Air ride problems

Good morning,

Shocks do not hold up a car, it stabilizes the suspension. Springs hold up a car.

Even if you found air shocks, they will not work as that is not there job.

Why not just replace the failed airbag? It is an easy replacement and the bags are cheaper than trying your air shocks or the conversion.

Roy

No patching. Yes. You can buy just 1. Check with rockauto. Com.

Roy

Found the bag for you at rock auto. It is less than $100.00.

Roy

Just replace the bags.

Roy

The system should be scanned for error codes, the connector is in the trunk here are the locations of the components...

Is your pump working?
Disconnect ground on batt for a cpl mins
this system can be diagnosed but first the pump must run check these things get back to us thanks billymac

For starters is the light on the dashboard on for the air suspention you can find any and all leaks with a bottle of soapy water you need to jack the car by the axle only put on jack stands under the axle and spray the air bags and lines and yes you can put regular springs under the car you will see when you get under the car you have airbags and shocks the airbags are for ride comfort and keeps rear of car from sagging with alot in trunk and people in back seat I am also sending the procedure for removing and fixing airbag system this is copied fron lincoln repair manual

A Short Introduction

There are 5 basic steps to removing and replacing the air springs.

Raise the rear wheels off the ground and remove the wheels
Pop the clips to the air bag and solenoid valve
Pop the air bag from the axle
Disconnect the valve from the air bag and remove the old air bag
Replace the air bag and reconnect everything and test.
This document goes into detail so it seems harder than it is. There is a lot more detail to this than what I have described above, so please read through the document before starting. Take your time, observe what you are doing and enjoy! Good luck! I apologize beforehand for loosely using the words 'air bag', 'air suspension' and 'air shock' interchangeably throughout the document.

Tools You Will Need

Let's Get Started
Turn the air suspension off. It is located on the right wall of the trunk.

Place wheel blocks under one front wheel (front and back of wheel).

Pop the hubcaps off and loosen the lug nuts. Jack up both sides of the rear of the car until the wheels are off the ground.

Secure the car with jack stands, lower the car onto the jack stands just enough so that the stands hold the car and the wheels are off the ground.

Remove the lug nuts and wheels.

Working one side at a time:
Turn the air bag clip so the loop end is facing you. Pop the retainer clip off of the top of the air spring with a *long screwdriver placed between the area of the frame and the body. By using force to push it away from the air shock, it will slide off.

*You could also use something that will grip or hook to the loop of the clip and pull it out from the air suspension.
Place a *long skinny screwdriver to the top of the valve and pop off the retainer clip that holds the valve in place on the valve socket.

*You can also use something that is long and stiff like a screwdriver that can be used to press up on the valve clip.
From under the car, * disconnect the solenoid valve by turning the valve counter-clockwise once, pull until it stops, turn counter-clockwise again and pull it out and away. Lower the valve down so you can access it.

*If it makes it easier, the heat shield can be removed with a long extension and an 8mm socket. The shield has a small lip holding it to its mount. You will need to lift up and out to release it.
While holding the valve with one hand, disconnect the electrical connection to the valve by using a long screwdriver or similar device with the other hand to wedge open the locking clips out enough to pull the connector off with your hand. Be careful not to push them out too far or hard, they will break off. You might be able to use both hands to pull the two apart.

Using the large screwdriver, pry the bottom of the air spring off of the axle. Slide the screwdriver under the bottom air suspension cup and the axle and push up to pop the air suspension off .

Pull the air bag down and towards the center of the car. When it is out of the mount and at a horizontal position, pull out towards you and remove it from the car.

Reach in and pull the valve and air line through the same hole the air suspension valve connection goes through.

Holding the valve in one hand, use the other hand to push the air line into the valve, then using a device (or your fingers) such as a fuel line removal tool, put pressure on the orange ring while pulling on the air line. It should pull right out. Inspect the air line for damage.

Inspect the valve for damage.

Use a small hook tool (awl) to remove the o-rings. Clean off the valve, spread dielectric silicon grease around the area of the valve where the new o-rings go. Replace the o-rings with the new ones as shown. Set the valve aside.
Place the new large o-ring into the NEW air bag connector for the valve.

Push the valve into the connector of the air suspension ensuring the electrical connection is to the top of the air suspension. There is a guard on the connector of the air suspension that will stop the valve from going in upside down. Push it in once, turn clockwise, push again until seated and turn clockwise again.

If the valve won't go all the way in to the second o-ring, you can place a 13/16" deep socket over the air line shaft and GENTLY tap the valve into place with a rubber hammer.

BE VERY CAREFUL AS THE VALVE COULD GET DAMAGED!!!
Press the valve retainer clip over the connector of the air suspension. This keeps the valve in place.

Place the air spring in horizontally into the area under the frame of the wheel well to where you can reconnect the air line. Connect the air line.

Turning the air suspension at an angle upwards, feed the valve assembly into the hole from where the air line is and then up to place the air suspension post into the hole.

Place the valve clip over the top of the air suspension post.

From under the car, reconnect the electrical connection to the valve.

Place a floor jack under the axle where the air suspension connects. Jack up the axle while making sure the air suspension is lining up with the hole in the axle. Keep jacking until you hear a 'pop'. That means the air suspension seated into the hole in the axle. Let the floor jack down. The air suspension should stretch out and hold onto the axle.

Do the other air spring the same as above.

Conclusion

Check all connections under the car and make sure you did not miss anything. Jack up the car where the jack stands are and remove the jack stands. Lower both sides SLOWLY to the point that the wheels are about 2 inches from the fender. All the time letting the floor jacks hold the weight of the car. IF THE CAR DROPS ALL THE WAY DOWN, THE SHOCKS MIGHT GET DAMAGED! Turn on the air suspension switch in the trunk and turn the ignition key to on and let the compressor fill the bags. When the compressor stops filling the air springs, turn off the key. Lower the floor jack some more, turn on the ignition and let the compressor fill the air springs again. Turn off the key. Lower the floor jacks all the way and remove them. The air springs should hold the car now. Turn the key back to ON and let the compressor fill the bags more if needed.

CHECK FOR LEAKS! Put your ear to the area of the wheel and wheel well and listen for leaks. Do both sides.

Check the height sensor, it attaches to the rear axle on the drivers side, I think! The ball end slips out of the axle mount. For saftey sake turn trhe switch off in the trunk, jack car up place stand under the car's frame do the work. Place car back on the ground, turn the switch back on, then start the car to raise the back.

I didnt say the sensor was bad, I said look for the sensor arm being detached from the axle! Only way to tell about air suspension codes is with a scan tool like Fords NGS tool to scan the codes, we are talking about a visible check, also does the compressor run? It wont if this arm is not hooked up!

Ok this is from a 92 that's as far back as I have catalogs for, but it should be the same, your, if it is the same will be on the left(drivers) upper arm, this is what I have for a photo.