Repair And Fix it

Air suspension systems have been installed in vehicles since the late 1950s. Air suspension has several different functions. It keeps the vehicle as level as possible on varying terrains and raises or lowers the vehicle on off-road and luxury vehicles. On high-performance models, the air suspension will adjust the stiffness of the suspension to increase the handling ability of the vehicle.

Disabling

Some vehicles that are equipped with air suspension, primarily Lincolns and Fords, must have the system disabled prior to lifting the rear of the vehicle. The system is disabled by flipping a switch. This switch is typically located in the trunk of the vehicle; er to your owners manual. Failure to disable the system can result in the air suspension failing and the rear of the vehicle will sit very low until it is repaired; this repair is quite expensive as well.

Replacement

On some air-suspension equipped vehicles, the air ride system can be replaced for a standard suspension. This is typically performed when the suspension system fails and requires a complete overhaul. The replacement system will have two standard shocks and a spring to replace the air bags.

Aging

As air suspensions age, the air bag can become dry and start to crack. These cracks can lead to leaks and even breakage. A routine inspection of the air suspension system should be performed at every major service interval to catch problems before they occur.

Mechanics

The air suspension system is a relatively simple system mechanically. It consists of only three main components: compressor, air bags and struts. The compressor runs off of electricity and it is what provides the supply of air. The air bags are simply rubber sacks that fill with air to raise the vehicle and drain to lower the vehicle. The struts are there to simply absorb the hard impacts and protect the bags from sudden compression from a hard bump. While the mechanics are simple, the electronics of the newer systems are extremely complex.

History

The air bag was first put on a production car by Cowey Motor Works of Great Britain in 1909. The idea did not catch on at the time because the system leaked. Firestone created the first properly functioning air suspension system for an experimental line of vehicles known as the Stout-Scarab in 1933. Air suspension became available on nearly every American-produced vehicle in 1958.

As of 2010, Chrysler has issued three separate recalls for Jeep Liberty vehicles due to suspension problems. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only 2002-2006 models were affected by these recalls.

Time Frame

On November 4, 2003, Chrysler recalled 336,000 model year 2002-2003 Jeep Liberties. On August 1, 2006, 826,687 more Jeeps were recalled including model years ranging from 2002-2006. The most recent recall, on April 7, 2009, involved 43,489 additional 2002-2003 Liberty Jeeps.

Defect and Risk

A loss of lubrication to the lower control arm ball joints could lead to potentially dangerous levels of wear. Corrosion may cause the steering knuckle to separate. If the ball joint separates from the knuckle, the driver could lose control of the vehicle. This could cause a crash.

Remedy

Authorized dealers were instructed to inspect and replace the ball joint assemblies on these vehicles and, in some cases, install new heat shields to protect these Jeeps from damage. Concerned Jeep Liberty owners may contact NHTSA or Chrysler to determine whether their vehicles may have been part of these recalls.