Air suspension bleeds off???

[looking97233]

A question for everybody. The air suspension on my car seems to bleed of very fast, after sitting for a few hours it is noticeably lower. After sitting overnight, it actually has a 'reverse rake' the front is higher than the rear. It seem as though this has gotten progressively worse since I have had the car. Service writer said nothing is wrong, that it is not leaking.

Should this be this way?
:help:

[Murader03]

Mine has never bottomed out after settiong for any length of time. It might drop slightly after sitting avernight, but not enough that I can see any difference. The two CV's I had with the air suspension never drooped or sagged noticeably wither. I would find another dealer to look at it, cause there seems to be a problem there for sure. Most of the work I've had done, notr much, has been done by my local Ford dealer, not LM. I would have taken my Cobra to them when I had it, but they couldn't work on it due to not being certified. Try another dealer.....

[jgc61sr2002]

My air suspension never seems to lower. This was also true of my 2000 GM with the handling package. When I first start up my MM or GM I here the air pump activate. Sounds like a trip to the dealer as the air shouldn't bleed out , causing the rear of the MM to lower.:(

[TripleTransAm]

Funny, I was going to post the exact same question this morning. While mine has never drooped to the point of having the reverse rake (as far as I can tell), it does drop a half-inch or so, probably more, after sitting for 6-7 hours in our parking garage at work.

I'll bring a tape measure to work and actually measure the amount of height loss. However, I wanted to know what was the general conscensus on the drooping suspension before getting too worked up about it.

[JamesHecker]

Mine definatley "settles" after sitting awhile. Nothing too drastic though.

[FordNut]

There is a problem. Find another dealer to work on it. I've been driving cars with air suspension for 15 years and the only time I've seen that kind of settling is when there were leaks. In my case it has usually been dry rot to the air bags but the MM is too new for that to be the problem.

[WolfeBros]

I agree with FordNut. When they settle that much overnight.......there is a leak.

[looking97233]

I just went out and checked. After sitting overnight and most of the day, the bottom of the lip in the center of the rear wheel well was at 28.75". After starting up and letting it raise itself, it came up to 29.5". It is only .75", looking at it though , it is very noticeable. Can somebody take the time to do this measurement after sitting and then starting up for me?
Thanks.

[TAF]

Hey looking,

I just checked mine for ya. Mine has been sitting for 2 days...measured 29 3/16.

Started it up, pulled it out of the garage and it measures 28 3/4. And, my 28 3/4 still has a nice rake in it.

[Zack]

My air pump turns on every time I get in the car. It also drops a little after a few hours. The pump has never activated while driving, though, even on extended drives. It doesnt bother me though, I have 5 years, 3 months of warranty left to not worry about it.

[LincMercLover]

I don't think it's supposed to activate while in motion. Only when a door is opened and closed while parked will it activate if needed.

[Marauderer]

I agree with FordNut. I've been driving air bags on and off since '89. You should get a little settle, but overnight the airbags should not settle significantly unless there is a leak, either on the bag or the solenoid (the device itself or the o rings it uses). This can be caused by several things including cracks caused by dryness. The best way to find a leak in your air bag is with soapy water and look for bubbles on the bag and around the solenoid at the top.

I'm not sure about the electrical on these babies, but on my Mark VII this could also be caused by a problem with ground. On those we used to leave the key on and then remove the connector to the solenoid, then shut the key off. No leak with the switch off meant the bag is good. Connect the switch, key on , then key off, and it leaked then it was the solenoid or the harness going to it (worn wire) or a problem in the common ground somewhere in the car (usually due to a stereo upgrade or amp installination gone wrong).

I would take it back to the dealer and insist!

[gonzo50]

Originally posted by TAF
Hey looking,

I just checked mine for ya. Mine has been sitting for 2 days...measured 29 3/16.

Started it up, pulled it out of the garage and it measures 28 3/4. And, my 28 3/4 still has a nice rake in it.
TAF, if your Marauder sat for two days than it should have settled alittle bit, that means it would have lowered some, how do you have a shorter measurement when you started it up than it sitting for two days, shouldn't it be the other way around ? :confused:

[TAF]

Originally posted by gonzo50
TAF, if your Marauder sat for two days than it should have settled alittle bit, that means it would have lowered some, how do you have a shorter measurement when you started it up than it sitting for two days, shouldn't it be the other way around ? :confused:

That's what I thought, gonzo...but then...I figured putting 285 lbs of "Southernboy" in her...she's just tryin to keep up...(or keep me up, I should say)