1xsculler

My left front air bag only leaks once in a while. Sometimes I park my car overnight and the left front remains at the correct height and sometimes it drops so the tire nearly contacts the inner fender well. Sometimes it will drop and I can hear the air leak after parking for only a few minutes.

If the air bag had a leak wouldn't it always leak? Is this a computer issue? What's going on?

I'd like to fix it myself but I don't want to order a new strut or even an air bag only to have the problem continue.

fkong777

Change it. I let that leak go for a while and one day it stay down. Strut bag exploded. Got an Arnott replacement. All good again.

1xsculler

The more I think about this problem, i.e. left front corner dropping only intermittently it seems it would have to be an Airmatic computer issue. If it was a leaky air bag it would act just like a bicycle inner tube in that it would always leak all of the air out every time I stop the car and turn off the key, wouldn't it? As I said before the LF corner frequently remains at the correct ride height all night long and at other times the corner drops within five to ten minutes after I turn the key off. Since I know the Airmatic control module, or some computer, has to let air out of the air bags to adjust the suspension mine must be doing so incorrectly only on the LF occasionally.

Further research on Ebay leads me to believe my problem is in the Airmatic Suspension Valve Block.

I have a diagnostic appointment with the dealer this Thursday so, hopefully, they can pin point what I need to fix.

Captincvmn

It could be your air bag has a crack at the "perfect " spot in the fold when parked to leak down.

Alternatively it could be a bad air block valve for that corner causing the air to leak out.

For struts and bags I used Rebuild MasterTech out of Florida. Better price than Arnott and I've had no issues with their products so far.

Now if I could just rebuild my compressor........

angelglo

my airbag was doing the same thing. only intermittently on a bag that was already replaced from arnott. Called arnott for a lifetime replacement and installed it. it stays up once again like Viagra. I don't know what the problem was but the airbag change seemed to have fixed it.

1xsculler

Thanks for all of the informative posts.

The next time the LF starts to sag I'm going to pop the hood and listen for a leak from the valve block, which sits in the engine compartment above the LF wheel, and under the fender to try to discern where the air is leaking from. I'd like to avoid the hassle of taking hours out of my life while the dealer diagnoses the problem and charges me a couple of hundred $ if I can determine that I need a new air bag or a new valve block both of which I can R&R myself.

thedad

Mine did the exact same thing. I sprayed windex all over everything. Checked all the connections. Determined it was the valve block and replaced it only to discover the problem was still there. Dealt with it for 3 months then one day loaded up with groceries pulled into the driveway got out and heard hissing. Crawled under and discovered that the bag had a slit in it, Where it reverses direction at the bottom. Put new ones from Arnott in thought i was good then 4 months later the rear started doing the same thing...not ever 50k on it...I have new valve block i can make you a deal on if you need it...

1xsculler

Did new air bags finally solve your problem once and for all?

BlownV8

I've had this happen to me miltiple times and each time it was a leaking airbag.

thedad

yes it did. and the rear ones are cheaper and a easy to change. those didnt even take me two hours in my driveway.

1xsculler

I remain unconvinced and skeptical but I ordered an Arnott front strut and will install it when it arrives.

I'll post the results.

Sorry for the multitude of threads on both forums.

eric_in_sd

In fact, that's the likeliest place for the crack to occur - where it folds.

I deduced what was happening when I noticed that if I parked facing uphill, it deflated, and if I parked facing downhill, it didn't.

fkong777

My GL is a 2007 with 58k miles. All four corner air bag/ strut has been changed. I think I need new rear shocks. it is riding really hard and back is unsettled at bumpy roads.

eric_in_sd

Tip: Raise the suspension in off road mode. Then the section that is normally folded will be raised up. You'll still have a hard time seeing leaks toward the vehicle side of the bag.

2010GL550

fkong777: I just ordered new rear shocks for our 2010 GL550. Like you, I did all air bags, but lately have noticed a floaty ride and the unsettled rear on bumpy roads. Ordered from Amazon. Got one today and the other should arrive next week. I don't think it will be too difficult. The hardest part might just be getting to the upper bolts by removing some of the rear inner panels.

clvincent

2010 GL550 please let us know if the new shocks solve your problem

thank you

Jimmy Haygood

I have the same problem with 2012 GL 450. I did raise with self leveling and it stays up, any suggestion as to where to look now?

BlownV8

You most likely need a new airbag. Get one from Arnott since they have a lifetime warranty. If you plan to own the GL long-term, you will end up replacing that one too.

arnottdoug

Typically leaks form first in the air spring exactly where the spring folds. Sometimes when folded in a certain way - the spring itself puts pressure on the hole and won't leak. But most of the time you won't be so lucky and it will simply leak.


Arnott's A-2575 would be the most cost efficient way to replace the front air spring on both GL's X164 with and without ADS. This comes with a limited lifetime warranty.


https://www.arnottindustries.com/par...18_pid146.html


Give the strut a soap test first by spaying some soapy water on it and look for bubbles.

jonathankreb

Is there a DIY how-to guide for the air-spring replacement? Also, for those of you who have done the job, I see that Arnott sells both a completely rebuilt strut or just the airspring. What are the pros and cons of going with one vs. the other? Should these always be replaced in pairs?

arnottdoug

Check out Arnott's Installation Manual and Video for the A-2575 air spring: http://arnottmanuals.com/?part_number=A-2575

arnottdoug

Installation Manuals and Videos: http://arnottmanuals.com/?part_number=A-2575


A new air spring will reuse your current strut and replace just the dry rotted air bladder. The number of miles are known. A remanufactured strut is tested, cleaned, repainted and rebuilt with the new air spring.

2010GL550

Do yourself a favor and replace the whole assembly. The strut is a limited-life item and (depending on your vehicle's miles) it might be time to replace anyway. Plus the whole process is a lot easier.