Air Suspension strut removal pretty fast. Pic heavy
08-01-2018, 04:46 AM
#11
2015 A8L TDI
Thread Starter
I am in communication with them now to reach some remedy.
Here I am putting the strut assembly back.
The washer on the top has a slot for the tab sticking out of the top of the air spring bladder housing, and the washer must be set properly before tightening the 41mm nut.
Right side soldered and heat shrink applied.
Left side soldered and heat shrink applied.
08-01-2018, 04:52 AM
#12
2015 A8L TDI
Thread Starter
After installing both the struts and replacing my lower control arms, I lowered the car enough to raise the height sensor but without putting all weight on the front suspension. Then turned off Jack mode and waited for the system to start adding air.
Then I noticed the suspension was not holding air. Did the soap test and found the leak at the air fitting on the left side.
08-01-2018, 05:06 AM
#13
2015 A8L TDI
Thread Starter
I had to cut off the heatshrink, desolder the wires, remove the strut assembly after installing it to try to solve the leak.
After adding an o-ring reinstalling it, it leaked again.
So by now I am pretty quick and getting the strut in an out.
By now, I decided to bench test for leaks before reinstalling it another time.
This inlet appears to not allow a proper seal when using the supplied parts, which appear to be missing an o-ring
The supplied metal washer with rubber ring on both sides does not seal properly.
I had to find some more o-rings from my set to try to seal the inlet fitting.
Here it still leaked with the metal ring and additional o-ring.
Last edited by Dville; 08-01-2018 at 05:24 AM.
08-01-2018, 05:15 AM
#14
2015 A8L TDI
Thread Starter
I had to improvise and make a fitting to test the air spring bladder.
I cut the end from an inflatable toy fitting, removed the air regulator from the air spring bladder (it restricts the air so much the small compressor won’t inflate the bladder while it is on), and used a portable air compressor
Last edited by Dville; 08-01-2018 at 05:18 AM.
08-02-2018, 06:50 AM
#15
AudiWorld Super User
That's too much extra work but you got it fixed, very resourceful.
i noticed the prices are lower now and so is the quality and the packaging.
Cheers,
Louis
i noticed the prices are lower now and so is the quality and the packaging.Cheers,
Louis
08-27-2018, 09:35 PM
#16
AudiWorld Member
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Great job! too much effort...
I got one leaking strute, ordered an airbag from ebay (in Australia). And found that the hole on top of the airbag is too small for the suspension to go through... While I was talking to the seller, I noticed the suspension itself is kind of shot as well. I just need a bit force to push it down and when it comes up, it makes some noise. I'd suspect it should be more stiff that that.
Then ordered a whole assembly, easy install.
I got one leaking strute, ordered an airbag from ebay (in Australia). And found that the hole on top of the airbag is too small for the suspension to go through... While I was talking to the seller, I noticed the suspension itself is kind of shot as well. I just need a bit force to push it down and when it comes up, it makes some noise. I'd suspect it should be more stiff that that.
Then ordered a whole assembly, easy install.
10-26-2019, 08:54 PM
#19
2015 A8L TDI
Thread Starter
The strut started leaking again.
it would take a few days of not driving the car for me to realize this.
this time I bought 2 front struts rebuilt by Suncore in South Florida.
see my new removal video to get the strut out fast without cutting wires.
it would take a few days of not driving the car for me to realize this.
this time I bought 2 front struts rebuilt by Suncore in South Florida.
see my new removal video to get the strut out fast without cutting wires.
10-29-2019, 10:54 AM
#20
Easy removal with 2 jacks
After a LOT of work on my suspension, I can share that by far the easiest way to remove the strut is to raise the side of ther car where the air is being removed to remove the wheel, then lower the jack as low as you can without the car touching anything.
Then, raise the other side quite high. Remove the bolt holding the bottom of ther strut to the lower control arm and remove the bolt holding the upper control arms. Remove the har lines and ther 3 bolts at the tip of the strut and the strut literally falls out (so hold it). No need to remove the anti- roll bar nor the level sensor rod.
.
The big reason why I want to remove the whole thing is so that that special washer near the top of the assembly can be reattached in the correct orientation. I used lots of white out to make sure I got it right. Not sure what happens if put back in the wrong orientation, but I'd guess an alignment issue.
It's really no big deal to remove the entire strut. Ican remove entire thing in 20 to 30 mins. Well, as long as the upper control arm pinch bolt comes out easily. Mine did. But I had a Passat that was awful, possibly from the north, or audi figured out better metal to use.
Then, raise the other side quite high. Remove the bolt holding the bottom of ther strut to the lower control arm and remove the bolt holding the upper control arms. Remove the har lines and ther 3 bolts at the tip of the strut and the strut literally falls out (so hold it). No need to remove the anti- roll bar nor the level sensor rod.
.
The big reason why I want to remove the whole thing is so that that special washer near the top of the assembly can be reattached in the correct orientation. I used lots of white out to make sure I got it right. Not sure what happens if put back in the wrong orientation, but I'd guess an alignment issue.
It's really no big deal to remove the entire strut. Ican remove entire thing in 20 to 30 mins. Well, as long as the upper control arm pinch bolt comes out easily. Mine did. But I had a Passat that was awful, possibly from the north, or audi figured out better metal to use.