Air Ride Suspension Life

Nyghtshayd

Nyghtshayd

New member
Hello everyone.

I would like to keep Nyghtshayd as close to stock as possible but is it worth it to keep the air ride system or convert.

What is the average life of a new air spring?

Thank you.
 
tixer

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
somewhere between 83k and 183k :) I bought my car at about 100,000 miles, and I have yet to replace an air bag or blend door.


/looks around frantically for wood to knock on...
 
S

steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
i say the air ride last just as long as non-air ride. The thing with the air ride is when it does finally fail it fails in a way that is very apparent. Unlike metal spring that will wear over time and get fatigued but unless it breaks the car want get slammed to the ground.
As far as cost i say there are other luxury cars with less sophisticated suspensions then air ride that will cost more to replace.
 
Roadboss

Roadboss

On Work Release
Most people who turn to the "Dark Side" and go to coil springs do so because of cost factors (they have limited funds) and or lack of ability to run down a compressor or electrical problem. Keeping your air ride gives you the ability to lower or raise your car height with just a tweak of a button if you wish. It also is not that difficult to maintain and there is excellent product and support at American Air Systems. The weak point on the air springs is the rubber bladder which develops micro cracks over time and start to leak. The primary cause for compressor failure is rust that forms from moisture that builds in a system over time (due to leaks or weather conditions). This issue can be addressed with the addition of the Spider Valve that American Air offers. In my opinion the stock air suspension has much more going for it performance wise and they also are fairly reliable.
 
B

beerdog

New member
plus the cost to replace the air ride is high. Even if you do it yourself. Paying someone to rebuild the air ride is rediculous. You can cut the cost using used parts, but you may find yourself repairing it multiple times.

Eddies pricing
2 Front struts 180 per (ford 360 per)
2 rear bags 100per (ford probably 2-3x)
1 compressor 170 (Ford 500-600)
4 Solenoids 25 per (Ford ???)
3 Sensors (ford???)

As you can the part pricing really adds up. Especially if you buy all new parts from Ford. I think the question is how bad do you want air suspension. Pay someone to do the work and you are probably in the $2000 neighborhood. The conversion kits are about 500$ in parts.
 
Nyghtshayd

Nyghtshayd

New member
Great advise folks, thank you.
I can change the system myself so I only have the cost and availability of parts to consider. This is why I wanted to know about how long these last.

I will change everything myself one more time before going to "THE DARK SIDE."

Thank you all again!
 
J

J

OCCUPY LoD :)
Also...its not the coil springs that will fail, the struts will fail first and then you'll either have to plop in some t-bird ones, maybe some continental ones (if they fit) or buy some from American Air.
 
S

steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
Technically the suspension is made up of air springs and shocks. The front shocks are assembled with the spring but i heard that they can be separated so the shock can be replaced.
The rears of course are separate.
 
J

J

OCCUPY LoD :)
This is true for the AIR springs, I was talking about the COIL springs.

You have to find a semi-specialty shop to replace the struts with the air bags attached. There is a SUPER strong clip that holds the bags to the strut and you need to find a shop that can remove and install that clip.
 
Nyghtshayd

Nyghtshayd

New member
If I read your post correctly, J, this is to replace the rubber on the air strut?
If so, that is not where I was going. I was talking about converting.
 
driller

driller

El Presidente
Back on topic, FWIW my '93 has the original rear air bags as far as I know. The fronts would probably still be original as well, but I changed them more because of the struts than the air bags.

I was chasing an air leak and suspected the front bags but as it turned out the leak was elsewhere. But the ride was better because of the newer used struts, so I left them in and still have the originals in storage.

I have a set of front/rear coil suspension ready to swap in should the drag racer in me decide the car needs them. ;)
 
L

Lefty

New member
Roadboss said:
Most people who turn to the "Dark Side" and go to coil springs do so because of cost factors (they have limited funds) and or lack of ability to run down a compressor or electrical problem. Keeping your air ride gives you the ability to lower or raise your car height with just a tweak of a button if you wish. It also is not that difficult to maintain and there is excellent product and support at American Air Systems. The weak point on the air springs is the rubber bladder which develops micro cracks over time and start to leak. The primary cause for compressor failure is rust that forms from moisture that builds in a system over time (due to leaks or weather conditions). This issue can be addressed with the addition of the Spider Valve that American Air offers. In my opinion the stock air suspension has much more going for it performance wise and they also are fairly reliable.
Click to expand...
I clocked 90 seconds to when the air ride system light came on. What is the downside of driving my '97 Mark with the air suspension switch in the OFF position? Thanks.
 
Roadboss

Roadboss

On Work Release
If the car is slammed continued driving can cause the upper and or lower control arm ball joint to catastrophically fail. The reason the light comes on after 90 seconds is that the system has timed out (the computer determined that the car sensor have not gotten to ride height). If you go to American Air's web site there is a help section on line.
 
Nyghtshayd

Nyghtshayd

New member
OMG, What NOW!!!

I changed the ds strut and everything was ok, I was waiting for this weekend to get the rear ps bag. a few day later, I get into Nyghtshayd, turn her on and the Check Air Ride comes on right away.

What Da HECK!!!:mad::confused:

American Air, here I come...
 
Last edited:
J

J

OCCUPY LoD :)
Nyghtshayd said:
If I read your post correctly, J, this is to replace the rubber on the air strut?
If so, that is not where I was going. I was talking about converting.
Click to expand...
Yes, you read correctly. I was more responding to Steve's post/question.
 
budpytko

budpytko

Super Senior Associate
Oh wait...you're talking about air ride codes, NOT the OBDII codes......forget my comment earlier.....
 
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