More Suspension Q's...

[Howard]

The Rear Suspension Levelling Pump on my 98 Conti (85K mi)seems to be running more often than usual lately. Looks like I'm going to have to do something about it soon...but what? If I take it into the dealer, I know he's going to say I need EVERYTHING replaced. I have a fairly base model and don't know what's under there --bags or just air shocks? It doesn't have Suspension Ride Control, just Steering Control for "Easy/Firm". Are there things that I can check for before going in to see the dealer? Maybe it's just a slow leak in another part of the system, but with 85K maybe it's time for replacement anyway. What do you guys think?

[Nick]

There are air springs and conventional shocks or electronically adjustable shocks if equipped with the Driver Select System, which you don't seem to have. It sounds like you have one or two leaking rear air springs. Buy them from the dealer or a Ford parts seller and you can be on your way after about an hour's work in your driveway with hand tools. The basic instructions for air spring recplacement is outlined in the Tech Section and the various posts on the forum. It will be very similar for all models. From what i remember on my parents' cars, there should be two bolts on the rear control arm and a locking collar at the top.

[Howard]

Thanks for the advice. It sounds like something I could handle, so I'll try, some time in the next week or so, and let you know how it goes...

[Howard]

Should I be thinking about replacing the shocks at the same time?

[Howard]

I crawled under the car this evening and took a look at the air bags. They looked OK, no cracks or visible defects. Maybe a pinhole leak? Or maybe something else is leaking...escape vent, solenoid o-ring, air line? What do you all think? :confused:

[aristo1963]

the cracks are under the folds.let system pump up then turn off and jack car up.spray distended bags and watch the bubble show if leaking;)

[Howard]

http://www.suspension-alternatives.com

They have replacement parts as well as conversion kits. They'll sell me a set of 2 rebuilt & reinforced rear bags for @ $120, with new o-ring kits. Sounds OK to me, but wanted to check their rep with you guys first. What do you know/think?

[pro-five-oh]

Never heard of that place. Its usually a hit or miss with reman bags, they don't have the quality of Ford bags...i.e. they won't last 7-10 years like the Ford ones already on your car.

Some people recommend one company, others trash that company. I stay out of these discussions. Its a tough call.

[Howard]

Got new Arnott bags on my '98 with no problem! Thanks for all the info!! Any advice for the Drier? The manual says you have to remove the whole compressor. Is that true, and do I need any special tools etc. for releasing the pressure first? Thanks

[Dibly74]

Just thought I would chime in here and say that I put new Arnott bags on both front and both back of my 95 Continental about two years ago and they look exactly like the day I put them on. They seem to be about twice or even three times as thick as firestone airbags. I tried one of their compressors to without much luck at first. The drier it was sent with had bad O-rings and it woulden't hold pressure. I didn't find out till I bought a new one from ford thinking that it was not strong enough to pump the car up. The ford one also had bad O-rings. I thought my lines were shot. Then for no reason I pulled one out and noticed it was flat on one side. I repaired both of them with new rings and never had a problem with the ford one since. The arnott one is still in my closet waiting for the day for this one to go out. The car is on its 5th pump, all from ford minus the arnott one I didn't use. Long story short, I think the quality and price of Arnott parts surpass Ford by a long shot.

[Howard]

Dibly, sounds like you have lots of experience with the pump and drier. Can you walk me through a drier replacement?

Questions:

1) Do I need to do anything besides turning off the suspension switch and letting the system vent for 5-10 minutes before I start pulling off fittings and hoses?

2) Do I need a "Super Star II tester or equivilent" to work on these parts, like it says in the Ford manual?

3) Do I need to remove the whole compressor/drier unit in order to replace just the drier? If so, can you describe how to do that? If not, can you describe what process to follow for changing just the drier?

Many Thanks to anyone who can help me with these questions!!

[Dibly74]

The drier replacement is really easy, you don't need to remove the whole pump to get it off. First, turn off the suspension. Then You just need to remove the two air lines from the drier. To do that you have to push in on the brass disconnect fittings on the air line to the drier, and while you have them pushed in pull out on the air line. I've had mine not want to come out from being in so long so you might have to pull really hard, even if the disconnects come out with it. Once both lines are removed just rotate the drier and pull it up. Maybe turns half a turn, I don't even recall that much. Easy to turn so you will know what direction to turn it. put the new one on the same way it came off and make sure you have the new o-ring on the bottom of the drier where it connects to the pump. Then put the air lines back in, they only push in, make sure they are as far in as they were on the old drier at least. And if the end f the line is messed up you can cut back a short piece of the black casing with a razor. Don't cut down into the white part, that is the actual air line, and they do get brittle from being old. Anymore questions, just post it and someone will help you out.

[Howard]

Thanks a TON for the info! I'm travelling right now, but I'll do the work when I get home and let you know how it goes. I think that the system is still leaking air a little bit...the pump seems to run more often than it should, and it goes for about 20-30 secs at every startup. Turned it off for a few days and the new bags held fine. Maybe the o-rings on the drier? So maybe it will be better after the R&R. Been driving in town, running errands, for too long. It felt good to get her back out on the open road today.

[Howard]

I finally got the dryer installed yesterday afternoon, and it seems to be doing fine. Your instructions were perfect Dibley. Thanks again!

Your warning about the o-ring was also invaluable. When I got the old one removed from its niche in the compressor, I decided to see if the new one would fit into the same place, just to make sure. It wouldn't fit, and when I checked it with the origional it was just a little bit larger. If I had just attached it to the dryer and tried to push the whole unit down into place, I bet it would have ended up not seating properly, and with a big flat spot mashed into it. The old ring looked OK so I sprayed it with some silicon lube and used it again. Hope I don't regret it down the road, but at least it fits right, and it seems to be holding well right now.