Good afternoon colleagues,
I'm very happy to greet you. I've read a lot on the forum about the shock absorbers of our cars and the truth is that I've seen everything from "small valve breakdowns" that caused leaks to total replacements. My situation is this: When the car spends a week standing up little by little you notice that it is falling, at the open it is true that it returns to its original position but there is no warning from the car that something is wrong. What does this mean? Is it a leak? Or do I really have to change the two front shock absorbers completely? Would it cause problems for the compressor by making it work more than is really necessary? I would need a little light on this subject since in the workshop the easiest thing is to replace the whole piece, but many times it is not necessary. What do you think? I have to say that the car is 2008-9 and has 120,000 kms. Thank you very much in advance.


Buenas tardes compañeros, me da mucho gusto saludarles. He leído mucho en el foro sobre los amortiguadores de nuestros coches y la verdad es que he visto desde "pequeñas averías" de la válvula que producían fugas hasta reemplazos totales.

Mi situación es la siguiente: Cuando el coche pasa una semana parado poco a poco notas que se va cayendo, al open es cierto que vuelve a su posición original pero no hay ningún aviso por parte del coche de que algo va mal. ¿Qué significa esto? ¿Es una fuga? ¿O realmente tengo que cambiar los dos amortiguadores delanteros por completo? ¿Causaría problemas para el compresor haciéndolo trabajar más de lo realmente necesario? Necesitaría un poco de luz sobre este tema ya que en el taller lo más fácil es reemplazar la pieza entera, pero muchas veces no es necesario. ¿Qué opinan?

Tengo que decir que el coche es del 2008-9 y tiene 120.000 kms.

Muchas gracias de antemano.

 

You can look for leaks with soap water that bubbles up easily to try and find where it’s coming from. As I understand where the air line goes into the strut is a common place.

 

Hello@Pablen84,
As Sam08861 stated, use a soapy water spray bottle to look for leaks, but, not only at the air line connection at each strut, but at the top and bottom of each front strut, see pictures below for bubbles shown at the top of the strut under the bonnet.

At the bottom of each front strut, spray the accordion cover at the bottom to check for leaks, if the top of the strut is leaking under the bonnet, then the small o-ring at the top of the strut shaft has failed, just as if the bottom of the accordion cover show bubbles, then the large o-ring has failed, either way, if either of these two areas show to leak, then removal and disassembly of the strut is required to replace said o-rings, I will find and post those pictures.

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Under the bonnet





Top of front strut blowing bubbles

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The brass air line connections each have an o-ring to seal to the residual valve, and the residual valves have an o-ring to seal to brass inlet plate on each strut, this plate also has a flat rubber gasket/seal.

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Brass inlet assembly

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O-ring on air line.

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O-ring on residual valve.

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Inlet plate assembly/gasket.

Same.


Here are some screenshots I took from a video that Louis over on Audiworld made for his A8L, same premise as the Bentley, here you can see that he had bubbles at the top of the strut on one side, and bubbles at the bottom of the accordion cover on the other side, you can also see the large and small o-rings on the shaft and strut housing, if you ever decide to do the inner o-rings, please do not cut the wires as he did, just remove the pins from the plug sockets.

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Top of strut. .

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Top of strut. .

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Bottom of strut. .


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Bottom of strut. .


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Large o-ring. .

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Small shaft o-ring. .


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O-rings. .


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Large o-ring location. .


Johnny

 

Good morning, thank you very much for so much information and so detailed to the millimeter. It will surely help the mechanic to inspect it. On a previous occasion I already used the documentation that I got from the forum to be able to fix the rear spoiler. After all, in my area you see few cars like ours and they are not known like others.

Two days ago I took the car out and it drove fine but when I got home and put it in the garage, it rubbed me from underneath. Apparently the distance from the wheel to the arch was clear but I had never touched it before, so something is happening down there.

If the struts had to be changed, I have seen that there is a lot of controversy in the forum. Original or Arnott? In any case, where can you find cheaper ones on the internet? Because I have seen prices of all types. And the million dollar question: is there any correspondence with the Volkswagen Phaeton/Toureg or Audi A8?

 

Hi Johnny,
I have a pair of struts disassembled ready for rebuild, those seals were the problem.
Do you know a good company that can supply a seal set for the gt struts?
Frank.

 

I have a 2017 Bentayga. I ordered a rebuilt set from (Google "rebuildmastertech"). They should be here next week. About $ 500 each with a $100 core deposit. They are in Florida US. Never done it before so we'll se how it goes.

 

Good afternoon, I finally had to change the front struts along with the suspension arms since they were very worn. Now I hear little noises from the back and I'm starting to obsess over whether to change the rear arms. But these cars... it's a non-stop spending money.

On the other hand, I have been noticing for some time that the steering wheel is not completely centered. In theory it should be aligned, but could it be something else? At the shop they told me that it is aligned but the car still does not have the steering wheel completely centered. What do you think? Is there anything I can do besides aligning?

 

Hello @Pablen84 ,
After new suspension pieces are fitted, you will need an alignment, which I assume you did, as you mentioned the shop commenting on the steering wheel centerness, if I am correct, and a shop did the 4 wheel alignment, tell them to do the center steering again, it usually takes 2 times to get it right, it is done by centering the steering wheel and adjusting the tie rods on both sides equally, being that the steering wheel may not lock in place perfectly straight when the engine is shut down and the ignition off, it usually takes a road test and a reset of the center steering, as when the vehicle is on the alignment machine and the steering wheel is not perfect, but they align the front end, you will be off center afterwards.

Johnny

 

Good morning, first of all thank Johnny Hotspur GT.
I had always understood that the alignment was enough, but the workshop was already putting me in doubt and I didn't know if it could be due to some other element that was wrong. This morning I will call to see when I can take it.

 

@Frank ( Sunnyside )

Hi Frank did you get the oring sizes for the struts by any chance if you have them out just measure them they will be metric
Just measure the cross section and inside diameter there pennys to buy ....Im amazed no one has posted up the sizes on this forum ??

 

Hi.
No. Not yet. I have the old ones in a tray?
I could measure the ones I have but I wouldn't be able to tell the material specification. I presume they are standard Nitrile O rings??
I have been working on my circuit car atm.
Plus, I think I can build Coilover suspension using the striped down strut and mechatronic valve. Keeping the variable Damping.
I have an idea of spring rates and length and threaded sleeve Coilover adaption and adjustable spring platforms . I wont need the O rings if I go that route.
As the car I have bought has so many issues I want to get the car properly drivable before taking the air suspension off , which will leave me the working air struts that were on the car as spare.
Frank

 

[QUOTE=Frank ( Sunnyside );4947615]Hi.
No. Not yet. I have the old ones in a tray?
I could measure the ones I have but I wouldn't be able to tell the material specification. I presume they are standard Nitrile O rings??
I have been working on my circuit car atm.
Plus, I think I can build Coilover suspension using the striped down strut and mechatronic valve. Keeping the variable Damping.
I have an idea of spring rates and length and threaded sleeve Coilover adaption and adjustable spring platforms . I wont need the O rings if I go that route.
As the car I have bought has so many issues I want to get the car properly drivable before taking the air suspension off , which will leave me the working air struts that were on the car as spare.
I will open up the workshop and get them measured. I will post back layer with the size.
I'm not in atm But if iirc there are 3 seals.
Frank[

 

As promised. O Ring sizes.
For the 3 in the strut not residual pressure valve.

 

@Frank ( Sunnyside )
Yes Frank the coilover spring route would be the way to go im thinking ...especialy with their over complicated Bentley air ride design that seems to be a common fault on them ..
They should have taken a look at the old Citroen BXs who got it right the first time
Just looking at the price required for a pair of struts is like Hooooooooooow Much


US nearly $ 6500 and you have two more to go on the back lol
Thanks for sticking up the oring sizes nice one Frank .....At least there on here now for future ref for other members

scrinja

 

Your welcome.
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