Another Suspension strut- bags - HELP PLEASE
#1
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Thread Starter
![Angry](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon8.gif)
Hello All!
I have been out of this board for a while. I have a problem and looking for help. In the past I read lots of thread on the spring conversion for the rear struts.
Anyway, here are the issue:
1. In my Driveway, many times I notice my GX in the rear is sagging. I measured it from the center of the wheel up . when it appears normal it is 21". When it is sagging it measures 18".
So there is 3" difference.
What is causing this, I know some will say it maybe a airbag leak. I dont think thats the case and I MAYBE wrong. Because, when I park the car with with no sag at night and the height is 21" it stays like that in the morning.
PLEASE HELP, also, I know there are lots of idea of doing a change over to regular struts. What is the best method out there?
Many thanks:
I have been out of this board for a while. I have a problem and looking for help. In the past I read lots of thread on the spring conversion for the rear struts.
Anyway, here are the issue:
1. In my Driveway, many times I notice my GX in the rear is sagging. I measured it from the center of the wheel up . when it appears normal it is 21". When it is sagging it measures 18".
So there is 3" difference.
What is causing this, I know some will say it maybe a airbag leak. I dont think thats the case and I MAYBE wrong. Because, when I park the car with with no sag at night and the height is 21" it stays like that in the morning.
PLEASE HELP, also, I know there are lots of idea of doing a change over to regular struts. What is the best method out there?
Many thanks:
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
#2
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Usually it starts out intermittently sagging, then it just goes out completely. At least that's what happened with mine.
So if you come out to the car and it's sagging in the rear, I wouldn't wait any longer, replace them. I decided to do a "wait and see" because it only happened occasionally, and it went out completely on a road trip with the rear bouncing like a stagecoach.
In my opinion, it's a part that is simply going to go out eventually on all of them, almost like tires, they're rubber and they wear out.
Do a search and see all the options. The GX was my wife's and we needed it on the road ASAP so we just went the dealer route of replacing the rear bags rather than ordering a kit and me installing it. Out the door it was around $800 for parts and labor to replace the rear bags. If it was my car, I would have gotten a steel coil kit for around half that and been done with the silly air ride.
So if you come out to the car and it's sagging in the rear, I wouldn't wait any longer, replace them. I decided to do a "wait and see" because it only happened occasionally, and it went out completely on a road trip with the rear bouncing like a stagecoach.
In my opinion, it's a part that is simply going to go out eventually on all of them, almost like tires, they're rubber and they wear out.
Do a search and see all the options. The GX was my wife's and we needed it on the road ASAP so we just went the dealer route of replacing the rear bags rather than ordering a kit and me installing it. Out the door it was around $800 for parts and labor to replace the rear bags. If it was my car, I would have gotten a steel coil kit for around half that and been done with the silly air ride.
#3
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Thread Starter
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Thanks Brad,
Update: trying to troubleshoot. I stated the car last night, and raised the car to HI position and measured it, it is at 23" at HI point. This morning same 23". This is an indication the airbag is not leaking, am I correct?
Update: trying to troubleshoot. I stated the car last night, and raised the car to HI position and measured it, it is at 23" at HI point. This morning same 23". This is an indication the airbag is not leaking, am I correct?
#5
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There were many nights when I came back in the morning and there was no sag and then at another time it would. It's rubber, depending on how inflated or deflated it is, the hole may or may not open...could just be a pin hole....if it cycles thought the settings correctly, than height sensors are probably working. Go through hundreds of post here, the bags are made of rubber and they are under the truck....they leak eventually. You can wait until the reservoir solenoid burns out too from constantly adjusting the height due to leak, the truck will be left just sitting on the bump stops and you can be in the middle of nowhere..
#6
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There were many nights when I came back in the morning and there was no sag and then at another time it would. It's rubber, depending on how inflated or deflated it is, the hole may or may not open...could just be a pin hole....if it cycles thought the settings correctly, than height sensors are probably working. Go through hundreds of post here, the bags are made of rubber and they are under the truck....they leak eventually. You can wait until the reservoir solenoid burns out too from constantly adjusting the height due to leak, the truck will be left just sitting on the bump stops and you can be in the middle of nowhere..
I'm not saying you should throw parts at it, you want to diagnose it correctly, but I think it's pretty likely if the rear air bags are original and they start sagging, they probably need replacement.
#7
Lexus Champion
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I thought If it's sagging in the morning even 1 time then it's the bags. My understanding was the car does not inflate based off the sensor until you put the key in, so if it's the sensor it would go whacky when you put the key in.. But I could be wrong haven't had it happen yet.
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#8
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If you manually put it to the high position when you park, the hole in the rubber probably closes, as the bag collapses ever so slightly, the rubber folds and the hole opened up...its a 2003 right? Get underneath and take a good look, the rubber must be dried cracked and splot.
#9
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Alan... I read many of your post on the 13 pages thread before posting a new thread. I know youre dealer change the parts and that didnt fix the issue. It was you who discovered the leak when vacummin the back. By the way did the airbag replacement fixed your GX problem?
Brad, that for the PM, and the posts here, I am asking all these questions, since Alan and other threw lots of money and the dealer didnt diagnose properly.
Another data point:
I just drove home and saw the car was bit low, I started the car and and hit the switch to L position, guess what the car went up an inch instead of going lower.
Brad, that for the PM, and the posts here, I am asking all these questions, since Alan and other threw lots of money and the dealer didnt diagnose properly.
Another data point:
I just drove home and saw the car was bit low, I started the car and and hit the switch to L position, guess what the car went up an inch instead of going lower.
#10
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Alan... I read many of your post on the 13 pages thread before posting a new thread. I know youre dealer change the parts and that didnt fix the issue. It was you who discovered the leak when vacummin the back. By the way did the airbag replacement fixed your GX problem?
Brad, that for the PM, and the posts here, I am asking all these questions, since Alan and other threw lots of money and the dealer didnt diagnose properly.
Another data point:
I just drove home and saw the car was bit low, I started the car and and hit the switch to L position, guess what the car went up an inch instead of going lower.
Brad, that for the PM, and the posts here, I am asking all these questions, since Alan and other threw lots of money and the dealer didnt diagnose properly.
Another data point:
I just drove home and saw the car was bit low, I started the car and and hit the switch to L position, guess what the car went up an inch instead of going lower.
#11
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Thread Starter
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ANOTHER UPDATE - Getting closer.
Last night, when I pulled into the drive way, the rear was low. I stated the engine and heard the pump turn on and leveled the rear.
After 1 hour I came out an saw the rear go down again, I started the car and it pumped it self back to normal.
This morning, I checked again and it was low, I started the truck and heard the pump and it leveled again.
Please correct me of the following assumptions.
1. It is airbags.
2. I am curious, if one airbag is leaking why both side is sagging, why not only one side, it is highly unlikely both side will leak simultaneously.
3. Or do you think the leak is in the line? Any diagram or procedure how I can check all this before I attempt to go under the back of the truck?
Last night, when I pulled into the drive way, the rear was low. I stated the engine and heard the pump turn on and leveled the rear.
After 1 hour I came out an saw the rear go down again, I started the car and it pumped it self back to normal.
This morning, I checked again and it was low, I started the truck and heard the pump and it leveled again.
Please correct me of the following assumptions.
1. It is airbags.
2. I am curious, if one airbag is leaking why both side is sagging, why not only one side, it is highly unlikely both side will leak simultaneously.
3. Or do you think the leak is in the line? Any diagram or procedure how I can check all this before I attempt to go under the back of the truck?
#12
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close?? LOL, it will come to you eventually. wait until it drops on the bump stops while you are driving on the highway...computer probably detects error codes and cant keep only one side up...
#13
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Thread Starter
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I hope it wont come to that, that is the only reason I am monitoring daily. I will get it fixed or do a conversion. I just dont want to rush and go thru what you went thru, dealer throwing parts.
Car is OFF and parked, I don't think the computer has anything to do with sagging, it is the leak, but the question is why both side drops while engine off , and since the engine is off it wont be self leveling ,,I think.
Did your both side sagged since you actually saw the leak in the boots. or one side?
I am thinking it is in the lines somewhere letting the air out of the bags.
#14
Lexus Champion
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ANOTHER UPDATE - Getting closer.
Last night, when I pulled into the drive way, the rear was low. I stated the engine and heard the pump turn on and leveled the rear.
After 1 hour I came out an saw the rear go down again, I started the car and it pumped it self back to normal.
This morning, I checked again and it was low, I started the truck and heard the pump and it leveled again.
Please correct me of the following assumptions.
1. It is airbags.
2. I am curious, if one airbag is leaking why both side is sagging, why not only one side, it is highly unlikely both side will leak simultaneously.
3. Or do you think the leak is in the line? Any diagram or procedure how I can check all this before I attempt to go under the back of the truck?
Last night, when I pulled into the drive way, the rear was low. I stated the engine and heard the pump turn on and leveled the rear.
After 1 hour I came out an saw the rear go down again, I started the car and it pumped it self back to normal.
This morning, I checked again and it was low, I started the truck and heard the pump and it leveled again.
Please correct me of the following assumptions.
1. It is airbags.
2. I am curious, if one airbag is leaking why both side is sagging, why not only one side, it is highly unlikely both side will leak simultaneously.
3. Or do you think the leak is in the line? Any diagram or procedure how I can check all this before I attempt to go under the back of the truck?
lines generally do not leak but it is a possibility. the only way I would think it is that is if you tried to remove it improperly without the special service tool and damaged it, but out of the blue its much more likely to be a bag then an air line.
#15
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Thanks Ali,
What a wonderful explanation..Amazing.
I do want it to be something so I can get it fixed. Now I understand the concept of both side deflating. I need to figure out which bag, or change both.
Good news is Lexus dealership is selling for $160 per bag. I am not sure if I can change it myself, since you mentioned special tools or I need to bring to lexus, again troubleshoot which bag right or left.
What a wonderful explanation..Amazing.
I do want it to be something so I can get it fixed. Now I understand the concept of both side deflating. I need to figure out which bag, or change both.
Good news is Lexus dealership is selling for $160 per bag. I am not sure if I can change it myself, since you mentioned special tools or I need to bring to lexus, again troubleshoot which bag right or left.