My right front strut is going out. My mechanic says he needs nitrogen calibration tools and he recommended the dealer to do the install.

Q1: Is this really the case that the air suspension is nitrogen based? For example, the past 10+ years I’ve used the onboard air compressor & hose to fill up my tires when they are low and my impression is that the air compressor uses normal air. Or does the assembly have one bladder that is nitrogen and another that uses the compressor?

Q2: Assuming the compressor uses normal air, is there a way to drain the water out of the tank? Any normal maintenance on the compressor?

Q3: How much time do you think the dealer will charge to swap out the assembly & calibrate? 3 hours?

Q4: Can I salvage the air suspension assembly and just swap out the strut? Is this advisable? The suspension is original, 115k miles - I do not have a chassis light, the Cayenne still elevates and it seems to be fine - EXCEPT when I drive over bumps in the road the front end rattles. My mechanic (porsche shop) thinks it is the strut and insists I repair it properly. I already replaced the control arms..

Thank you in advance for any advice/wisdom.. I am having the assembly shipped to my house, part #45-240966 and I am debating swapping it out myself or at a shop with the nitrogen calibration equipment. Thanks!

 

You don’t need nitrogen. Dry air is sufficient (78% nitrogen). If you’re going to the trouble of disassembling the front end, I would replace the entire assembly.