Snow is falling on the Alpine slopes, so there’s no better time to find the perfect balance of rugged adventure and comfortable luxury behind the wheel of your Land Rover. But what do you do if your usually smooth ride feels like it’s sagging? Let’s talk about Land Rover suspension issues, their causes, signs and solutions.
Premium comfort, complex engineering
If you drive a Land Rover – be it from the Range Rover, Discovery or Defender family – you know that it’s a marque that was traditionally known for its mechanical reliability. But as the make has evolved and become more complex in pursuit of luxury in the face of even the most rugged of terrain, several common failures have emerged.
Driving a heavy vehicle like a Range Rover would be near-on unbearable without the assistance of suspension. Suspension systems work to support (i.e. suspend) the weight of your vehicle, keeping its movements under control when you hit a bump, and effectively isolating it from any imperfections in the road. The combination of your tyres, the air in them and a series of springs and shock absorbers work together to create the comfortable ride we’re all accustomed to.
Land Rover and other high-end luxury manufacturers have taken this concept a step further; rather than relying on flexible materials like metal and plastic to absorb shock, their vehicles use flexible rubber bellows (or ‘air springs’), air struts and height sensors to bear and adjust to variable load. An onboard compressor, air dryer and air reservoir can all be called upon by a complex computing system to adjust the air pressure and ride height to the perfect level for the kind of terrain the vehicle is faced with. Air suspension in the Land Rover is controlled electronically, allowing drivers to tailor this ‘cloud driving’ to their own comfort.
While this engineering solution creates an impressive degree of luxurious comfort, the layers of complexity involved can result in air suspension failure.
Land Rover suspension issues
Land Rover suspension issues initially present as a small air leak in one of the many lines of air struts in the system. The longer the leak remains, the more likely it is that you will notice your suspension is ‘sagging’ on the side that has the leak. This puts additional pressure on the air compressor, which has to work overtime to compensate for the leak. The first sign that you have an issue is that sense of ‘sag’. We recommend you trust your instincts on this one – if you sense a sag, however subtle – bring your vehicle into Cox Auto so we can assess the damage and conduct repairs before the problem grows. Sometimes sag can be observed visually too. Take a look at your vehicle when it’s parked on an even surface – is it leaning to one side, or does it appear to ‘squat’ to the back or the front?
Land Rover suspension repairs and replacement
If you bring your Land Rover in early, it may simply be a case of replacing air struts. However, if the problem persists for longer and the air compressor fails, the entire system may need to be replaced. Unfortunately this can be an expensive exercise, so the sooner you take action, the better. Range Rover and Land Rover Discovery air suspension failure is a common issue that is known to occur at roughly the 6-7 year mark, so keep a close eye on your vehicle if it’s approaching that age.
How can Cox Auto help?
Like other European cars, Land Rovers must be maintained at the highest specified level. Our well-experienced and certified Land Rover specialists strictly follow manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure premium service and long-lasting performance. That is why our service centre is the leading low-cost dealership alternative in South Melbourne.
Our mechanics are highly trained in air suspension repairs and replacements for all Land Rover models, as well as engine, gearbox and brake concerns. Range Rover suspension repair is one of our most common service items, so we’ll look after you. Servicing your Land Rover at Cox Auto will not impact your manufacturer’s warranty. We also understand that scheduling a service for your Land Rover in South Melbourne can be inconvenient, which is why we provide a courtesy car while your vehicle is with our mechanics.
To book your Land Rover service, please contact our Land Rover servicing and repair specialists on 03 9699 6338 today.
