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[amba]

Am I missing something with how the self levelling suspension should work as I am convinced that since my ownership it has never really worked properly.

Last week I replaced both rear springs(KYB) and genuine VX self levelling shocks.When I replaced them I noticed that I had an air leak from the o/s shock as I couldn,t get the black plastic cap to seal...on closer inspection the caps had a little red rubber washer which had perished over time and probably during dismantling so I made a seal wsher from a peice of rubber tubing and all seemed well.Both sides of the car slowly raise when first start engine and are both at the same ride height.

I have now discovered a hissing noise on first start or turning ignition key to 2nd position.Air pump under wing fires up and get a noise only from the o/s shock for about 1-1.5 mins and then it stops as does the pump.No air is escaping and as said car sits true and level.

What I am really confused about is why does this noise only come from the o/s shock and not the n/s or should I not get this noise from either.

[amba]

Sorry to bump this ,but sure somebody who drives an Elite can shed some light on this for me....or anybody who has recently replaced the self levelling rear shock absorbers.

[freecall666]

just a guess could that side have some water in systerm, an old citreion I had made that type of fault and it was stud for a few weeks to months dont know, drain it out and put air pump on line to blow the rest out and it stopped but dont know if that is the same fault as yours...

[amba]

Brand new GM self levelling shock..it is as came out of the box...problem seems to be the plastic elbow will not reseal on the shock absorber air valve nipple.

After extensive researching it appears that the elbow has a small red rubber washer inside which ensures the valve seals up tight.

Mine appears to have perished and unless I can replicate the washer size or get a new one the seal will not be air tight and the shock will keep loosing air when the pump pushes it in...n/s has resealed ..o/s is the problem.

[Andy B]

... and unless I can replicate the washer size or get a new one the seal will not be air tight and the shock will keep loosing air when the pump pushes it in...n/s has resealed ..o/s is the problem.

I wonder if there's a suitable push-in pipe fitting available to replace the original  :-/ http://www.accltd.com/products.asp?recnumber=328

[Entwood]

Couple of guesses now ..... and probably all wrong....

could be ....

You have bodged made a "temporary" washer that probably does not fit exactly right ... the "hiss" could be air escaping from that as the pump runs as the pressure in the line will increase as the pump runs.

or

If the car is "pumped up" due to a load, then you unload.. the next time you start the car is too high .. the hiss you hear could be the air being let out.

or

The air is leaking past the dodgy seal at all times, but the lack of load means it sits "square" even with one shocker at low pressure. When you start up the pump replenishes the pressure and you hear the escaping air.

Have you asked a stealer if that seal is available ?? Looking at the EPC it appears not and you would have to buy the relevant air pipe complete which come in differing lengths.

[Andy B]

....
If the car is "pumped up" due to a load, then you unload.. the next time you start the car is too high .. the hiss you hear could be the air being let out.

or

The air is leaking past the dodgy seal at all times, but the lack of load means it sits "square" even with one shocker at low pressure.....

The compressor up front dumps the pressure, there's a tube up over the driver's side head light it dumps the air through.

The way the shockers are piped up via a T piece means that a leak on one shocker will drop the system pressure for both sides.

[amba]

Entwood...you are now probably right about the "dodgy seal".

When I first fitted the new shocks the levels were different..n/s was 665mm through centre of wheel to arch..o/s was only at 640mm

Closer investigation showed the o/s was leaking past the plastic elbow so I removed it and found the remains of a small red rubber washer seal perished inside the elbow.Removed and tried to refit elbow which then leaked straight away when ignition turned on and pump fired up.Pulled out fuse #27 and left for day or so to see if I could source some new elbow joints.

After failing decided to try and make a small seling wshre from a peice or rubber hose of a similar diameter and push it over the small peg upstand in elbow.This fitted and appeared to seal and level of car was restored at 665mm both sides and all seemd well.
Checking tyre pressures the other day with  ignition switched on as had radio running and heard pump kick in..then the hissing from the o/s shock which lasted abot 2 minutes then stopped along with the pump so imagine its on a relay timer or something similar.

Removed elbow again today and with fabricated..(boddged) washer removed air still leaked ,with washer in place it still leaks ...so looks like it needs to be the correct size.

P/S....my boot is allways full of work stuff which must be the equivilent weight of a full loaded car with passengers even though it only ever tends to be me in the car.