The Ultimate Guide to JLR Air Suspension Systems

The electronic air suspension (EAS) system fitted to Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Discovery models is one of the most sophisticated ride systems on any production vehicle. It delivers a magic carpet ride on the motorway and genuine off-road capability. But when it goes wrong, the repair bills can be eye-watering — unless you know what to look for early.

How JLR Air Suspension Works

The system consists of four air springs (one at each corner), a compressor, a valve block, a reservoir tank, height sensors, and the suspension control module. The module continuously adjusts ride height based on speed, load, terrain mode, and driver input.

In normal driving, the system runs at "standard" height. On the motorway above 60mph, it automatically lowers the car by 15mm for improved aerodynamics and stability. Off-road, the driver can raise it up to 75mm above standard for ground clearance.

"The beauty of air suspension is its adaptability. The tragedy is that it's an interconnected system — one leaking air spring can kill a compressor within weeks."

Common Failure Points

After working on hundreds of JLR air suspension systems, we see the same failure patterns repeatedly:

• Air Springs (Bags): The rubber bellows develop cracks, especially at the fold points. This is accelerated by road salt, UV exposure, and age. Most common on vehicles over 6 years old.
• Compressor: The Hitachi compressor is robust but works harder when there's a leak elsewhere. Overworking leads to thermal shutdown and eventual piston ring wear. You'll hear it running constantly or cycling on and off.
• Valve Block: The valve block distributes air to each corner. Internal O-ring seals degrade over time, causing cross-leaks between circuits. This creates the classic "one corner drops overnight" symptom.
• Height Sensors: The linkage arms connected to the suspension can snap or the sensor itself can give incorrect readings, causing the car to sit at the wrong height or display warning messages.

Early Warning Signs

The key to avoiding expensive repairs is catching problems early. Here's what to watch for:

1. The car sits lower on one corner after being parked overnight. This is the number one early indicator of an air spring leak. The car should hold its height for days, not hours.
2. You hear the compressor running when you first start the car. A healthy system should already be at the correct height. If the compressor fires up immediately on start-up, it's replacing air that leaked out.
3. "Suspension Fault" messages on the dashboard. Don't ignore these. Even intermittent messages indicate the system is detecting anomalies.
4. The ride feels firmer or bouncier than usual. This can indicate a partially deflated air spring — it's still holding air, but not at the correct pressure.

Repair vs Replace

At Nine Torque, we always diagnose the root cause before recommending parts. A common mistake at general garages is replacing the compressor when the actual fault is a leaking air spring — the new compressor will simply burn out again.

We use JLR-specific diagnostic tools (SDD/Pathfinder) to perform active tests on every component in the system, pinpointing the exact source of the leak or fault. This prevents unnecessary parts replacement and saves our customers significant money.

For vehicles over 8 years old, we often recommend replacing all four air springs at once with quality aftermarket units. Explore our JLR model guides for model-specific information. The labor saving of doing all four at once, combined with the peace of mind, makes this the most cost-effective long-term approach.