Air Spring Questions

[93mkviii]

First, the 97 Mark VIII is randomly dropping from the driver side rear( not a constant leak but rapid drop) and once it rises it hisses very loudly and faints away. I'm guessing an o-ring issue in the solenoid? Second the 93 is leaking from the right rear bag and i'm gonna replace the bag and solenoid because I don't wanna do it twice. Mainly i've been trying to find a good tech article on how to do it but the best i've found was http://www.lincolnsofdistinction.org/lincolntech/modrepair/rearairbag.html. You guys are gonna have to spoon feed me but i'm gonna try taking a video on how to remove the airspring. Firstly, are the electrical connector and air line just pull out and push in or is there a clip etc. Now the solenoid is next to remove but doesn't that come out when you pull out the airspring? How can you remove it before if possible since the tech article says remove solenoid beforehand. I understand the four clips at the bottom. Just depress them all and it will pop out of the control arm but do i have to support the control arm so it doesn't just fall down(or is the shockabsorber holding it? The metal clip do i push it in and then rotate the airbag while keeping the clip pushed in? and once it rotated it unhooks and pull down and remove? Also, when lifting the car from the rear you can't really put a jackstand and i'm using a block of wood and a jack under the frame bushings... is that safe? I know it's a lot of questions but i just don't want to mess up something or have the car drop on me so i rather get information before since i really don't understand the article 100%. Oh and can i remove the electrical line/air line after i remove the airbag so i won't have to get under the car and pull the lines out?

 

[93mkviii]

After reading more I understand it but I'm still confused on how to remove the airline from the solenoid. BTW is the solenoid just a rotate and pull out to remove it from the bag?

 

[thaywood]

It's not difficult. I was lucky enough when I replaced the rear springs on my old '96 to have access to a lift. It makes things a whole lot easier. Basically you jack one (or both)sides up. Remove the solenoid from the housing (it's exactly the same as the front) by removing the c-clip that keeps it from rotating, rotate solenoid counter clockwise, pull down, rotate again, and pull down again. It will pop out with a big hiss. Or you can remove the line from the solenoid by pushing up on the orange collet washer and pulling down on the air line. Then remove the solenoid afterward. Once the air is out of the spring, just push the clips in on the bottom of the control arm and push the spring out. Then rotate the spring (counter clockwise, I think) to free it from the slots at the top that hold the spring to the frame and it should come right out. Reverse the procedure to re-install. My replacement air springs were compressed, so I had to use compressed air to blow them up when I installed them. It's pretty simple. With a lift it took me and a friend about 30 minutes to change both springs out. On jack stands, laying on the ground, it may take longer. Be sure to replace the O-rings on the solenoids and lube them up with silicone grease. If you take the air line out of the solenoid, make sure it's clean and dry and DO NOT put any grease on it when you put it back in!! Hope this helps.

 

[DLF]

Don't remove the air line or unplug the wires from the solenoid. Just remove the clip that locks in the solenoid and then rotate it counter-clockwise to remove the solenoid from the bag. There's a stop that when you hit it you'll need to pull the solenoid down a bit, at this point the air in the bag will escape, then you turn it a bit more and remove it.

 

[93mkviii]

It's not difficult. I was lucky enough when I replaced the rear springs on my old '96 to have access to a lift. It makes things a whole lot easier. Basically you jack one (or both)sides up. Remove the solenoid from the housing (it's exactly the same as the front) by removing the c-clip that keeps it from rotating, rotate solenoid counter clockwise, pull down, rotate again, and pull down again. It will pop out with a big hiss. Or you can remove the line from the solenoid by pushing up on the orange collet washer and pulling down on the air line. Then remove the solenoid afterward. Once the air is out of the spring, just push the clips in on the bottom of the control arm and push the spring out. Then rotate the spring (counter clockwise, I think) to free it from the slots at the top that hold the spring to the frame and it should come right out. Reverse the procedure to re-install. My replacement air springs were compressed, so I had to use compressed air to blow them up when I installed them. It's pretty simple. With a lift it took me and a friend about 30 minutes to change both springs out. On jack stands, laying on the ground, it may take longer. Be sure to replace the O-rings on the solenoids and lube them up with silicone grease. If you take the air line out of the solenoid, make sure it's clean and dry and DO NOT put any grease on it when you put it back in!! Hope this helps.

Thanks, is it necessary to fill the bag with air before you install it if it is compressed inside? Thanks for the description on how to pull out the solenoid.. would have ever figured that out. I'll try to remove the solenoid first since the airline seems tricky. So the orange ring around the line, push that opposite to the air line and pull airline out. And to install push orange ring in and put airline in and release the the orange ring will hold the line in place? Thanks alot.

 

[thaywood]

Thanks, is it necessary to fill the bag with air before you install it if it is compressed inside? Thanks for the description on how to pull out the solenoid.. would have ever figured that out. I'll try to remove the solenoid first since the airline seems tricky. So the orange ring around the line, push that opposite to the air line and pull airline out. And to install push orange ring in and put airline in and release the the orange ring will hold the line in place? Thanks alot.

It makes it easier if you can put some air in the bag. If it's compressed, it's a bitch to extend it by hand. And like DLF said, don't worry about taking the air line out of the solenoid. Just remove the solenoid itself. It's easier and less tricky. And while you're under there, just replace both bags. It will save time and headaches in the future.

 

[unity]

The lines are attached through a collar. This will look like a small piece of plastic. You push this inward and hold it there while you pull the line outward.

The solenoids, at least in the front, have a metal clip that is removed first. Then the solenoid is shifted and removed. The clip prevents it from moving. I forget if the harness plugs into them or if the plug is much further in.

The rear bags are easy. In you last pic, squeeze the four plastic tabs to push it up. Then there is a small metal tab near the top that is permanently attached to them. Just move the tab so its not locking against the stop and twist the bags out.

 

[thaywood]

Ah! Forgot about that little metal tab! The solenoids in the rear springs are exactly like the front ones. Metal clip locks them in place and wires plug directly into the solenoid.

 

[93mkviii]

The lines are attached through a collar. This will look like a small piece of plastic. You push this inward and hold it there while you pull the line outward.

The solenoids, at least in the front, have a metal clip that is removed first. Then the solenoid is shifted and removed. The clip prevents it from moving. I forget if the harness plugs into them or if the plug is much further in.

The rear bags are easy. In you last pic, squeeze the four plastic tabs to push it up. Then there is a small metal tab near the top that is permanently attached to them. Just move the tab so its not locking against the stop and twist the bags out.

Yeah just like when you try to open a bottle that has a child safety cap. Thanks guys now i gotta find that air spring. Hopefully by tomorrow I will have fixed it. Seems very simple when you understand the mechanics of it.

 

[93mkviii]

Also, I'm using the rear frame lift point with a block of wood and jack. Where do you guys put your jack stands? I don't see a clear area like the front to put jack stands.

 

[DLF]

Also, I'm using the rear frame lift point with a block of wood and jack. Where do you guys put your jack stands? I don't see a clear area like the front to put jack stands.

Jack stands? What are those?

Just forward of where the sub-frame brackets bolt to the body near the pinch welds.

 

[93mkviii]

Jack stands? What are those?

Just forward of where the sub-frame brackets bolt to the body near the pinch welds.

http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/liftpoints.htm Where number four is point to right? That's where i use the jack to lift up the car. My jack stand have a U top to them would i put safe to use those under the bolt with a block of wood in the middle? no worries about the car sliding off? BTW nice set up there show off lol wish i had that.

 

[DLF]

No, number four in that list is where the sub-frame brackets bolt to the sub-frame.

Follow the brackets forward to where they bolt to the body with two bolts. The lift point I use is just forward of those bolts near the pinch weld. I use a block of wood, as you can see in the pic I posted.

Here's another pic from a different angle.

 

[93mkviii]

No, number four in that list is where the sub-frame brackets bolt to the sub-frame.

Follow the brackets forward to where they bolt to the body with two bolt. The lift point I use is just forward of those bolts near the pinch weld. I use a black of wood, as you can see in the pic I posted.

Just went out and looked and saw the spot you're talking about. Thanks.

 

[93mkviii]

This thing just doesn't want to work out for me. I took the whole thing apart and removed the bag later to find out the arnott( these are quite old and i didn't know about american air) bags are too long(it was larger by 2-3 inchs from the old bag when the original was fully extended. Is this what you guys ment by putting compressed air in so they would fit? i can't push it inwards because it just bends. Also, the solenoid that came with it the two clips that hold it on the bag are about half the size of the original(length wise)...wth i don't think the clip will hold it in place. Some pictures.

 

[93mkviii]

bump

 

[unity]

Just get the bags in there. Once they inflate they pop. You may be able to extend the arm further down if you disconnect the shock absorber. Not sure, never did that.

Pics too bad to judge solenoids. They twist in then the clip hold it from moving. Use the old clips or old solenoids if need be. Just be sure to use new o-rings and lubricate with silicon before inserting.