Legacy air shock deflation?

[Pete]

Its a UK '93 Legacy with air suspension, I've had it for three months.

If I didn't drive it for a few days, the car would settle down as the shocks
lost pressure, especially at the back.

Recently, the passenger side is going down overnight, so I find the car
leaning over in the morning. This is clearly not a good trend, especially as
they are a very rare car in the UK and spare parts and repairs cost a
fortune - I've been told £500 per shock by the only other person I know who
has one of them.

Any suggestions or advice would be welcome. I'm going to live with it for
the moment, but what should I do?

Regards,

Pete

 

[LauraK]

Recently, the passenger side is going down overnight, so I find the car

leaning over in the morning. This is clearly not a good trend, especially as
they are a very rare car in the UK and spare parts and repairs cost a
fortune - I've been told £500 per shock by the only other person I know who
has one of them.

I know these from previous Lincoln Mark VIII ownership.
The air ride suspension needs to be rebuilt or replaced. The seals that hold in
the air are broken. It's expensive. There was/is a place in Jacksonville, FL,
that sells rebuilt air ride components for Lincolns fairly cheap.
Look for a shop the specializes in Lincolns and/or Cadillacs or works on a lot
of Lincolns. Lincolns and Caddies have used this system for years.
Another possibility is conversion to regular shocks. This company makes a
conversion kit for Subarus.
http://www.strutmasters.com/subaru/index.htm
Don't know if they ship to UK, but some Google searches might turn up something
closer to home.
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.madmousergraphics.com
web design, print design, photography

 

[Jim Stewart]

I know these from previous Lincoln Mark VIII ownership.
The air ride suspension needs to be rebuilt or replaced. The seals that hold in
the air are broken. It's expensive. There was/is a place in Jacksonville, FL,
that sells rebuilt air ride components for Lincolns fairly cheap.
Look for a shop the specializes in Lincolns and/or Cadillacs or works on a lot
of Lincolns. Lincolns and Caddies have used this system for years.
Another possibility is conversion to regular shocks. This company makes a
conversion kit for Subarus.
http://www.strutmasters.com/subaru/index.htm
Don't know if they ship to UK, but some Google searches might turn up something
closer to home.
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.madmousergraphics.com
web design, print design, photography

Also some motorcycles used air shocks so you
might find a motorcycle shop that can rebuild
them.

 

[johninKY]

I'll assume you have a 91 to 94 Legacy. The entire suspension can be
replaced with a conventional coil spring suspension. A simple remove and
replace process.

May want to test a few things before going this route. Disconnect the air
line at the strut. Be careful peeling back those plastic lock tabs because
they will break if bent too far. The strut will immediately deflate. But
the compressor should activate and you should feel/hear a strong flow of
air coming from the disconnected line. Not wimpy puffs but a good flow.
Do this for each strut.

If you have a good flow of compressed air at each strut then you know all
the system up to the strut solenods is good. Now all that can be wrong
is: The solenoid is leaking, the air line between the solenoid and strut
is leaking, the air line fitting at the strut is leaking, or the strut has
a hole. Everywhere an air line connects to something there is an O-ring.


Soapy water can be used to detect leaks.

Last week a set of air struts (23K miles) sold for slightly less than
$200. They don't appear very often but several times a year someone sells
a set.

I really doubt if you will find anyone that can rebuild these struts.
They fail 99% of the time because the airbag either cracks or gets a hole.
I've never been able to find anyone that has these bags.

 

[johninKY]

Check ebay item #7940583272. (USA)

 

[LauraK]

I really doubt if you will find anyone that can rebuild these struts.

They fail 99% of the time because the airbag either cracks or gets a hole.
I've never been able to find anyone that has these bags.

Try here:
http://www.arnottindustries.com/?source=over
I put their rebuilt rear struts in a Mark VIII and they were excellent. Saved
about $1,000 over new.

(e-mail address removed)
http://www.madmousergraphics.com
web design, print design, photography

 

[hippo]

Its a UK '93 Legacy with air suspension, I've had it for three months.

If I didn't drive it for a few days, the car would settle down as the shocks
lost pressure, especially at the back.

Recently, the passenger side is going down overnight, so I find the car
leaning over in the morning. This is clearly not a good trend, especially
as
they are a very rare car in the UK and spare parts and repairs cost a
fortune - I've been told £500 per shock by the only other person I know
who has one of them.

Any suggestions or advice would be welcome. I'm going to live with it for

the moment, but what should I do?

Regards,

Pete

My fronts seem to last about 100K & the rears about an extra 6 months.
Conventional replacement all round works out about half the price of OEM.
Depends how long you're keeping the car. Rides better on air; handles
better on Koni gas or similar. Bike suspension shop may be able to
rebuild. Some seem able to rebuild 'anything'. Cheers