Brons2
Well-Known Member
Well right now I seem to be holding air but anytime the temp goes below 50-55 or so, if I start it up, all the air goes out of the rear end. When that happens I will remote start it several times and eventualy it usually comes back up. Also if the temperature warms up quite a bit it will usually come right back up. I think the blowdown valve that's part of the air compressor is getting stuck. When it's airing itself down the pump is actually running. I have the test procedure from the service manual that a friend from a Ford dealer parts desk sent me. If the compressor tests bad, an OEM replacement is a little under $400, and aftermarket is in the $250-$270 range.
I can also just replace everything with the standard coilover strut setup. I've been looking on Rock Auto at the air susupension conversion kit instructions but they seem to vary as to what they propose to do, and even in the number of strut assemblies they come with.
The Dorman kit instructions suggests turning off the suspension system switch under the right hand kickplate, and also removing the solenoids from the old rear air springs and reattaching them to the system, electrically speaking, to keep the light from coming on. This seems like it would not prevent the system from trying to run though and eventually returning an error.
The Monroe kit suggests using Forscan or the OEM software tools to go in and overwrite a line of code. I am an IT guy and I am comfortable with doing this. However, I'm wondering if it really works as it seems to be in the instrument cluster code that you are disabling it. What keeps the system from running anyway? I guess I could pull the plug on the compressor also, or turn off the switch mentioned in the Dorman instructions?
Also, there are kits that come with two shocks (Dorman, Monroe, Westar), and then there are kits that come with 4 shocks (Dorman).
Anyone actually done this and had success with supressing the warning?
Also, the kits are generally more expensive than buying quick-struts separately for non-load leveling vehicles...but are the struts the same, I guess is the question. Decisions, decisions...
I can also just replace everything with the standard coilover strut setup. I've been looking on Rock Auto at the air susupension conversion kit instructions but they seem to vary as to what they propose to do, and even in the number of strut assemblies they come with.
The Dorman kit instructions suggests turning off the suspension system switch under the right hand kickplate, and also removing the solenoids from the old rear air springs and reattaching them to the system, electrically speaking, to keep the light from coming on. This seems like it would not prevent the system from trying to run though and eventually returning an error.
The Monroe kit suggests using Forscan or the OEM software tools to go in and overwrite a line of code. I am an IT guy and I am comfortable with doing this. However, I'm wondering if it really works as it seems to be in the instrument cluster code that you are disabling it. What keeps the system from running anyway? I guess I could pull the plug on the compressor also, or turn off the switch mentioned in the Dorman instructions?
Also, there are kits that come with two shocks (Dorman, Monroe, Westar), and then there are kits that come with 4 shocks (Dorman).
Anyone actually done this and had success with supressing the warning?
Also, the kits are generally more expensive than buying quick-struts separately for non-load leveling vehicles...but are the struts the same, I guess is the question. Decisions, decisions...