I have had air suspension on a Cayenne for 7 years. It has been a real problem! It has failed at least 4 times in the last 4 years. Its either moisture in the system that seizes the struts up and burns out the compressor , a seized height sensor, or a leak. A terrible product for anywhere with cold winters and salt on the roads.
If you live in an area where temps reach freezing, a popular practice is to fully compress (deflate) the airbags. Fully purge all the airlines of water with compressed air, empty the central reservoir and refill it with nitrogen. Let the system refill itself, then empty the reservoir again, and refill it full with nitrogen. Nitrogen will resist icing in the winter and prevent blockage from forming in the airlines, or the air springs. Because the compressor on the vehicle tops off the system with oxygen, you need to perform that nitrogen purge every 3-5 years to keep as much condensation out of the system as possible. On the hotter states like down south, this is not as important, and never done. If you buy a vehicle from a hot climate state, and you live in a winter state, this should be performed immediately before winter comes.
I live in a country with really bad roads I wonder what's the correct to drive my GL450 so as not to damage the airmatic system. So many badly installed speed breakers also are a problem
Awesome video but a slight correction @3:50 the compressor does not feed a spring or bag directly. It feeds the reservoir and that reservoir feeds the valve blocks which direct air to whatever spring/bag requires it. The compressor's job is to keep the reservoir topped off. It's no different that say a compressor in your garage: which feeds a tank, and the tank feeds the loads. The compressor doesn't have the output capacity to keep up with the demands of the system on the fly.
Exactly and I would add more info to tour explanation (at least regard to my A6 C6 Allroad). The compressor only comes to play on if is there a delta P (pressure differential) more than 3 bar between air springs and the reservoir and of course rising from the bottom dynamic mode to whatever elevel up. Other than that, the reservoir is enough to play without the compressor assistance.
There really is no magic number as the value will vary as the vehicle is being used. The suspension compresses and expands, and thus this will affect the pressure reading of the system. As a rule of thumb, most European cars operate with a reservoir or central gallery reading of (the air tank of the system) anywhere between 200-350 psi. Most systems only use one pressure sensor located at the air compressor. This is the sensor for the entire system. Other systems (airmatic) may use a pressure sensor at each valve block. These systems display a front and rear axle pressure reading. There really is no way to monitor for leaks reliably with the pressure sensors. As stated this reading fluctuates when the vehicle is in use and there is articulation of the suspension. The only way to properly check these for leaks is to raise the vehicle off the ground, expose as much of the air bags as possible and use the good ole fashioned soapy water mix and look for a leak. Unfortunately, this can be time consuming and labor has to be charged to properly disassemble the vehicle to run checks and pinpoint the culprit.
The air suspension on my '09 Cayenne GTS is great when it works - but I have a broken height sensor that gives me a "suspension fault" error and disables changing the suspension height. Looks like an easy job to replace the sensors - but I don't see them for sale at FCP Euro.
Arnott has gone down in quality big time though ever since Covid. I would recommend Bilstein as a sutible replacement over the OEM stuff. Especially rear bags on Mercedes vehicles.
Thank you very informative and interesting. Question: a good website to find the right part for my cls550 2012 need to diagnose my air suspension, my left front side drops overnight and as I drive on the street drops also Thanks
Great video. I have a 2016 Maserati GranCabrio MC that I'm considering air suspension on to simply lift the front over high curbs and bumps. I don't understand why there isn't a simple solution for this. I've looked everywhere for a compact hydraulic or air solution solution and nothing. I really don't want to deal with the complexity and cost of a full air suspension. Any advice?
I want to install large aftermarket air bags on several pickups I tow with. Leaning towards the rolling style bags like we use on big rigs... like Farfromstock sells. What kind of shock should I run? Like to drop height for freeway comfort & aerodynamics. Any books I should get? Thanks Dusty D
hello there ! when i did place the order for my new RAM pickup truck I did not include the AIR suspension Im Having REGRETS about that decision now my question to you is : May I Install after Market or Even Original AIR suspension could you give me some HINTS what equipment to choose ! to make my truck AIR RIDE !
Got a 2001 s500 and the suspension isn’t level in the rear the left rear is way higher which makes the front right look a little lower just wonder if this is a valve block issue or some sort of level sensor that’s bad . Just bought the car could use some input thanks
My lexus gx470 rear bag has sprung a leak. Would I be aright going with the cheaper bag or is it really worth paying that much for factory. They appear the same?
how do they operate when travelling? when the pressure is in the bag, how does it release pressure to stay the same level, when hitting a bump for example.
They have a long-term rolling average in the controller, so it works out the average ride height over say 10 seconds. This generally rules out bumps and corners, but allows the controller to see if the rear is sagging for example
Has the issue where the higher you go (for offroad) the stiffer the suspension is been solved? This made the solution poor offroad where you wante the highest level and the softest springs. Years ago I had an Audi Allroad and this was a problem. Also while it was great to be able to lift and lower the car, the parts were trouble prone and expensive. My parents have a Lincold Navigator and found it was cheaper to replace the whole system with traditional springs than replace one bad air spring.
Thanks for posting. My 04 Jaguar has air suspension. Do you know if this actively improves the cars handling as well as its ride quality? Is it similar to Mercedes ABC system in this regard?
Hi, any idea if the air suspension of the 957 Cayenne be calibrated / adjusted using the Autel MK808? Saw a video which the Autel MK808 can "trick" the 958 Cayenne into lowering further by changing the input value of the suspension height.
I came here not for my vehicle but for my ag tractor lol. rough as hell when in rough ground so hard on the back. I just wanna replace the seat pillar spring with one of these hahaha
X5M 2015 - every 3rd year you have to replace - bladers OEM or after-market - again after-markets are good , saves lot of money but you need to learn to calibrate them to your kind of drive - using an OBD scanner - much comfortable ride compared to coil springs
Hello everyone, maybe my question is stupid, does rubber ring in front bag (rings on schock absorber column) can be lubricated with some grease, or they must be dry? I guess a better option, if it's lubricated, is a rod that the cushion slides on, to prevent the rubber (o ring) from wearing out.
Don't do it...or be ready to spend big bucks to have it fixed because Joe's corner auto fix won't be able to....this is why in my Hyundai equus ultimate I'm converting to traditional struts and shocks
I bought a 2011 and I love it. I have my first bag leak after almost 2 years of driving. And it’s a very minor one. Total to replace is about 750 roughly … not insane.
Hey im not sure if there is anyone here still to reply but i have question. Basically one of my suspension air bags was leaking and the pump was definitely working today after i drove bag completely collapsed and pump did not pump it I took bag out ordered new one My question is will the air compressor work when i put new bag in maybe if it was completely deflated thats why it didn't work anymore? Maybe bag has to hold some air for compressor to work?
Hi EB, the compressor can be damaged if it continues to run for an excessive amount of time. Once you replace your airbag, if the compressor does not kick on your may need to diagnose from there.
Don't really have an interest in converting to an air suspension system but this was a great explainer on how this tech works!
Thank you!
Don't do it man
Why? Is it bad? Too much of a hassle?
Yes
I have had air suspension on a Cayenne for 7 years.
It has been a real problem!
It has failed at least 4 times in the last 4 years.
Its either moisture in the system that seizes the struts up and burns out the compressor , a seized height sensor, or a leak.
A terrible product for anywhere with cold winters and salt on the roads.
If you live in an area where temps reach freezing, a popular practice is to fully compress (deflate) the airbags. Fully purge all the airlines of water with compressed air, empty the central reservoir and refill it with nitrogen. Let the system refill itself, then empty the reservoir again, and refill it full with nitrogen.
Nitrogen will resist icing in the winter and prevent blockage from forming in the airlines, or the air springs.
Because the compressor on the vehicle tops off the system with oxygen, you need to perform that nitrogen purge every 3-5 years to keep as much condensation out of the system as possible. On the hotter states like down south, this is not as important, and never done. If you buy a vehicle from a hot climate state, and you live in a winter state, this should be performed immediately before winter comes.
I live in a country with really bad roads I wonder what's the correct to drive my GL450 so as not to damage the airmatic system. So many badly installed speed breakers also are a problem
Awesome video but a slight correction @3:50 the compressor does not feed a spring or bag directly. It feeds the reservoir and that reservoir feeds the valve blocks which direct air to whatever spring/bag requires it. The compressor's job is to keep the reservoir topped off.
It's no different that say a compressor in your garage: which feeds a tank, and the tank feeds the loads. The compressor doesn't have the output capacity to keep up with the demands of the system on the fly.
Exactly and I would add more info to tour explanation (at least regard to my A6 C6 Allroad). The compressor only comes to play on if is there a delta P (pressure differential) more than 3 bar between air springs and the reservoir and of course rising from the bottom dynamic mode to whatever elevel up. Other than that, the reservoir is enough to play without the compressor assistance.
Very informative video. What is the typical air pressure requirement (PSI) that is maintained in a air ride suspension?
There really is no magic number as the value will vary as the vehicle is being used. The suspension compresses and expands, and thus this will affect the pressure reading of the system.
As a rule of thumb, most European cars operate with a reservoir or central gallery reading of (the air tank of the system) anywhere between 200-350 psi. Most systems only use one pressure sensor located at the air compressor. This is the sensor for the entire system. Other systems (airmatic) may use a pressure sensor at each valve block. These systems display a front and rear axle pressure reading.
There really is no way to monitor for leaks reliably with the pressure sensors. As stated this reading fluctuates when the vehicle is in use and there is articulation of the suspension. The only way to properly check these for leaks is to raise the vehicle off the ground, expose as much of the air bags as possible and use the good ole fashioned soapy water mix and look for a leak. Unfortunately, this can be time consuming and labor has to be charged to properly disassemble the vehicle to run checks and pinpoint the culprit.
The air suspension on my '09 Cayenne GTS is great when it works - but I have a broken height sensor that gives me a "suspension fault" error and disables changing the suspension height. Looks like an easy job to replace the sensors - but I don't see them for sale at FCP Euro.
Hello, are you looking for auto parts such as air suspension?
The more you know 💫
🌈
I’m riding on Arnott A-2726 on my W211 E320 they’re really good 👍🏻, costs way less than oem
We sell a lot of Arnott , they are really solid replacement setup for a cheap price!
Arnott has gone down in quality big time though ever since Covid. I would recommend Bilstein as a sutible replacement over the OEM stuff. Especially rear bags on Mercedes vehicles.
Thank you very informative and interesting.
Question: a good website to find the right part for my cls550 2012 need to diagnose my air suspension, my left front side drops overnight and as I drive on the street drops also
Thanks
Thank you for the awesome video, Would you show us how to replace rear suspension airbags please
Sure thing!
Great video. I have a 2016 Maserati GranCabrio MC that I'm considering air suspension on to simply lift the front over high curbs and bumps. I don't understand why there isn't a simple solution for this. I've looked everywhere for a compact hydraulic or air solution solution and nothing. I really don't want to deal with the complexity and cost of a full air suspension. Any advice?
Air cups
I want to install large aftermarket air bags on several pickups I tow with. Leaning towards the rolling style bags like we use on big rigs... like Farfromstock sells. What kind of shock should I run? Like to drop height for freeway comfort & aerodynamics. Any books I should get? Thanks Dusty D
Thank you
hello there ! when i did place the order for my new RAM pickup truck I did not include the AIR suspension Im Having REGRETS about that decision now my question to you is : May I Install after Market or Even Original AIR suspension could you give me some HINTS what equipment to choose ! to make my truck AIR RIDE !
Got a 2001 s500 and the suspension isn’t level in the rear the left rear is way higher which makes the front right look a little lower just wonder if this is a valve block issue or some sort of level sensor that’s bad . Just bought the car could use some input thanks
My lexus gx470 rear bag has sprung a leak. Would I be aright going with the cheaper bag or is it really worth paying that much for factory. They appear the same?
how do they operate when travelling? when the pressure is in the bag, how does it release pressure to stay the same level, when hitting a bump for example.
They have a long-term rolling average in the controller, so it works out the average ride height over say 10 seconds. This generally rules out bumps and corners, but allows the controller to see if the rear is sagging for example
Has the issue where the higher you go (for offroad) the stiffer the suspension is been solved? This made the solution poor offroad where you wante the highest level and the softest springs. Years ago I had an Audi Allroad and this was a problem. Also while it was great to be able to lift and lower the car, the parts were trouble prone and expensive. My parents have a Lincold Navigator and found it was cheaper to replace the whole system with traditional springs than replace one bad air spring.
Thanks for posting. My 04 Jaguar has air suspension. Do you know if this actively improves the cars handling as well as its ride quality? Is it similar to Mercedes ABC system in this regard?
Hey I have a 04 xj8 and I wanted to know if it’s possible to manually air out the suspension on park somehow?
Hi, any idea if the air suspension of the 957 Cayenne be calibrated / adjusted using the Autel MK808? Saw a video which the Autel MK808 can "trick" the 958 Cayenne into lowering further by changing the input value of the suspension height.
Hey there, not that we have done/seen with our 957 here!
Very well explained 👌
I came here not for my vehicle but for my ag tractor lol. rough as hell when in rough ground so hard on the back. I just wanna replace the seat pillar spring with one of these hahaha
X5M 2015 - every 3rd year you have to replace - bladers OEM or after-market - again after-markets are good , saves lot of money but you need to learn to calibrate them to your kind of drive - using an OBD scanner - much comfortable ride compared to coil springs
Who is better and comfortable cdc suspension or air suspension?
Hello everyone, maybe my question is stupid, does rubber ring in front bag (rings on schock absorber column) can be lubricated with some grease, or they must be dry?
I guess a better option, if it's lubricated, is a rod that the cushion slides on, to prevent the rubber (o ring) from wearing out.
How much does it cost to remove this air suspension system.
I have it on my 2014 equus ultimate and it's been a pain in my f....king ass!!! I'm getting regular shocks and struts installed..
I have a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee with air suspension. It “bounces” like a car with bad shocks. Is there a way to fix this?
what going on when it differs 1-2 cm from one side to the other when i messur it from the floor
When it fails
its a living hell
great video could a system be retrofitted to my daily driver a Volvo 240DL 4DR 👍
Anything is possible with enough time and money
How about converting an older 60's 70's vehicle to air?
'everything' should probably include citroen
What do think of transplanting an OEM system to another car?
I wanna buy an old gl450 mercedes but the air suspension is a little intimidating
Don't do it...or be ready to spend big bucks to have it fixed because Joe's corner auto fix won't be able to....this is why in my Hyundai equus ultimate I'm converting to traditional struts and shocks
I bought a 2011 and I love it. I have my first bag leak after almost 2 years of driving. And it’s a very minor one. Total to replace is about 750 roughly … not insane.
Superficial.
Hey im not sure if there is anyone here still to reply but i have question.
Basically one of my suspension air bags was leaking and the pump was definitely working today after i drove bag completely collapsed and pump did not pump it
I took bag out ordered new one
My question is will the air compressor work when i put new bag in maybe if it was completely deflated thats why it didn't work anymore? Maybe bag has to hold some air for compressor to work?
Hi EB, the compressor can be damaged if it continues to run for an excessive amount of time. Once you replace your airbag, if the compressor does not kick on your may need to diagnose from there.
Which car is it? if its a merc, the compressor is fine, its your collapsed bag.