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[Entwood]

Hi All

I have a question - do all omega elites have this air suspension? - ours seems to sit at the right level and rides o.k, but it bottoms out pretty easily.

I could be wrong but I could have sworn I saw regular springs on the back of ours when I washed it, but maybe not.

Tbh, I bloody hope it doesnt have air suspension - the air suspension on our discovery TD5 is the stuff of my nightmares :-(

Neil.

It is NOT "air suspension" .. it is "self levelling" suspension ... as said ... standard looking springs and shock absorbers  (although they are a different specification). The shocks have an air bladder that can be inflated to raise the back if a large load is placed therein.

The spring/shock still does most of the work, it is just "supported" by the additional air in the bladder.

I wouldn't be without it, as I tow a lot and it is highly beneficial. Those who don't tow and want to imitate Carlos Fangio or Colin McRae don't like it as the suspension is a good deal "softer"

To test if your has working self leveling, measure the distance between the top of the wheel and the wheel arch. Open the boot and stand two reasonably sized adults in it, make a note of the distance between the top of the rear wheel and the wheel arch, which should be much reduced. Turn the ignition on, you should hear the compressor in the front offside wheel arch start to run, and the rear of the car should rise to about the same as the first measurement. switch off, remove bodies from boot.. rear should rise even higher. Switch on .. rear should slowly drop back to the original height again

HTH 

[24valve]

Hi All

I have a question - do all omega elites have this air suspension? - ours seems to sit at the right level and rides o.k, but it bottoms out pretty easily.

I could be wrong but I could have sworn I saw regular springs on the back of ours when I washed it, but maybe not.

Tbh, I bloody hope it doesnt have air suspension - the air suspension on our discovery TD5 is the stuff of my nightmares :-(

Neil.

It is NOT "air suspension" .. it is "self levelling" suspension ... as said ... standard looking springs and shock absorbers  (although they are a different specification). The shocks have an air bladder that can be inflated to raise the back if a large load is placed therein.

The spring/shock still does most of the work, it is just "supported" by the additional air in the bladder.

I wouldn't be without it, as I tow a lot and it is highly beneficial. Those who don't tow and want to imitate Carlos Fangio or Colin McRae don't like it as the suspension is a good deal "softer"

To test if your has working self leveling, measure the distance between the top of the wheel and the wheel arch. Open the boot and stand two reasonably sized adults in it, make a note of the distance between the top of the rear wheel and the wheel arch, which should be much reduced. Turn the ignition on, you should hear the compressor in the front offside wheel arch start to run, and the rear of the car should rise to about the same as the first measurement. switch off, remove bodies from boot.. rear should rise even higher. Switch on .. rear should slowly drop back to the original height again

HTH 

Excellent information - thanks!

Ours does have a towbar, and I've wondered if it the bracket of the towbar scraping on the ground rather than the suspension banging on the bump stops.  Further investigation with your sugggestion will be commencing this weekend.

[05omegav6]

Replace the Elite springs with Plod ones, if the Elite is a bit soft

[feeutfo]

Elite only. And maybe some plod cars.

There is a guide in maintenance for testing.

[henryd]

Hi All

I have a question - do all omega elites have this air suspension? - ours seems to sit at the right level and rides o.k, but it bottoms out pretty easily.

I could be wrong but I could have sworn I saw regular springs on the back of ours when I washed it, but maybe not.

Tbh, I bloody hope it doesnt have air suspension - the air suspension on our discovery TD5 is the stuff of my nightmares :-(

Neil.

Really,had no issues with mine other than replacing the bags which is easy

[24valve]

Hi All

I have a question - do all omega elites have this air suspension? - ours seems to sit at the right level and rides o.k, but it bottoms out pretty easily.

I could be wrong but I could have sworn I saw regular springs on the back of ours when I washed it, but maybe not.

Tbh, I bloody hope it doesnt have air suspension - the air suspension on our discovery TD5 is the stuff of my nightmares :-(

Neil.

Really,had no issues with mine other than replacing the bags which is easy

Airbags, height sensors, and currently on rebuilt pump number 3 (no, you still cant get compressor parts for the disco, so we've modified a p38 one)

still, all part of the fun, isnt it?!

In all fairness, its a great system when its working - it's just "challenging" on the brain when you are late for something, with 7 people in the car and the thing sinks to the ground on A1.

[henryd]

Hi All

I have a question - do all omega elites have this air suspension? - ours seems to sit at the right level and rides o.k, but it bottoms out pretty easily.

I could be wrong but I could have sworn I saw regular springs on the back of ours when I washed it, but maybe not.

Tbh, I bloody hope it doesnt have air suspension - the air suspension on our discovery TD5 is the stuff of my nightmares :-(

Neil.

Really,had no issues with mine other than replacing the bags which is easy

Airbags, height sensors, and currently on rebuilt pump number 3 (no, you still cant get compressor parts for the disco, so we've modified a p38 one)

still, all part of the fun, isnt it?!

In all fairness, its a great system when its working - it's just "challenging" on the brain when you are late for something, with 7 people in the car and the thing sinks to the ground on A1.

No, but you can for the Audi A6 allroad whch uses the same pump

[symes]

started it up to go to work and heard hissing sound-so got out and looked-the rear end went to normal height-but couldnt hear pump-got funny feeling shox will be of no use except playing aunt sally on Saturday will look at shox+pump-if shagged reckon go normal shoxs as I cant justify throwing too much at it TBH as I dont pull a pikey home

[Kevin Wood]

started it up to go to work and heard hissing sound-so got out and looked-the rear end went to normal height-but couldnt hear pump-got funny feeling shox will be of no use except playing aunt sally on Saturday will look at shox+pump-if shagged reckon go normal shoxs as I cant justify throwing too much at it TBH as I dont pull a pikey home

Sounds to me like it might have sorted itself out then. Was the hissing from the front offside wheel arch?

If you chuck some weight in the back, start it up then listen around the pump area you will hear it start after a few seconds. Sounds like an electric tyre inflator.

If the pump works and the air is being let out under some conditions, probably worth getting it to a Tech 2, so we can see what's happening inside the ECU.

[05omegav6]

Fitting Non S/L shocks with out changing the springs will only make things worse

[albitz]

Location of S/L pump,with wing and bumper removed.

[Entwood]

I wish I'd had that much access when I changed mine !!!!     

[05omegav6]

You only needed to drive it onto a set of ramps, reach up and unscrew it

[albitz]

Tbh,I think it may be easier to just whip the front bumper off.

[05omegav6]

Saves digging the ramps out I suppose