And where do I find it, what does it look like?
