Air Suspension Repair/Upgrade
#41
They won't die
The Arnott Gen1.1(aluminum body, Goodyear bladder) weighs a hefty 6.7 pounds and lasts about 4 years, MAX(way less than OEM!).
The latest Arnott Gen1.2(black fiberglass body, Goodyear Kevlar bladder) weighs 3.9 pounds and is stated to last up to 7 years. I guess Arnott had to step up their game....because warrantying air bladders every 4 years can slowly KILL a company!
The latest Arnott Gen1.2(black fiberglass body, Goodyear Kevlar bladder) weighs 3.9 pounds and is stated to last up to 7 years. I guess Arnott had to step up their game....because warrantying air bladders every 4 years can slowly KILL a company!
I have seen the Airbagit bags and the Arnott Gen1.1 and it is the same thing. Two pieces of aluminum and a rubber bladder, you take a metal band and compress the bladder around the aluminum...job done. The so-called Goodyear bladder in these Arnott bags is not as strong as the original Continental bags. The Continental bags are braided (threads inside the rubber). When the Continental bags will develop small pin hole leak in the folded area, I have seen the Arnott Goodyear's rip in the middle area from the inside. Something that don't normally happen with the Continental braided bags. I still have 3 good original bags and 175,000 miles 11 years and no leak in 3 bags. The front seem to be the first to go, so I have a slow leak in the right front.
#43
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Used a device called an "easy-out" (maybe EZ-OUT). it was given to me by the guy at the pipe fitting supply store when I purchased a new fitting.
<img src="http://freetobelee.earjuice.com/audi/easyout.jpg"/>
<img src="http://freetobelee.earjuice.com/audi/easyout.jpg"/>
#45
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Just a small update of the last couple months:
My air suspension control module went kablooey, so it wouldn't re-inflate my now leaking left-rear bag.
The front bags were leaking slowly too, but i narrowed it down to the push on type connector of the air fitting, which just needed a little re-jiggering. so the AIRBAGIT bags are working fine, and I have now put about 2500 miles on the second set that they sent me.
Got the module replaced. Got the faulty height sensor figured out - my replacement went kablooey and the original was still good once the wires were fixed. With a VAGCOM was able to finally complete calibration.
While recalibrating the suspension, I kept running into a 'sensor value out of range' error (sorry i forget the exact code) because of the IPP arms and a control module that had much lower settings stored. I could complete calibration process, but the new values wouldn't take. I found that by putting the car on level 3, running the calibration, and then putting it back to level 2 to measure the changes worked pretty well, and would prevent this error from appearing. It took a couple of rounds of doing this to get everything at an acceptable level.
With one rear bag still leaking (although i couldn't find the leak with a spray bottle), i went ahead and ordered Arnott Gen II rear bags which i will install at my convenience. if the airbagit ones fail, I'll replace those with Arnott Gen II as well, instead of dealing with the AIRBAGIT warranty process, as i would prefer the stiffer ride anyway.
My air suspension control module went kablooey, so it wouldn't re-inflate my now leaking left-rear bag.
The front bags were leaking slowly too, but i narrowed it down to the push on type connector of the air fitting, which just needed a little re-jiggering. so the AIRBAGIT bags are working fine, and I have now put about 2500 miles on the second set that they sent me.
Got the module replaced. Got the faulty height sensor figured out - my replacement went kablooey and the original was still good once the wires were fixed. With a VAGCOM was able to finally complete calibration.
While recalibrating the suspension, I kept running into a 'sensor value out of range' error (sorry i forget the exact code) because of the IPP arms and a control module that had much lower settings stored. I could complete calibration process, but the new values wouldn't take. I found that by putting the car on level 3, running the calibration, and then putting it back to level 2 to measure the changes worked pretty well, and would prevent this error from appearing. It took a couple of rounds of doing this to get everything at an acceptable level.
With one rear bag still leaking (although i couldn't find the leak with a spray bottle), i went ahead and ordered Arnott Gen II rear bags which i will install at my convenience. if the airbagit ones fail, I'll replace those with Arnott Gen II as well, instead of dealing with the AIRBAGIT warranty process, as i would prefer the stiffer ride anyway.
#47
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
many miles later update.
its been a while, so a little update.
about 9 months ago, i tried to install the arnott gen 2 bags in the rear, but when i had everything apart, realized my shocks were pretty much pooped out too. put everything together and have been driving it like that.
finally just scored some used arnott bilsteins (10k on them) for the rear, and am going to get the new bags and shocks installed at a shop locally.
I'm thinking about replacing the front shocks under the airbagit bags as well.
any suggestions on which ones i should use? new arnott bilsteins?
about 9 months ago, i tried to install the arnott gen 2 bags in the rear, but when i had everything apart, realized my shocks were pretty much pooped out too. put everything together and have been driving it like that.
finally just scored some used arnott bilsteins (10k on them) for the rear, and am going to get the new bags and shocks installed at a shop locally.
I'm thinking about replacing the front shocks under the airbagit bags as well.
any suggestions on which ones i should use? new arnott bilsteins?
Last edited by freetobelee; 01-08-2015 at 01:26 PM.
#48
Silva's IPP extension arms came in today.
I put the car on level 4 and investigated the wheel wells to see what I'm in for. Damn it's dirty in there.
<img src="http://freetobelee.earjuice.com/audi/ipparms.jpg"/>
<img src="http://freetobelee.earjuice.com/audi/sensorarm.jpg"/>
<img src="http://freetobelee.earjuice.com/audi/rfbagold.jpg"/>
I put the car on level 4 and investigated the wheel wells to see what I'm in for. Damn it's dirty in there.
<img src="http://freetobelee.earjuice.com/audi/ipparms.jpg"/>
<img src="http://freetobelee.earjuice.com/audi/sensorarm.jpg"/>
<img src="http://freetobelee.earjuice.com/audi/rfbagold.jpg"/>
#49
Got the IPPs over a year ago. They are great and Silva was really helpful.
PS: My air-ride is dying too. Suggestions from the community welcome at this URL:
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sus...lroad-2883466/
PS: My air-ride is dying too. Suggestions from the community welcome at this URL:
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sus...lroad-2883466/
#50
How can I get a hold of him? I want some
Got the IPPs over a year ago. They are great and Silva was really helpful.
PS: My air-ride is dying too. Suggestions from the community welcome at this URL:
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sus...lroad-2883466/
PS: My air-ride is dying too. Suggestions from the community welcome at this URL:
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sus...lroad-2883466/