Air suspension systems at greater risk of failure following lockdown

Expert explains possible faults to expect on vehicles which have not be used regularly

Air suspension systems at greater risk of failure following lockdown

Restrictions in movement caused by the COVID-19 crisis, may have had a significant impact on vehicles equipped with air suspension.

The warning comes from air suspension specialist Arnott.

An Arnott spokesperson said: “Usually a vehicle equipped with air suspension will drop overnight when parked because an air suspension system will slightly lose pressure over time.”

For vehicles that have been sitting for an extended period of time, the technical expert says the extent of possible damage depends on OE specifications and weather conditions during the inactivity.

“Seals will eventually dry out”

The spokesperson added: “Keep in mind that seals will eventually dry out, and connections can become less air tight when the system gets older.

“This wear and tear will cause air leaks, forcing the compressor to work harder to level the vehicle.

“All of this is an integral part of an aging air suspension system – that simply has an average limited lifespan of six to ten years until its components require replacement.

Long term parked cars attract more moisture due to lack of ventilation.

Corrosion in valve blocks and compressors, for instance, is one of the consequences that could lead to defects and leaks.

Existing corrosion is also given more time to spread without being “polished away” under the folding edge of the rubber.

The spokesperson added: “When the rubber of an air bellow is aging, it will lose some flexibility and eventually dry out.

“When the car is fully on the ground, the rubber gets into an unusual position.

“The likelihood that it will not fold back into the correct form and tears as a consequence increases.

“Inflating the air bellow when it is in an unusual position can also cause the crimping ring to come off.

“It is possible an aging compressor will not be able to produce enough pressure to raise the car.

“This is especially true when the system has a small air leak.

“The relay can get damaged, and in worst case the compressor can burn out while attempting to pressurise the system to operational level.

“The first two effects will accelerate the aging process and shorten the lifespan of the system’s components.

“The last two points are directly affecting the air suspension system.

“Fault codes are shown on the instrument cluster and the system will shut down.

“When this happens, the car cannot be driven safely anymore and it has to be transported to a workshop for diagnosis and repair.”

Arnott has more than 30 years of experience in engineering, designing and manufacturing high quality air suspension components for the aftermarket.

For further information about Arnott, select ‘more details’ below.

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