i have watched this forum for quite a long time now solving problem after problem just reading threads, but this time i have looked through 90 pages and nothing has helped.

so here i post. today i went out to my p38 and started it to drive normally, but noticed the front would not lift from curb height, i fiddled with the settings to go up and down but the front just wont lift, i got out and could hear air in short bursts comming from the front drivers side somewhere around the air spiring. then all of a sudden it lifted ...

i then lay there in the rain looking stupid, i then went out and later returned to find the front had dropped so started it up and yet again the short bursts of air i could hear.

there are no leaks in the air spring

it sounds like either a pressure realese valve/ or a spilt pipe but if it were a split pipe why did it just all of a sudden start to work correctly...

all help appreciated.

Hi, could still be a leaky spring but only on the lower setting! my drivers side was going down but i couldn't find any leaks, so i changed the spring anyway and no more dropping. Just an idea. Ian.

thanks for the reply ian,

i have tried jacking up the car to see if this is the case but still it gets a hissing sound, it really does sound like the eas trying to fill the air spring, and i have now noticed that when i push down on the front the hissing is prolonged as if the air is comming out of the top of the air spring,

to those that have changed the air springs how does the inflation pipe attach?

and where does the pipe run as i have had my head under their but i cannot see the pipe.

Hello again, This i can answer the pipe literally just pushes into a brass fitting and when the air goes in the fitting pops up and seals. As for the route i wandered this and followed it from the compressor box, down just behind the front valance then back up into the top of the spring. also the springs are dead easy to change (less than an hour). Ian.

hiya , if you have a leak some place a good way to detect exactly where it is is to fill an old spray bottle from the kitchen with a solution of water and washing up liquid , then spray the solution around the air bag and look for the bubbles this makes an excellent cheap way to detect leaks.
rick.

well today i got stuck in,,,

i started the car up and waited till the short bursts of air started and the began looking for the leak, i found the air was comming from the top of the air bag around where the rubber fits onto the metal top hat.

so i jacked up the car and let the suspension drop to find that the rubber just popped off the top metal, is this normal?

the rubber air bag is in very good condition and i dont think it is that old,

so what i have done is remove the lot and use a vulcanising adhesive to stick the rubber back to the metal top hat, after it has cured i will put it back on and see what happens.

fingers crossed i have done the right thing

fingers crossed i have done the right thing

Click to expand...

If it works yea, if it don't NO!!! lets hope it works and you save a few £££ on it

well so far so good, i have used the car for 2 days now and all could be ok,

if the rubber had any signs of perish i would have changed it, but the air bags were like new...well almost.