Arnott Air Suspension was featured in the December 18, 2018 MOTOR Magazine eNewsletter. The article, written by Bob Chabot, discusses why shops should consider adding air suspension maintenance to their list of services they provide for luxury car owners. “Whether a general or specialty shop, you may want to consider offering an air suspension inspection as part of your routine maintenance procedures,” shared Doug Taylor, Arnott’s product marketing manager. “Servicing air suspension is much easier nowadays, which many shops aren’t yet aware of. And adding air suspension service at your shop also keeps current customers with you instead of visiting a dealership.”
Arnott offers customers a choice when repairing or replacing a customer’s failing air suspension system
The article goes on to list some air suspension maintenance and service advice:
A shop should inspect the vehicle’s air springs and air struts with every visit after about 70,000 miles. Look for excessive oil leaking from and on the shock portion of the strut, which may indicate a failing damper. Be aware that uneven tire wear may not only indicate an alignment issue but may be due to an air suspension problem.
Look for tiny cracks on the air spring, particularly around where the bag may fold upon itself. If these cracks are developing, use the soap and water spray test. A mixture of 1 tablespoon of dish soap to 1 quart of water, sprayed from an all-purpose spray bottle, can be used to detect a leak by looking for soap bubbles.
A clean rubber air spring will extend the life of the bladder. By spraying the air spring with soap and water to test the air spring for leaks you will loosen debris, road grime and oils. Hosing off the soap will help clean the spring which may extend the rubber’s life. Look for rub marks on the air spring or on any visible air lines. Rubbing may come from aggressive driving, driving over rough terrain or if parts – including air lines and air line fasteners – are loose.
The air suspension compressor’s dryer should be replaced each time an air spring is replaced, if possible. A leaking air spring may allow moisture to enter the system, causing damage to the system. A leaking air spring may also cause the compressor to overwork and eventually burn out. And if the vehicle comes in with a dashboard suspension warning light or the compressor is not operating, check the air suspension relay.
When replacing an inoperative compressor, it is vital that the installer perform the soapy water test to look for the leak that caused the original problem. Most commonly the leak is on the air spring, but it could also be due to a loose or failing air line fitting on the spring or strut, a valve block, an air tank reservoir or compressor. In addition, be sure to replace the air suspension fuses and compressor relay.
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