The first thing I will do is wish everybody a Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Thanks for the Fish [ a reference to Hitch-hikers Guide To The Galaxy], or, in fact, for all the advice given throughout the year by all the members here.

So what I would like to ask on this occasion, before I head to the hills, and my daughters' house, is which valve seal kit is the best one to buy when rebuilding the compressor block ? A lot of people seem to buy the XR8 [have I got that right, I am relying on memory alone, which is a dangerous thing to do at my age], but I have a recollection of people saying that they had had problems with some of the seals in this kit.

Perhaps there is some consensus on this issue ?

Pierre3.

I bought X8R within the last few months and had no issues. I bought the compressor liner + seal + valve block kit.

I also used the XR8 kit, but that’s a few years ago now. No issues with it though, still running well.

Some people have complained that the very thin seals that go around the base of the solenoid plunger don't fit too well and leak. My experience with them is that they don't leak if you are very careful when fitting them and make sure everything is spotlessly clean. However, there is no reason why they should ever leak in the first place so if you are unsure it's better to leave them alone and not bother replacing them.

That's fine, thanks everyone. I do have a spare compressor in the garage that, like many owners, I want to rebuild. I do have a leak somewhere as my car will sink from road height to be on the wheels over a week. I haven't started looking yet due to cold weather, but I do know that the air bags are a bit worn.

So, obviously, the first thing is to get out with the soapy water spray and see what happens !!

Pierre3.

Mine sinks in cold weather. It will stay up for a couple of weeks for half the year, but in winter in settles overnight, if it’s really cold in only a couple of hours. I suspect the leak is internal to the valve block. As it is perfect in warmer weather I haven’t chased it.

My spare car may not get used, or even started, every couple of months. That is left with the suspension on high and in summer it doesn't drop at all but in winter the front left corner drops noticeably after it has been left for a couple of weeks.

Hi to all, and a Happy New Year.

Thanks for the replies. Harv, I can't remember what my motor does in the summer. For some reason I never took account of how long it took to sink, if it did so. But I am in the same position as you, I want warmer weather before going looking, as I have to do it outside on the drive.

Richard, that's an interesting observation, dropping on only one corner. What, do you think, is causing that to happen ? Is it the airbag, or is it the valve block ?

Pierre3.

Probably the air spring. I've never changed them and they do look a bit on the perished side so may even be the originals. A number of people have noticed that leaks are more apparent in cold weather but no idea why.

You’ve never yet changed your air springs in 500,000 miles and 25 years?

This is on the Ascot, my spare car that gets very little use. It's a '96, with 180k on the clock. I've had it about 5 years or so and have not touched them and from the amount of work I had to do on it when I first got it, they wouldn't have been changed for some time before as nothing else had been done on it. I bought it to sort out the problems and sell it on but shortly after getting it all done, we had need for a second large car so my missus used it for a while and we realised that it was too useful to have it for when it was needed so have kept it. Most of the time it sits there not being used but is kept legal so it can be used as and when needed.

Mine is on it's second set of fronts and third set on the rear. When I bought it in 2010, the rear airsprings were perished and one had burst so I put a pair on it then. The fronts were changed a couple of years later. One of the rears started to leak last year so I bought a complete set, replaced the rears but have yet to get around to fitting the new ones to the front (although they do look a bit perished, aren't leaking yet).

Keeping the Ascot is about the same story as me keeping the Disco. Got it as a winter beater, but it ended up filling our need for 2 good winter cars. My better half also loves both LR’s.

The cold weather probably turns rubber seals to solid state so causing leaks the push in seals on plastic pipes are good at that 🙄