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  #1  
Old 04-29-2011, 02:06 PM
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My bag won't leak at night when I'm high!

Ok, another air-suspension thread. I've read dozens of them but can't find a mention of this - I too have the right front suspension sagging/leaking overnight, yet not all the time. There is no pattern to when it goes down and when it doesn't. Some mornings it hasn't moved, some mornings down a little, and some mornings practically touching the tire.

And here is the twist - if I raise the ride height before turning the engine off, it won't leak at all - it will stay at the high height for days and days as long as I don't drive the car! So, I am confused about how it can apparently leak overnight from the "normal" position, but not from the "high" position? Is it a two-stage bag or something like that? Thanks in advance for any insight fellas.

PS - I have no other ride-height symptoms while driving - no sagging, no noises, zip.
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Last edited by Clutch; 04-29-2011 at 02:09 PM. Reason: typo
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  #2  
Old 04-29-2011, 04:04 PM
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It's because the crack in the bag is at the fold. If you raise the height, the bag extends a bit which moves the fold down a little, and by doing that you end up sealing up the existing crack.

This is why when you hunt leaking air bags you have to do the soapy water test at all ride heights.
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Old 04-29-2011, 06:26 PM
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your airbag has leaks.
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Old 04-30-2011, 08:07 AM
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Thanks very much for the reply. Interesting, and plausible I guees, but I visualized it the other way; when the bag is less inflated, the folds would be creasing back onto one another, and with less pressure inside, the more likely any hole would be covered or sealed by another fold or layer of material.

When the bag is more inflated, and at higher pressure, the folds and creases are expanded and less likely to be covering a hole or leak. Does anyone have a cutaway drawing of the entire strut assembly or a detailed visualization of how much these bags crease and fold as they in/deflate?
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Old 04-30-2011, 10:41 AM
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Here's a good visualization for you:

Look at the wrinkles on your knuckles. Bend your finger. Notice how the wrinkles get bigger. That simulates the fold in the airbag at normal riding height. Now straighten your finger. Notice how the wrinkles get tighter together. That simulates the bag being longer (taller ride height) and why they essentially seal themselves when you leave it at high height.

Now go change your bags.
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Old 05-01-2011, 08:59 AM
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Thanks kmagnuss, that's a pretty good visualization. Since it doesn't seem to be affecting anything other than parked ride height (seems to drive and handle perfectly), I will start saving the dough and try the repair myself with the threads I have found here. Thanks to all for the comments and advice.
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Old 05-01-2011, 09:20 PM
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I can't resist. Then you have to get high more often.
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Old 05-01-2011, 09:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mywidebody02 View Post
I can't resist. Then you have to get high more often.
my thoughts exactly


i couldnt look at that thread anymore, i was dying
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Old 05-04-2011, 03:42 PM
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That's the best advice I've had so far!!

Further question though - other than looking terrible when the bag leaks while parked, is any damage being done to the rest of the car - suspension, tires, etc.?? Can I safely postpone this repair until the budget recovers a bit?
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Old 05-04-2011, 08:57 PM
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It should be ok as long as you don't drive it with the bags deflated or soft. If they are leaking to the point that they don't fill completely when the car is running i wouldn't drive it.
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