Hey all!
Got a small problem with my adjustable air suspension ('91 Legacy AWD). For some reason, the front left is always 1/2" lower than the right one. Doesn't matter if it's up or down, running or not.
Thought it was a leak but it doesn't get any lower, even after days of sitting in the driveway.
Any ideas what it could be and how to fix it? Is there a height sensor that could be tuned up so left and right sides are even?
Cheers
Welcome to Ultimate Subaru Message Board, my lurker friend!
 |
Welcome to Ultimate Subaru Message Board, an unparalleled Subaru community full of the greatest Subaru gurus and modders on the planet! We offer technical information and discussion about all things Subaru, the best and most popular all wheel drive vehicles ever created. We offer all this information for free to everyone, even lurkers like you! All we ask in return is that you sign up and give back some of what you get out - without our awesome registered users none of this would be possible! Plus, you get way more great stuff as a member! Lurk to lose, participate to WIN*!
* The joy of participation and being generally awesome constitutes winning ** Not an actual guarantee, but seriously, you probably won't regret it! Serving the Subaru Community since May 18th, 1998! |
Guest Message by DevFuse
Uneven air suspension
Started by
subyboy
, Sep 06 2007 06:33 PM
10 replies to this topic
#2
crazyhorse001
-
- Members
- 436 posts
Subaru Fanatic!
- Greeneville
Posted 06 September 2007 - 06:59 PM
Sounds like the strut is flat, and the opposite side is supporting it. It could be the strut, or the solenoid valve.
The self leveling setup wil do it's best to compensate for a bad strut. Ask around in the old gen section. The XT, and XT6 owners will have more clues for you
The self leveling setup wil do it's best to compensate for a bad strut. Ask around in the old gen section. The XT, and XT6 owners will have more clues for you
#3
subyboy
-
- Members
-
- 55 posts
USMB Regular
- Melbourne
Posted 06 September 2007 - 07:12 PM
Thanks for the input crazyhorse.
But if the strut is really flat, how come it goes up when I set the suspension on high?
But if the strut is really flat, how come it goes up when I set the suspension on high?
#4
firstwagon
-
- Members
- 255 posts
Eat, Live, Breath Subaru
- British Columbia
Posted 06 September 2007 - 07:20 PM
If your strut was flat it would go right down to the bump stop. Then the other side would too over time as they seem to be connected.
Has the low strut been changed recently? When I bought some used air struts at the junk yard, the guy there told me that ride heights varied by year and it was best to stick to struts from the same year car.
Don't know if it's true though, just what he told me.
Has the low strut been changed recently? When I bought some used air struts at the junk yard, the guy there told me that ride heights varied by year and it was best to stick to struts from the same year car.
Don't know if it's true though, just what he told me.
#5
crazyhorse001
-
- Members
- 436 posts
Subaru Fanatic!
- Greeneville
Posted 06 September 2007 - 07:26 PM
Thanks for the correction, that's why I'm here, to learn.
I know that there's a "reed switch" inside the strut that tells it where it's at. If the strut's off a car with a different pre-set ride height, that'd definately be a problem.
I know that there's a "reed switch" inside the strut that tells it where it's at. If the strut's off a car with a different pre-set ride height, that'd definately be a problem.
#6
subyboy
-
- Members
-
- 55 posts
USMB Regular
- Melbourne
Posted 06 September 2007 - 07:30 PM
Actually yes, firstwagon. That same strut was replaced 4 years ago, before I bought the car. Checked the part number and it is the correct part, covering Legacy 90-94, so should be the correct one. Doesn't seem to be any change in ride height from what I can gather from the catalogue...
#7
firstwagon
-
- Members
- 255 posts
Eat, Live, Breath Subaru
- British Columbia
Posted 06 September 2007 - 07:40 PM
That's what I thought too from everything I read. The guy at the yard seemed quite sure of himself though.
(not that I place a lot of faith in junkyards though)
Mine is often at odd angles in the morning but it always corrects it's self when you start it up.
(not that I place a lot of faith in junkyards though)
Mine is often at odd angles in the morning but it always corrects it's self when you start it up.
#8
subyboy
-
- Members
-
- 55 posts
USMB Regular
- Melbourne
Posted 06 September 2007 - 09:31 PM
Hmm, interesting to know there's some sort of height sensor inside the strut. Any idea how to get to it?
According to the mechanic's bill, the strut was a new one. Then again, he might have put on a used one and charged the price of a new one, who knows. Unless they come from the factory with different height setups depending on year of production??? (Same part but different preset height)
Barely noticeable anyway, so I'm not too keen on opening a can of worm just to fix a small problem like this one, for fear of what I might discover...
According to the mechanic's bill, the strut was a new one. Then again, he might have put on a used one and charged the price of a new one, who knows. Unless they come from the factory with different height setups depending on year of production??? (Same part but different preset height)
Barely noticeable anyway, so I'm not too keen on opening a can of worm just to fix a small problem like this one, for fear of what I might discover...
#9
bulwnkl
-
- Members
- 497 posts
Subaru Fanatic!
- Arizona, USA
Posted 09 September 2007 - 07:16 PM
To get to the strut's internal height switches/sensor, the way I recall from my XT6's FSM is this:
1) Destroy strut with explosives or possibly sawzall.
2) Find switches/sensor amongst pieces.
HTH.
1) Destroy strut with explosives or possibly sawzall.
2) Find switches/sensor amongst pieces.
HTH.
#10
subyboy
-
- Members
-
- 55 posts
USMB Regular
- Melbourne
Posted 09 September 2007 - 07:34 PM
OK, definitely not worth opening above-mentioned can of worm then... :-\
#11
grossgary
-
- Gold Subscribers
- 17,909 posts
Elite Master of the Subaru
- West VA
Posted 09 September 2007 - 07:51 PM
yeah, you definitely don't want to attempt to get at the height sensor, that won't happen. technically you could intercept the height sensor signals and move it up/down and see where the height triggers are, compare it to each side. but yeah that'd be a lot of work. i'd rather swap another used one in and see what happens than do all of that. i believe much of the air suspension stuff is at the front drivers side strut tower. there's a empty female plug there that allows access to various circuits...i know the compressor and all the solenoids, but i can't recall if the height sensor circuits are there, i'd guess not, but you could use that connector to air up/air down to do the test i just mentioned.
if problems arise, it is best to get rid of the air suspension, particularly with the legacy since it's so easy to get stuff for. air suspension stuff is real freaky. in a way it seems really simple since i've got billions of extra parts lying around, but it always seems to do bizarre things and can be very tricky. i like it on the XT6 so i keep it, but my suggestion is to not like, it's far easier and those people are much more sane than myself!
if problems arise, it is best to get rid of the air suspension, particularly with the legacy since it's so easy to get stuff for. air suspension stuff is real freaky. in a way it seems really simple since i've got billions of extra parts lying around, but it always seems to do bizarre things and can be very tricky. i like it on the XT6 so i keep it, but my suggestion is to not like, it's far easier and those people are much more sane than myself!
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
