Few names in the auto industry command as much respect and admiration as Range Rover. The British luxury SUV that is literally fit for a queen has a reputation for performance and luxury like no other. That’s why the prevalence of Range Rover suspension problems is so frustrating for so many owners—they make an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable vehicle into one that is uncomfortable and unsafe to drive. But before you head to the Land Rover dealership to get your air suspension repaired, read this article to help you understand why Range Rovers suspension problems are so common and how you can fix those problems for much less money than you may have realized.
How To Spot Range Rover Suspension Problems
Your Range Rover does come equipped with a suspension warning light. When problems get bad enough, this amber indicator will light up with messages like “SUSPENSION FAULT. STOP ENGINE. STOP SAFELY.” But this message only comes up once the problems have gotten so severe that they have become dangerous. But by looking for warning signs of Range Rover suspension problems, you can spot them before they get this bad. One dead giveaway is if your Range Rover is leaning to one side. Sometimes this is either to its left or right side, but it’s often the rear end that sags down. This can make the car look like it’s “squatting” down.
Another telltale sign of suspension issues is if the car does a “nose dive” when coming to a stop. This is when the front end dips down as a result of bad air struts and stopping force cause the front end to dip down while the rear end lifts up. Not only is this uncomfortable, it also means your Range Rover is taking longer to stop than it should, increasing the chances of an accident. If you want to be proactive, you can perform the bounce test to look for problems early. This simple test is a good way to check for problems between service trips. Here’s how it works:
- Walk to one corner of your Range Rover.
- Push down hard on the bumper.
- Watch as it rises back into place.
- Repeat for each wheel.
When the suspension is healthy, the corner will pop back into place and settle quickly. If it takes a long time to rise back up or if it bounces before settling, you likely have a suspension problem at that corner.
Fixing Range Rover Suspension Issues at the Dealer is Expensive
You probably knew repairs and maintenance on your Range Rover were going to be expensive before you bought it. But air suspension repairs are on a whole different level. One of the most common sources of Range Rover suspension problems is the car’s air struts. Made in part with a flexible rubber, they’re prone to cracking, rotting, or being punctured. And most of them wear out at about the same rate, so if one needs replacing, you can bet the other three will soon.
The dealership will use high-quality OEM air struts from Land Rover to replace yours. While these are top-of-the-line components, they’re also incredibly expensive. Just one genuine Range Rover air strut will cost you more than $1,300. That means that if you replace all four at once, as you should, you’re already going to surpass $5,000 for parts alone. And that’s not even considering other parts that wear out over time and may need replacing.
Replacing Your Suspension With Aftermarket Parts
There are several respectable manufacturers that produce well-made air suspension replacement components. These can save you money when compared to OEM components. But there are still labor costs to consider. And when it comes to Range Rovers, that labor comes at a steep cost. The problem is that these systems, as good as they are, are incredibly complex. Here’s a brief summary of how your Range Rover air suspension does its job:
- Ride height sensors mounted at each wheel constantly measure how high your Range Rover is off the ground at that point.
- The sensors send a low-voltage signal to the onboard computer to let it know how much higher or lower that point is than the proper ride height.
- This computer, called the suspension control module, calculates how much to inflate or deflate the air springs to get the car to its proper height.
- The control module sends this signal to the electronically-controlled air compressor, which uses these instructions to generate the amount of air required to return the vehicle’s height to where it needs to be.
- The compressor pushes this pressurized air through rubber air lines into the air springs, inflating them and lifting the car up at that point.
This complicated process, which happens thousands of times every time you drive your Range Rover, does create a smooth ride while the system lasts. But it also means that its destined to wear out and fail at some point. And when it does, repairing it takes a lot of expensive hours under the hood. So while you can easily save a few hundred dollars with aftermarket air suspension components, you’ll still have to pay considerable labor fees to have them installed.
An Alternative Solution for Your Range Rover Suspension Problems
Due to popular demand, the engineers at Strutmasters have developed a kit that gives you a much less expensive way to fix your Range Rover suspension problems for good. It does so by getting rid of that air suspension altogether and replacing it with a much more dependable traditional coilover suspension. Rather than electronics and air holding up it up, this kit sits your Range Rover on rugged solid steel struts and cold-wound steel springs. The result is a much more dependable suspension—and considerable savings. This kit can replace all four corners of your Range Rover for less than the cost of just one OEM air strut. It does this without sacrificing quality.
Each of these kits is made right here in the USA with the best materials available, ensuring maximum performance and longevity. Because Range Rover drivers expect the best, our engineers put countless hours into tuning these springs to match the original ride as much as possible. You’ll enjoy that same cloud-like feeling you had when your Range Rover was new, thanks to Strutmasters’ patented Glide Ride Technology. And the savings don’t stop at the kit itself. This kit is designed to be simple enough that many people are able to install it at home. All that’s needed is some common tools, a safe, sturdy jack, and about an hour per wheel. Not very handy with the wrench? The simple installation is a breeze for any mechanic, meaning far less time under the hood—and a much lower labor bill.
Ready to End Your Range Rover Suspension Problems?
We want you to have the same confidence in your new suspension that we do. That’s why this kit—like every Strutmasters suspension replacement kit—comes with a one-year limited warranty. The springs themselves come with a limited lifetime warranty. It’s all part of our “fix it once, fix it right” way of doing things. These kits don’t just end your Range Rover suspension problems, they also end those countless trips to the Land Rover dealership, giving you the confidence and free time to enjoy your vehicle again.
If you’re ready to convert and end those air suspension problems for good, you can purchase your kit from our website right now. You can also call us at 866-239-4896 to order over the phone from one of our Suspension Experts. They’ll answer any questions you may have and make sure you get exactly what you need for your Range Rover.
