Suspension Air Leak Troubleshooting
11-09-2011, 06:05 PM
#23
rebuilt
There's nothing to rebuild on an A8 strut, on random cases the air inlet valve o-rings leak but mostly is the bladder at the bottom fold that gets cracked.
this pictures are from an air spring with 72k miles, as everybody can see the strut is already leaking.
this pictures are from an air spring with 72k miles, as everybody can see the strut is already leaking.
11-10-2011, 07:58 AM
#26
piston
Most people are under that impression but is not.
is same type/design but with an aluminum housing supporting it all around, the bladder material is actually quite thinner than the Allroad unit.
is same type/design but with an aluminum housing supporting it all around, the bladder material is actually quite thinner than the Allroad unit.
11-10-2011, 01:23 PM
#27
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
I agree S4master1, there's really nothing there to rebuild. I don't know for sure what gets replaced when the strut is rebuilt to be honest. I am assuming the air bellows and any o-rings to complete the seal. The rebuilder mentioned the secondary leak that needed repair was coming from around the bolt that is threaded into the top of the strut. There is a washer and o-ring that is involved and that o-ring evidently failed. Not having the exact OEM supplier or specs of the original size of the o-ring lead to trial and error until the fit was correct. Replacement of the o-ring, sealant and shimming the washer were involved as I understand it.
I also heard from the rebuilder the same thing stated by S4master1 that the other common leak area is around the air inlet valve.
The strut definitely consists of air bellows or bladder. See this link for more info:
http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_292.pdf
I also heard from the rebuilder the same thing stated by S4master1 that the other common leak area is around the air inlet valve.
The strut definitely consists of air bellows or bladder. See this link for more info:
http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_292.pdf
11-11-2011, 11:24 AM
#28
Rebuild
makes no sense for that money to have couple of seals replaced.
you still have the old bladder, shock absorber, shock mount, air inlet valve, assembly cover.
there's only 4 seals that can be retrofitted as there's no factory seals available for this purpose, to replace the largest seal one will need to cut the aluminum housing which at that point it would need to be weld back and is not possible as it would melt the bladder and seal.
in this picture shows the seals together.
you still have the old bladder, shock absorber, shock mount, air inlet valve, assembly cover.
there's only 4 seals that can be retrofitted as there's no factory seals available for this purpose, to replace the largest seal one will need to cut the aluminum housing which at that point it would need to be weld back and is not possible as it would melt the bladder and seal.
in this picture shows the seals together.
11-14-2011, 03:25 AM
#29
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Per his ebay ad the rebuilder at Mercedes Master Tech replaces the:
"All Seals & O-Rings are New and replaces. We use high quality
airbags ( By SuncoreIndustries.com ) and extra strong crimp rings."
If you're just looking at the sum of the parts versus the cost then it probably doesn't makes sense to rebuild. I don't have the technical knowledge, parts supplier or ability to test these struts so it's worth it to me to find a rebuilt strut versus new given the cost of a new strut.
"All Seals & O-Rings are New and replaces. We use high quality
airbags ( By SuncoreIndustries.com ) and extra strong crimp rings."
If you're just looking at the sum of the parts versus the cost then it probably doesn't makes sense to rebuild. I don't have the technical knowledge, parts supplier or ability to test these struts so it's worth it to me to find a rebuilt strut versus new given the cost of a new strut.
