DIY: Panamera Air Suspension Shock Replacement (Front)
#76
11-06-2019 | 10:40 AM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 817
From: Arcadia, CA. USA
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I think my compressor is fine so for now I'm leaving it alone. I'm putting the car up on jack stands today so start taking it apart. BTW from the Porsche service manual it says that the complete assembly (air bellow & shock) be replaced every 120,000 miles(200,000 km). I'm going to check mine and confirm they are not leaking and if all good I'm just installing the new air bellows on the existing shocks. I only have 50K miles on my car but roads in Michigan are worse then war ravaged countries. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one....
#77
11-06-2019 | 02:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 112
From: Michigan
Rep Power: 15
The compressor is not used to put pressure in the system. It is only used to maintain proper pressure inside an air tank that panamera has.
When needed, the panamera ecu will direct correct valves to open and inject compressed air from air tank into shocks.
When needed, the panamera ecu will direct correct valves to open and cause air to flow from air shocks to the outside of car if air tank already has air in it at high pressure.
When air tank has lower pressure, the air from shocks will flow back into the air tank.
Yes, system closed because it does not leak out all on its own, but the design has a vent out line where under some conditions, air from shocks goes to outside. Over time you will have little nitro left.
Then, you pay $170 at dealer to have system purged and recharged with nitro.
OR
you can buy nitro tank, adapter for air line, study wiring, set up valve block and shock valves with wires that you can energize and force air through to proper place. Then nitro from tank would go into system.
I was wondering if it would be beneficial to install a nipple in the air tank (of course so it does not leak under pressure), so if needed, you can connect something to it to drain moisture, and inflate with nitro. Then, it would be much easier to refill the system. Just thinking out loud I guess.
When needed, the panamera ecu will direct correct valves to open and inject compressed air from air tank into shocks.
When needed, the panamera ecu will direct correct valves to open and cause air to flow from air shocks to the outside of car if air tank already has air in it at high pressure.
When air tank has lower pressure, the air from shocks will flow back into the air tank.
Yes, system closed because it does not leak out all on its own, but the design has a vent out line where under some conditions, air from shocks goes to outside. Over time you will have little nitro left.
Then, you pay $170 at dealer to have system purged and recharged with nitro.
OR
you can buy nitro tank, adapter for air line, study wiring, set up valve block and shock valves with wires that you can energize and force air through to proper place. Then nitro from tank would go into system.
I was wondering if it would be beneficial to install a nipple in the air tank (of course so it does not leak under pressure), so if needed, you can connect something to it to drain moisture, and inflate with nitro. Then, it would be much easier to refill the system. Just thinking out loud I guess.
WM 432355 REPLACING VALVE UNIT (LEVELLING SYSTEM) (EXCEPT PANAMERA
EXECUTIVE, PANAMERA GTS, PANAMERA TURBO S, PANAMERA 4 EXECUTIVE,
PANAMERA PLATINUM ED., PANAMERA 4 PLATINUM ED.) > REPLACING VALVE
UNIT > PRELIMINARY WORK
1. Raise the vehicle. → 4X00IN LIFTING THE VEHICLE
2. Bleed the levelling system. → 4301IN BLEEDING AND FILLING THE LEVELLING SYSTEM
Remove rear underbody panelling. → 519419 REMOVING AND INSTALLING COVER FOR
REAR UNDERBODY
3.
Lower the exhaust
#78
11-06-2019 | 03:09 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,988
From: NEW ENGLAND
Rep Power: 112
This is an amazing thread. I went through this mess about 3 years. I have 2010 Pana TT. I got the chassis failure. Brought to my local shop. He said front struts had to be replaced. We ordered from RMT in Florida. My normal mechanic had a nightmare figuring out how to fill the sytsem. We bought the Porsche tool, nitrogen tank, He could not get the system fiiled going. Eventually I wound up bringing to Porsche which cost me another $1,500.00. Now I am fairly certain compressor needs to be replaced. Where is the best place to order from?
#79
11-06-2019 | 03:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 112
From: Michigan
Rep Power: 15
This is an amazing thread. I went through this mess about 3 years. I have 2010 Pana TT. I got the chassis failure. Brought to my local shop. He said front struts had to be replaced. We ordered from RMT in Florida. My normal mechanic had a nightmare figuring out how to fill the sytsem. We bought the Porsche tool, nitrogen tank, He could not get the system fiiled going. Eventually I wound up bringing to Porsche which cost me another $1,500.00. Now I am fairly certain compressor needs to be replaced. Where is the best place to order from?
#80
11-06-2019 | 03:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 224
Rep Power: 15
Tell me they didn't charge you $1500 just to refill the system? After he replaced the struts the car didn't refill itself after restarting? Regards to the compressor you can get a Continental rebuilt or new one from RMT, CarID.com and other sites. Send me a PM with your email and I'll send you the Porsche service manual via a link to my google drive....it's almost 13,000 pages.
#81
11-06-2019 | 09:42 PM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 817
From: Arcadia, CA. USA
Rep Power: 38
Pretty much confirmed a bad strut. Disconnected both connections and started the car. Both reported open circuit errors. AC error persists. VXDIAG shop answered my question saying I need PIWIS 3, which doesn't quite make sense, but those may be out of the question for the wife because they are over $2k.
#82
11-07-2019 | 05:46 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 112
From: Michigan
Rep Power: 15
Pretty much confirmed a bad strut. Disconnected both connections and started the car. Both reported open circuit errors. AC error persists. VXDIAG shop answered my question saying I need PIWIS 3, which doesn't quite make sense, but those may be out of the question for the wife because they are over $2k.
#83
11-07-2019 | 06:11 AM
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Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 817
From: Arcadia, CA. USA
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Good to know I’d need to raise the car completely up. I don’t usually do that with what I have. I have enough jack stands but I find sometimes they damage the undersides of cars, especially the Japanese/Toyota brand. I’ll need to research whether I can lift it up...
The Unity Strut got a shipping label yesterday, but was not delivered to FedEx yet. It may take too long.... Maybe I should have followed with the Suncore product...
I’m assuming you got the Launch through/from Amazon? I asked them which units support that as well, hoping for a cheaper option. (I’m guessing my budget is to keep under the $2350 that the local independent wants fo repair the strut (with OE bag) and align the car. I noticed the replacement instructions do not mention alignment, or maybe I missed it. Independent charges $295, while my favorite alignment place did one for $70 or less when we first bought the car....
Car tracks nicely even without an alignment the 8 miles or so I’ve driven it....
Last edited by jzchen; 11-07-2019 at 06:15 AM.
#85
11-07-2019 | 01:07 PM
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Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 213
From: Central NJ
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#86
11-08-2019 | 03:36 AM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,988
From: NEW ENGLAND
Rep Power: 112
Tell me they didn't charge you $1500 just to refill the system? After he replaced the struts the car didn't refill itself after restarting? Regards to the compressor you can get a Continental rebuilt or new one from RMT, CarID.com and other sites. Send me a PM with your email and I'll send you the Porsche service manual via a link to my google drive....it's almost 13,000 pages.
thanks for the offer I actually have the manual. Yesterday we replaced the sensor in PDK which has failed in many cars causing the car to go in a limp mode. After replacing we cleared the codes and the ones related to the sensor went away. The only issue is I have the chassis failure on the dash. I have the follow error codes. P1583 sport mode not available below limit value. And U0418 fault PSM control unit. I think the compressor is bad. The dealer told me it would need replacing soon. Any thoughts?
#87
11-08-2019 | 05:28 AM
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Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 224
Rep Power: 15
thanks for the offer I actually have the manual. Yesterday we replaced the sensor in PDK which has failed in many cars causing the car to go in a limp mode. After replacing we cleared the codes and the ones related to the sensor went away. The only issue is I have the chassis failure on the dash. I have the follow error codes. P1583 sport mode not available below limit value. And U0418 fault PSM control unit. I think the compressor is bad. The dealer told me it would need replacing soon. Any thoughts?
Well needless to say he was right all along. I had a leak in not just 1, but both front bags. So now I'm gathering info on the best sources for the parts I need. If you haven't checked the front struts using soapy water, even though the techs may have told you otherwise, I would recommend checking yourself, it's not hard.
#88
11-08-2019 | 05:56 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 112
From: Michigan
Rep Power: 15
As I'm just going through the chassis failure also, I'm by no means an expert. Having said that when I was working with Ciaka, I was pretty adamant that it was only my compressor, as I never heard it overworking to compensate for possible leaks; it worked only when it should have.
Well needless to say he was right all along. I had a leak in not just 1, but both front bags. So now I'm gathering info on the best sources for the parts I need. If you haven't checked the front struts using soapy water, even though the techs may have told you otherwise, I would recommend checking yourself, it's not hard.
Well needless to say he was right all along. I had a leak in not just 1, but both front bags. So now I'm gathering info on the best sources for the parts I need. If you haven't checked the front struts using soapy water, even though the techs may have told you otherwise, I would recommend checking yourself, it's not hard.
#89
11-08-2019 | 06:24 AM
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Posts: 2,298
From: TX
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Especially on porsches. If you do any suspension work where you disconnect any components like links, shocks, arms, you must do alignment or you will shred your tires.
Thank you!
Good to know I’d need to raise the car completely up. I don’t usually do that with what I have. I have enough jack stands but I find sometimes they damage the undersides of cars, especially the Japanese/Toyota brand. I’ll need to research whether I can lift it up...
The Unity Strut got a shipping label yesterday, but was not delivered to FedEx yet. It may take too long.... Maybe I should have followed with the Suncore product...
I’m assuming you got the Launch through/from Amazon? I asked them which units support that as well, hoping for a cheaper option. (I’m guessing my budget is to keep under the $2350 that the local independent wants fo repair the strut (with OE bag) and align the car. I noticed the replacement instructions do not mention alignment, or maybe I missed it. Independent charges $295, while my favorite alignment place did one for $70 or less when we first bought the car....
Car tracks nicely even without an alignment the 8 miles or so I’ve driven it....
Good to know I’d need to raise the car completely up. I don’t usually do that with what I have. I have enough jack stands but I find sometimes they damage the undersides of cars, especially the Japanese/Toyota brand. I’ll need to research whether I can lift it up...
The Unity Strut got a shipping label yesterday, but was not delivered to FedEx yet. It may take too long.... Maybe I should have followed with the Suncore product...
I’m assuming you got the Launch through/from Amazon? I asked them which units support that as well, hoping for a cheaper option. (I’m guessing my budget is to keep under the $2350 that the local independent wants fo repair the strut (with OE bag) and align the car. I noticed the replacement instructions do not mention alignment, or maybe I missed it. Independent charges $295, while my favorite alignment place did one for $70 or less when we first bought the car....
Car tracks nicely even without an alignment the 8 miles or so I’ve driven it....
#90
11-08-2019 | 06:31 AM
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Registered User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,298
From: TX
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Piwis2 plus adapter and nitro needed to fill with nitro. Not required to replace suspension, and even after fill, over time. Nitro replaced by air.
If you need, dealer will remove/fill with nitro for 170 bucks, what I was quoted. Inert gas better for moisture climates.
Glad you like the thread.
I would get compressor from any place you can get genuine. New best, remanifactured fine too. Look for your price and ensure compressor comes with new relay as it is redesigned to prolong compressor life.
If you need, dealer will remove/fill with nitro for 170 bucks, what I was quoted. Inert gas better for moisture climates.
Glad you like the thread.
I would get compressor from any place you can get genuine. New best, remanifactured fine too. Look for your price and ensure compressor comes with new relay as it is redesigned to prolong compressor life.
This is an amazing thread. I went through this mess about 3 years. I have 2010 Pana TT. I got the chassis failure. Brought to my local shop. He said front struts had to be replaced. We ordered from RMT in Florida. My normal mechanic had a nightmare figuring out how to fill the sytsem. We bought the Porsche tool, nitrogen tank, He could not get the system fiiled going. Eventually I wound up bringing to Porsche which cost me another $1,500.00. Now I am fairly certain compressor needs to be replaced. Where is the best place to order from?