W212 Rear Airmatic problem

[Arron Davison]

Hi there everybody.
I had a leak on one of the air lines between passenger side rear air shock and distribution part (not sure what this is called) I repaired it, no leaks after checking, but after a few days the same shock goes down again, passenger side rear, would it be the shock itself? It pumps up and holds fine then when not using the car it drops again. Does it need a reset after sorting the leak? The air suspension is only on the rear. E350 estate 2010 model.

 

[Uncle Benz]

It could well be the air spring leaking. When they sink right down it allows the rubber to roll over the bottom plastic housing. Often there is grit or debris there, usually because the outer protective bellows has some holes in it. The grit damages the rubber and often causes leaks.

 

[Arron Davison]

It could well be the air spring leaking. When they sink right down it allows the rubber to roll over the bottom plastic housing. Often there is grit or debris there, usually because the outer protective bellows has some holes in it. The grit damages the rubber and often causes leaks.

Thank you for your response, would the air spring need replacing?

 

[Uncle Benz]

If it is leaking replacement is the only cure I’m afraid

 

[Arron Davison]

If it is leaking replacement is the only cure I’m afraid

Is there a way to isolate the air shock to see if it is that that is leaking? is there a way of testing the distribution valve? thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions it is appreciated.

 

[Uncle Benz]

Some washing up liquid and water in a hand sprayer is useful for lines and valve blocks. The bags are more difficult as the outer bellows stops you getting to the rubber bit

 

[Arron Davison]

Some washing up liquid and water in a hand sprayer is useful for lines and valve blocks. The bags are more difficult as the outer bellows stops you getting to the rubber bit

Some washing up liquid and water in a hand sprayer is useful for lines and valve blocks. The bags are more difficult as the outer bellows stops you getting to the rubber bit

So I changed out the passenger side airbag shock yesterday, connected the lines back in, got the car to pump itself back up which it did, used washing up liquid and water on all joints no leaks/bubbles, switched the engine off went indoors for 15 mins come out and it was flat again!!!

Holds pressure and sits right when engine running and compressor has pumped it back up again, soon as the engine is off it slowly goes down, I cannot hear a leak and I used soapy water???

Any ideas? faulty solenoid valve or level switch? I repaired a leak on that side airline with a press-fitting but checked for leaks no bubbles???

 

[Uncle Benz]

It coukd be leaking back through the solenoid valve, but I’ve never seen one do this myself. Could swap the pipes over at the unit, left for right, see if the deflating side swaps. If so, has to be the valve

 

[Arron Davison]

It coukd be leaking back through the solenoid valve, but I’ve never seen one do this myself. Could swap the pipes over at the unit, left for right, see if the deflating side swaps. If so, has to be the valve

Thank you, great idea, I see a lot of people saying leave the fittings alone as they are set to push fit, is it ok to undo and swap over?

 

[Uncle Benz]

If you unscrew carefully and don’t pull the pipe out of the fitting you can screw them back in fine. The pipe is a push fit in when new, and a small ferrule grips on the pipe. If you pull the ferrule off it’s ruined. A little wd40 to help the nut to turn on the pipe while you unscrew might be a good idea. If it worries you later you can buy just new fittings very cheaply.

 

[Arron Davison]

If you unscrew carefully and don’t pull the pipe out of the fitting you can screw them back in fine. The pipe is a push fit in when new, and a small ferrule grips on the pipe. If you pull the ferrule off it’s ruined. A little wd40 to help the nut to turn on the pipe while you unscrew might be a good idea. If it worries you later you can buy just new fittings very cheaply.

Thank you, I was looking for these ferrule fittings online but could not find them? do you have a link to fittings and pipe? I got the black and blue push fittings from RS components to sort the leak with some 4mm black pipe would this pipe be ok to use?

 

[Uncle Benz]

These are them

10Pcs Air Suspension Repair Kit Air Valve M8x1 for Benz W251 W164 W212 W211 W220 W221 Air Connector Tube Brass Fittings

10Pcs Air Suspension Repair Kit Air Valve M8x1 for Benz W251 W164 W212 W211 W220 W221 Air Connector Tube Brass Fittings

gbr.grandado.com

They come with a white plastic part holding the ferrule in place. You screw the complete thing into place, remove the white plastic “keeper” and then push the pipe in. The pipe pushes through the ferrule, and is then locked in place.

 

[Arron Davison]

Thanks again for all your help you have been a true gent! How tight does the whole thing have to be wound in? Until it stops then a nip up?

 

[Uncle Benz]

Thanks again for all your help you have been a true gent! How tight does the whole thing have to be wound in? Until it stops then a nip up?

Barely a nip. They seal on the rubber O ring at the base of the thread

 

[Arron Davison]

Evening buddy
So I found a tiny pinhole in the left-hand airline, replaced and no more sag! problem is now, my calibration for sensors is set for -10 on each side but one side sits higher than the other? Will this need recalibration? How can I level the sides up?

 

[Uncle Benz]

Don’t tell me, you fitted a non-genuine bag to one side?

 

[Arron Davison]

I bought 2 from airosus in Germany I have yet to change the drivers side

 

[Uncle Benz]

Non genuine bags often sit at a slightly different height. If you replace the other she’ll sit level

 

[Arron Davison]

Afternoon buddy, I received the new air fittings just now, they look to big? I ordered the m8 size. When I removed the ones on my car they had an m10 nut, but on these ones it looks bigger? Do they do smaller fittings? This looks like the size of the main pipe fitting to the distribution solenoid valve?