Hi all. I have a 2004 X308. The drivers side has been leaking for some time now. When its warm outside I have no issues. Now that its colder in So Cal. USA. (Yes 50 degrees is cold) It leaks more. My question is this. The center nut that has a sensor attached. What does that nut do? I tried to turn it a little counter clockwise. It seems to make the leak worse. Is it right or left hand thread? Will it have anything to do with the leak that is coming from the edge of what looks like a washer with two small holes opposing each other. The leak isn't the holes as they appear to drain the soapy water I put in there to determine where the leak was. So before I replace the strut tell me if I can band aid it first?

Thanks

Marv

 

You have a 2004 x350, which is a different forum. x308s don't have air suspension.

 

Hi all. I have a 2004 X350. The drivers side has been leaking for some time now. When its warm outside I have no issues. Now that its colder in So Cal. USA. (Yes 50 degrees is cold) It leaks more. My question is this. The center nut that has a sensor attached. What does that nut do? I tried to turn it a little counter clockwise. It seems to make the leak worse. Is it right or left hand thread? Will it have anything to do with the leak that is coming from the edge of what looks like a washer with two small holes opposing each other. The leak isn't the holes as they appear to drain the soapy water I put in there to determine where the leak was. So before I replace the strut tell me if I can band aid it first?

Thanks

Marv


Update: I took 1/4 turn on the nut and that seemed to fix the situation. Feel free to comment if needed

__________________
2004 XJ8 Vanden Plas
156,000 mi

 

How long have you had the car?
.Mine were replaced, before 100,000 miles
The compressor is probably also in need of repair.
At 156,000 miles, i doubt they are the originals.

 

Hi Marv,

I merged your original thread in the X308 forum with this one.

That central nut where the ECATS electrical connector fits is the shock absorber shaft top nut. It must not be loosened due to the risk that the shock shaft will not be secure in the top mount and can slide up and down, possibly leading to damage of the threads where the nut threads onto the shaft (and knocking sounds). The fact that turning that nut changed your leak suggests that the top seal inside the air spring is leaking.

The brass fitting where the airi hose connects is a pressure-retention valve that maintains a minimum air pressure in the air spring to help prevent the bladder from rolling all the way down on itself in the event of system pressure loss. One thing you can do is to carefully remove the pressure-retention valve with a pair of slip-joint pliers and replace the small O-ring that seals the valve to the air spring housing. Off the top of my head, the O-ring has an internal diameter of either 6mm or 8mm.

Otherwise, if the top seal in the air spring is leaking, the only long-term solution is to replace both front air spring/shock absorber units as a pair.

Cheers,

Don