SVX_commuter Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 I am looking at 1994 LS Legacy wagon. It looks really good, low mileage 81k But it does have the air shocks....... Anybody know how much it will cost to replace them with springs? Is the air suspension reliable? Any air suspension lovers out there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manarius Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 Air suspension bad. Replace it with regular stuff. It should be an easy swap - $500 or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hondasucks Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 Air suspension problems are usually with the o-rings that seal the air lines at the valves, compressor, etc... and are C H E A P to replace, although time consuming. If the problem is not with the o-rings, or a leaky valve/bad compressor, then the problem lies in the struts themselves, and if THEY are leaky, then it's $$$$ to replace, but if you keep the plate that the air bag sits on lubricated with a silicone grease, it should last a long time. Use a spray bottle with soapy water in it, and spray the air line connections with it, bubbles = leaky o rings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulwnkl Posted June 17, 2007 Share Posted June 17, 2007 I thought the air suspension on my AWD XT6 was pretty cool until it started not working. It would have been big money to replace the strut whose air bag exploded. Well... big money is a relative term. It would have been $300 - $500 per strut depending upon which dealer I bought them from. However, that is no more than 1 month's payment on a new car (assuming you pay over time for cars), so that's really not expensive from that point of view. I replaced mine with conventional springs and I can't believe I spent more than about $200 - $300 total. I did all the work myself, though. Afterwards, I kind of wished I had replaced the air suspension parts because the springs lowered the car (which was what I wanted at the time) and I shortly realized I wanted the clearance back for crashing through the toolies, and the extra height that the air suspension lifts when going over rough terrain. Anyway, a fellow here called "grossgary" has good pointers for preventive maintenance on air suspension. Depending upon whether he replies here or not, go to XT6.net and look around there. They have some terrific info on Subie air suspensions. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Any air suspension lovers out there? yeah, i dig the air suspension. i have pages in the USRM about how to maintain your struts so the strut bags last the life of the vehicle. do that and replace all of the orings now, rather than wait until they start leaking and it's not that hard to have a reliable air suspension. it actually rides quite nice, i like it better than the coil overs i've had on the XT6. that being said....i would recommend most people get rid of them. spend the time sourcing the struts and you can have coil overs for $200 - $50 per strut isn't that hard to do. lots of options for swapping too, so it's easy. then sell your air strut parts to get some of your money back. unless you have a use for the air suspension or are completely set on keeping it stock or like the coolness factor of them, there's really no point in keeping them because if they have problems it can be very hard to figure out without someone who knows the system very well...and you won't find any mechanics who know this system and the dealer will just replace 4 different items at one time for $1,000+. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 Air suspension is wonderful if you buy the car new, and plan on selling it after it 5 years. AFter that you should just be prepaired to rip it out. Of course first check and see if its as simple as a bad O ring or leaking hose. Usually its something expensive like the strut itself that goes bad. Also Even air struts/bags get tired and bouncy and need replacement after a while, and thats pricey, or almost impossible to find (general statement for all cars with air suspension). nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstwagon Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 I like my air suspension (91 Legacy LS wagon) but really the only advantage is in really deep snow. (Oh and it makes it easy to reach under the car when you are changing the oil.) Mines acted up 3 times in the 3 years I've had the car. 1st was when I bought it and discovered the front bags were rotted out. I replaced them with a couple used ones. Then last year the rear kept settling down over night. Fixed that by disconnecting the lines, cleaning then and reconnecting them. Now it's doing it again. I won't put new air struts in because they want $569 CDN EACH for them. I looked into a used suspension but the junkyard knows about the demand and wanted $600 for a "used suspension". I've added up all the parts to build a aftermarket suspension (whiteline springs, KYB struts, strut mounts and hardware x4) and it will cost about $1000. That's my plan right now but if I find a cheap way to fix it, I might just do that. Too many other bills screaming for my money these days. My advice.... unless the air suspension has been replaced with new air springs recently or unless the car is such a good deal that you can just buy all new stuff, I would pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 I looked into a used suspension but the junkyard knows about the demand and wanted $600 for a "used suspension". that's insane. like i said earlier, you can source struts for not much money. i bought some last year for $35 each...not that hard. certainly not a reason to pass on an otherwise good car. $40 in new jersey here: 1-800-735-8464 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstwagon Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 that's insane. like i said earlier, you can source struts for not much money. i bought some last year for $35 each...not that hard. certainly not a reason to pass on an otherwise good car. $40 in new jersey here: 1-800-735-8464 I guess it depends on where you live. Here in British Columbia, even the chain stores wanted more then $100 each for Legacy struts. On top of that you need springs ($300-$400/set), strut mounts ($100+ each) and assorted hardware ($?). Labour will range from free (I would do it myself) to a few hundred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 right on, piecing together will be expensive. the yards around here all sell the complete strut, so for cost, that's the way to go. $40 for the entire assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstwagon Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 I would have gone for that in a second. Unfortunately there is only one yard around here that has any Subarus and they are the weasels that wanted $600 for a set of used strut assemblies. They seem to have a deal with ICBC (our local government run "public" insurance company) so they get all the Subarus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 know anyone in the states? have them source/collect the parts for you? then either cross the border or have them shipped or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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