Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Brixham Devon
Posts: 248
Suspension dropping.
Suppose it had to happen, my front suspension is dropping slowly over a few days, I’m going to check the suspension units tomorrow but my question is if it’s the front valve block how easy are they to rebuild or is it best to replace?
(Edit) just found a YouTube video on valve rebuild looks straight forward😄Steve
*2005 RR Sport 2.7tdv6 HSE. Current project.
*98 Volvo V70R FWD, owned 14 years, future project.
*99 BMW Z3 30k miles owned from new.
18th Dec 2021 8:49 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13865
Hi
Hope the following video will help regarding a rebuild , ,
May i ask plse , have u tried , in normal ride height , measure the front and rear wheels, from the centre of the hub to the edge of each wheel arch ,
Fronts 466mm
Rear 485mm
After measuring , remove fuse F26 in the engine bay , then leave overnight , then remeasure the distances, with that fuse removed it disables the self levelling feature , it might just be one side but will be evident in the morning where it’s dropped
If u do rebuild them , plse ensure that if there’s any sign of white silica dust inside the valve block is to check ur compressors drier, ie new silica and filters , plus if u have access to an air compressor is to blow the lines out , as u don’t want it in ur rebuilt front valve block
Found as well using soapy water and different ride heights can sometimes show if an airbag has gone, mine only leaked in off road height
Well hope that helps a little and will find the rebuild kit for u , alas I had to replace my valve blocks as it had been seriously neglected , personally I bought all genuine valve blocks
Repair kit , has enough in the kit to rebuild all 3 x valves
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13865
Re: Suspension dropping.
Devon Z wrote:
Suppose it had to happen, my front suspension is dropping slowly over a few days, I’m going to check the suspension units tomorrow but my question is if it’s the front valve block how easy are they to rebuild or is it best to replace?
(Edit) just found a YouTube video on valve rebuild looks straight forward😄
Beat me to it, Ref the video
I also bought this kit, really helped getting the old O rings off , really hope it doesn’t come across as trying to teach u how to suck eggs
Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Brixham Devon
Posts: 248
Cheers Stuart, great information as always, yes that’s the video I’ve watched. I’ll go and pull the fuse now.
Before we picked the car up two years ago the dealer spent a bit to fix a suspension fault, NSR suspension unit (s/hand) new rear valve block and new compressor. If there is white dust in the front block it should be from before.Steve
*2005 RR Sport 2.7tdv6 HSE. Current project.
*98 Volvo V70R FWD, owned 14 years, future project.
*99 BMW Z3 30k miles owned from new.
18th Dec 2021 9:53 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13865
Ur so welcome
Alas I ended up virtually rebuilding my suspension, insulating tape all over the place , white dust everywhere, front air bags leaking the list went on and on but blimey it was worth it as then found out the true meaning of what the suspension should be like , sorry I’m waffling as per usual
That’s a good idea pulling the fuse now so at least then tomorrow will have an idea of where it’s dropped
That’s great you’ve had the compressor etc done, the person who designed the position of the rear valve block needs bloody shooting , lol
Also if it does help, have u got one of those garden sprayers plse that has the long nozzle as found them perfect for getting to the airbag top connection and in the outer metal air strut shroud
Plus those voss connectors drove me nuts , along with the cost of them so replaced all of mine with brass pushfits , my god it made life easier , just had to ensure the ends of the plastic pipes had no cuts of digs, double checked after with soapy water , ref the picture of the strut, would only leak in off road height
Plse let us know how u get on and what ur findings are in the morning , thks
18th Dec 2021 10:10 pm
Devon Z
Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Brixham Devon
Posts: 248
Cheers Stuart will do, my god your chassis is sooo clean 😎Steve
*2005 RR Sport 2.7tdv6 HSE. Current project.
*98 Volvo V70R FWD, owned 14 years, future project.
*99 BMW Z3 30k miles owned from new.
18th Dec 2021 10:18 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13865
many thanks and must admit seemed to take forever cleaning it , lol, ,, steamed cleaned it, allowed to dry then inside and out with dinitrol , really impressed as it still looks like that even after a few years , my god that stuff seriously sticks to ur hands, made the mistake of not using gloves
Awesome , look forward to ur findings
18th Dec 2021 10:27 pm
Devon Z
Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Brixham Devon
Posts: 248
Well hight check and fuse pulled last night checked this morning and no change 😐😐 previously she appeared to drop about 10mm every 24hrs on the front only 🤔Steve
*2005 RR Sport 2.7tdv6 HSE. Current project.
*98 Volvo V70R FWD, owned 14 years, future project.
*99 BMW Z3 30k miles owned from new.
19th Dec 2021 1:28 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13865
Hi
That’s very interesting it hardly dropped , know mine drops around 10mm , but doesn’t drop any lower than that over a few days/weeks
Have u tried putting the suspension into off road height and spraying the front struts , plus the connectors on top of the struts plse , also wouldn’t hurt to to spray the front valve block to see if there’s a leaking pipe, when my front passenger side strut was leaking it would only leak in off road height, assume that was because the bladder was exposed the most
Hope that helps a little and plse let us know how u get on
20th Dec 2021 2:17 am
Devon Z
Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Brixham Devon
Posts: 248
She’s been sat another day and night with the fuse out and she’s only dropped another 10mm O/S 5mm N/S, before visually she dropped more in a similar amount of time.
I’ve put the fuse back in now as I’ve got to use the car over the next few days then back to work over Xmas so I’ll get back to it after that.Steve
*2005 RR Sport 2.7tdv6 HSE. Current project.
*98 Volvo V70R FWD, owned 14 years, future project.
*99 BMW Z3 30k miles owned from new.
20th Dec 2021 12:17 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13865
Hi
I wonder if that’s because one of ur valve blocks are letting by which I assume would only leave the front valve block because the others have already been done , plus it’s only the front that’s been dropping
As I’m thinking that if there’s for example a leaking front air bag and the valve is letting by very slightly that will allow it to drop whilst the fuse has been removed
Know when I first got mine all 3 x valve blocks were letting by which was a big learning curve and of course the awesome help here
No worries and hope u get to the bottom of it and indeed plse let us know how u get on
Finally best wishes to u and family for the xmas and new year
20th Dec 2021 12:25 pm
Devon Z
Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Brixham Devon
Posts: 248
Front valve block is my suspicion also but I’ll leak check the front bags after Xmas (or if I manage to find some time over the next few days)
Thanks again for your input Stuart really helpful as always and you and yours have a great Christmas.Steve
*2005 RR Sport 2.7tdv6 HSE. Current project.
*98 Volvo V70R FWD, owned 14 years, future project.
*99 BMW Z3 30k miles owned from new.
20th Dec 2021 1:10 pm
gstuart
Member Since: 21 Oct 2016
Location: kent
Posts: 13865
Ur so welcome mate , plus forgot to add that I found using a vacuum hand pump very useful , as when I first removed my front valve block I could see it was letting by a lot , then after rebuilding it held vacuum, was just an inexpensive tool to have and ensure it’s not letting by
Found the link of the one I got , just used some of the hose that comes in the kit and got some extra clamps and 6mm plastic pipe
As a side note , If there is an issue with the front struts and can’t find it using soapy water, there is an easy way to test them using a tyre compressor , along with an isolating valve , fingers crossed u don’t have to do that and of course more than happy to walk u through it
Likewise mate to u and the family , will just be candy and I again this year
Ps, not that it really matters but stuart is my surname, first name is gary
20th Dec 2021 2:28 pm
Devon Z
Member Since: 14 Nov 2019
Location: Brixham Devon
Posts: 248
Sorry Gary, thanks again mate that’s really helpful. I’ll keep you posted.
Have great Xmas 🥳Steve
*2005 RR Sport 2.7tdv6 HSE. Current project.
*98 Volvo V70R FWD, owned 14 years, future project.
*99 BMW Z3 30k miles owned from new.
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