Wife has 2000 Eddie Bauer Expy with the auto leveling feature. The last couple of days when the truck sits for a while the passenger side would be low, but when you start her up she would level out. SO I figure it's got a slow leak. Well today it is sitting low on both sides and it won't raise back up and the ride is terrible. I hear that you can convert it over to the regular coil springs for cheap (as compared to the $3000+ I am hearing it cost's to fix the load leveling system).

Anyone know what the procedure would be and is there a good write up around here anywhere?

 

I converted my Mark VIII from air to coils years ago and even though I like the ride and the freedom from worry, I wish I had left it with the air ride.
If you feel that you really must change it I suggest that you call Eddie Spinks at American Air Suspension. He's a good guy and will help you with your needs, including the conversion kit. I've dealt with him but I don't have his number readily available. some one else may jump in and give it to you or search the web. A good independant mechanic or shop should be able to repair your system at a reasonable price as there is one place near the steering column at the frame that is a known failure site for the rear suspension and the DIY fix is about $10.00 and fairly easy to do. Keep reading the suspension posts and you will find it.

 

Eddie Spinks:
http://www.americanairsuspension.com/
1-423-487-4321

You probably have a small leak somewhere in the system, likely the inline union fitting. It doesn't cost $3k to replace the system. Probably a cheap fix for the leak, the dealer replaced mine under warranty but was only a $5 part and easy to replace. Evenutally, I replaced that union with a Spyder Jr. t-fitting from Eddie Spinks so that I could monitor system air pressure from a gage I installed on the dash, but you can also use the fitting to inflate tires, pool floats, rafts, etc. -and of course, if your compressor dies, you can use the fitting to backfill the air suspension in an emergency. At 10 years of service on the exact same vehicle as yours, I replaced the rear air springs and front air shocks (both are rubberized items that wear down and leak like anything else made of rubber), the compressor, renewed o-rings in several of the main fill solenoids, and replaced one of the rear air spring fill solenoids, all for under $500 or so. Research some of my posts and you'll see the work isn't hard once you learn about the system and where the weak/wear points are on the truck.

 

I had the same issue with my wife's old 2000 Expedition EB for a while. Started with a small leak which I couldn't find and progressed so that after sitting just a few hours it would go down. Changed all kinds of fittings etc., but to no avail.

Hence I bought a coil conversion kit from Strutmasters.com and after about two hours of work with just basic tools I was done.

The ride quality is pretty much a matter of taste, but to me there was no considerable change in it. Definitely worth it for me.

 

Thank you all for the input. I will consider all options before making a decision. Reps to all of you for responding with good information.

 

So, as an update, I called American Air Suspension and after talking with them for a while I decided to go with their 1-2-1 deal with the Spider Jr., 2 airbags and new rebuilt compressor. $388 to my door without the relay. Here's hoping I don't need that, but even if i do, it's only $120 more. So again thank you guys very much for the info. I will take pics and post them for anyone who finds this thread on a search later.

 

Glad you contacted Eddie, as I said he's a good guy and will help, even if it means sending you to a different supplier.

 

I was having trouble with mine. I ordered the rebuilt compressor and regulator from American air. Still having trouble I would tap on the regulator and the compressor would kick on. I find out the ends of the wires in the plug were loose and pinched the connections and works great. I didnt need the compressor or the regulator. I wish I would have found that out sooner I would bee $300 + richer.

 

Have you called Eddie and told him this? I think he would accept the parts back if they have not been used. You might have to pay shipping and a restocking fee, which is normal in all business' that I know of. You would have most of your money back. Eddie is real good to deal with, you might want to try a phone call, the worst that can happen is he says no.

 

Did you troubleshoot it before you ordered a new compressor? What regulator are you talking about that you tapped on? As far as I know, there's no regulator on his compressors; there is an electrical junction box, though.

 

By now, Eddie could have rebuilt and resold the original failed compressor that you have to send him for the core charge. Worth a try, though. Eddie has always gone out of his way to help me.

 

That's a good deal, same package I installed. Replace those items and the front shocks and you will be suprised - the truck will handle better than the day you bought it and you will be able to tow or carry loads to the original limit on the truck rating. Read my post on how rusted I found the upper mounting plates were for the rear air springs and be prepared to de-rust and paint it before you put in the new new air springs. Good luck. Don't hesitate to ask questions.

 

I forgot to mention that mine is 2wd so all I am doing right now is the rear bags. I am excited to delve into this because I have never really messed with her Expy beyond oil changes and such. All my major modding has been done on my Superduty or Mustang. Thanks again and once I get the parts put in, I will post some pictures and let you know what I had issues with. I seem to find a way to make everything take longer than it should.

 

When it comes to taking longer than necessary to do some jobs, I like to think it's because I am more careful than some people. I've learned that taking the time to do it right is better than doing the job fast, several times.
Good luck with it.

 

Update--

Well, someone at the warehouse messed up and didn't send the airbags, which were coming from another warehouse than the compressor and the spider Jr. So yesterday I removed the old airbags and they seemed to be pretty dry rotted on the area where they fold underneath themselves and the union underneath the the brake master cylinder had a crack on each side, so between those 2 I hope I have fixed the leak. Now I have the bags out and the compressor and the Spider in, just waiting on the new bags to arrive Monday. Eddie apologized and had them "next day air'd" to me but because yesterday was Friday they won't actually be here until Monday.

I have a question though. I hooked everything up and started the truck. I could hear the solenoids that are attached to each airbag periodically clicking with the truck still up on jack stands and sitting much higher than it would normally sit. I actually got under the truck and felt them activate a couple of times with my hand on one. I am assuming that was the system telling the bags to deflate in order to achieve a level stance. But I wanted to make sure the compressor would run so I dropped the rear of the truck down and the compressor didn't kick on. So I am thinking that the relay may have blown too, or is there a fuse that I should check before purchasing a new $120 relay?