Help with rear airbag reeplacement
 

Can anyone point me in the direction of a DIY guide to rear airbag replacement?

Thanks

A google search for "rear air bag xoutpost replace" will pull up all kinds of good results for you :)

Use the search function here on the site, I recently replaced my rear ones in June, piece of cake, so easy it's laughable!

Thanks guys, and yes, it was pretty easy. Until I found out I had ordered the wrong springs, (comfort instead of the needed sport springs). Oh well...down to 4 cars for a few days while I wait for the new air springs to show up.

BTW, assuming you want Arnott air springs, it seems the place to order these is directly from Arnott's web site; they are $99 ea. there and ~$140 at ECS or others.

I know what you mean, see this:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...confusing.html

Well, after reading that thread, I can understand why there is the confusion. It sure was NOT confusing to me that I had the wrong air spring. The bottom plastic part is larger on the sport springs that were on my car than the comfort ones I had purchased. ALSO if you look at the Arnott web site, there is NO confusion about which is the correct part number for the sport air springs; very clearly labeled. The Arnott sport air springs have a big yellow sticker on them that says 'Sport", (not on the comfort springs).

The sports springs have a taller plastic piece on the bottom, and a shorter airbag...therefore less travel. I'm not sure of the physics of these things, but I would guess that just like a metal spring, a shorter spring with fewer coils (but the same coil thickness) will produce a stiffer ride and higher spring rate. So I'm guessing a shorter airbag, with the same diameter, bag stiffness and material will produce less compression as well.

That said, I don't think there would be a problem using the sport springs on the 4 wheel air suspension cars, (mine is 2 wheel sport), as long as you did not drive with the car in a lowered position, as that would leave you with too little suspension travel in the rear springs. But I'm just guessing here. I'd bet the folks at Arnott tech support could answer this for you if you are contemplating this switch.

Finally, if you look at Arnott's web site, they DO specify a sport rear spring for both 2 wheel and 4 wheel air systems.