Noticed the compressor working a bit then suddenly 30mph restriction warning with extended height showing. Pulled over and pulled out the GAP IID tool and it showed a failed NR front height sensor which had been playing up before so luckily I had a spare with me and it was easy to change without even taking off the wheel. Then when I came to calibrate the system I noticed a hiss from the front offside when it tried to go to the calibration height but managed to do a calibration at -10mm allround and then dropped the ride height another 10mm in the GAP tool which got me back home. Noticed when I got off the main roads and onto back streets a hiss when the front went over a road hump and when parked up and trying off road height the hiss was there again. Now debating if I just replace the bag or do both struts as complete units + the rears at £2k in parts at least..... 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Do the bag only and save some dosh 💰 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
New Defender D300 90 on order so "Rory" will be going to a new home....!
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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I would replace the struts and bags, they are 'relatively' cheap for the fronts from Aerosus and they discount if you order a pair. Delivery is 48hrs and when I was looking they were around half the price of anywhere in the UK! 2011 L322 Autobography - a lot of bells and some of the whistles...owner with no idea!

Just ordered 2 x Aerosus front struts. Weighed up all the options including replacing bags to existing struts either by myself or a garage but DIY strut replacement was the quickest and easiest solution. Will do the rears ( bags and struts ) in the near future. Ever since I've had it I've had that nagging insecurity that a bag could let go and leave me imobilised. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Aerosus front struts arrived today which is super fast service. The material on the bags looks a bit flimsy but they don't have to last 12 years like the existing ones. Also ordered rear Dunlop bags and Bilstein shocks for the rear as may as well do the whole lot. Also ordered a proper 3 tonne jack from SGS and some beefier axle stands so I can work with confidence. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Good luck getting the knuckle bolts out, they usually take a bit of persuading to say the least 😳👍

I'm up for a fight! 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

interested to hear what the performance is like vs OEM airbags

Not sure how I'd measure 'performance' I'd assume the spring rate of the air bags is similar and that a new shock is better that one with 170k miles on it. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Front struts changed and much easier than expected. Took an hour each side working alone and the big pinch bolts surrendered to the Ryobi 400Nm impact wrench without a fight. Used a jack under the hub to ease the strut up rather than trying to hold it up with one hand and reach over for the studs with the other. Reused the old airline fittings with a smear of silicone grease but not entierly convinced by these connections so I'm leaving the rear bags and shocks until tomorrow to see if it's held up overnight. Reckon I was very lucky to make it back home last week as the front dropped very quickly after moving to to my office carpark today to do the work. Originals were dated dec 2011

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JayGee wrote:

Not sure how I'd measure 'performance' I'd assume the spring rate of the air bags is similar and that a new shock is better that one with 170k miles on it.

I'd say after 170K miles you've made the right decision to change the entire strut.

Sounds like you'll be driving along safely smoothly with new suspension all round!

J 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
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Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

No drop overnight so on with the rears. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

when I replaced the fronts on mine with Aerosus I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly and easily they fitted and the quality.
Good luck with the rears - am watching all this with interest  2011 L322 Autobography - a lot of bells and some of the whistles...owner with no idea!

Changing the rear shocks was very easy. Old ones seemed as stiff as the new ones when pressing both down together so likley they would have been fine left alone. The rear bags looked in good condition and didn't have visible deterioration of the rubber so left them alone. Just driven a few miles localy and to be honest I can't realy feel any difference. Feels nice having confidence in the air suspension at long last. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322)

Removed the bags from the struts and no leakage of oil inside so reckon they would have been reusable so keeping them just in case the Aerosus ones have issues...
The rubber was in a bad way so glad I changed both sides

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