I replaced so many other parts until I found this video and this is exactly what my Tesla sounds like. Just got the bearings today, not looking forward to swapping them in but glad that you put together this video. Props man
Thanks, happy to hear it helped! I recommend applying a bit of lube at the top of the bearing after replacing them. A week after I changed mine it starting to give out again, applied the lube and I've had the same bearing since I've posted this video. Good luck!
It's a very common issue, your far from the only one! But not a problem, happy to see it helped. I recommend adding some lubricant to the top of it afterwards to help keep debris out of the bearing. Did that to mine since I posted this video and they are still holding up!
Thanks, try applying some Rust Check lube (green spray can) I apply a bit to the top of the bearing and it helps keep dirt out. I've done this since my video and haven't had an issue with it going bad again.
Usually pillow balls fail if you hit a pothole or something hard in the road. Air fitting issues is usually caused from not installing the airline correctly. Very rarely the fittings will fail. We've install well over 100 kits and have only had a few fittings fail. Which are under warranty for 1 year from Airlift. If you don't want fittings to fail, don't use the plastic push to connect (PTC)... Upgrade to Parker PTC all brass DOT fittings or Swagelok stainless steel compression fittings. You'll never have that problem again. If you do use the Airlift / "SMC" fittings, make sure the air line has ZERO tension on the line and it's not pulled off to the side in any direction. A airline that is slightly off center will damage the internal o'ring inside the PTC fitting. One thing you can do to help this is sand the cut edges after clipping them. You can also use a hone to clean up the inside and prevent the line from cutting into the o'ring, inside the PTC fitting. you MUST do this when running copper or aluminum hard lines. Another thing, when installing your front SS brained leader lines, run the line with the brake line. Use an rubber & steel or high quality plastic cable anchor to secure the leader line and air line to the body. This will insure that they will travel with the suspension and turning radius of the wheel, without any tension. This will give you the clearance you need. Also use and many zip ties as possible. I tie off multiple zip ties every 2-3" around the brake line and strut. One trick I like do quite often, get some Vi-Air air compressor leader lines. They are smaller in diameter and are easier to route. They make them in 1/4 male NTP in 36" length. P/N 92809. These are direct bolt in, into the Airlift bag ports. They are a little expensive, about $40 each, but this little extra insurance will go along way. You'll have enough protected line for the suspension to travel without rubbing though.
Thanks, im sure future viewers will find this information helpful. However, the area I was driving in had pretty smooth roads and the pillowball bearing failed within a couple of months. Changed it and within a week it was failing again. Seems like debris entering it from the top was causing premature failure.
I got a s550 mustang with the same exact issue. Gonna order a new bearing and hopefully this fixes the issue! Thanks for the tutorial on how to install these!
Goodluck! Seems to be a common issue. After I did this about a week or two after the bearing started to squeak. I coated it in a green can of rust check and the squeak has been gone ever since.
Happy to hear it helped! I applied some lube spray at the top of the bearing after to help keep dirt out of it. Seemed to do the trick since i havent replaced the bearring since this video.
Very insightful video bro, thanks for this. I just picked up a used set of Airlift Performance struts for my 2015 Accord and the top hats are a little loose but not as bad as yours were. Should I plan to replace mine before attempting to install them?
Thanks for watching! Hmm it might be worth swapping them. You can also try applying some great to the tops of the bearings. Could help you out for short term until you get the bearings (if they are bad of course). Either way good luck!
No problem, good luck replacing it! I recommend applying a bit of lubricant to the top of the bearing after it's been installed to help keep dirt out of it. I did this since I posted this video and still have the same bearings installed. Rust check green can or fluid film should work.
No problem, happy to see this helps! After doing this I noticed my passenger side bearing started to go out. Instead of spending another $80 for a bearing I coated it in white lithium grease. Seems to be working still
@@zach_lush Thank you for this video. When you coated the passenger side bearing after the 1st side went out, did you also have to remove the strut to put the grease in? Is it reachable without disassembly?
@@jaybeezee12 Hey, not a problem. When I applied the lube I did it with the strut still in the car. Just added a thin layer to the top so if any dirt comes near it the lube will catch it rather then the bearings. I actually show what I do in my latest video when I'm cleaning the engine bay.
Is there anyway you can link that video since a little time has passed? I’ve got a 2013 mustang gt and believe my bearing is starting to go out but it’s not too loud yet so If I can just grease it and fix it that would be awesome
Well very grateful for this video. I gotta do both my pillow ball bearings. Lol. Just curious thought when I ordered off bag rider it only offered 1 part number for a 15-21 wrx air strut
I'm not sure what you mean by that. I didn't order from bag riders, got mine from a local shop. I'd imagine they are the same though. Once your finished coat the bearing in rust check lube in green can. Mine started to go bad again after 1 week of driving.
That’s nuts I appreciate it. I’ll be honest I sprayed it with rust penetrator awhile back and it helped out tremendously. Ima coat it with great like you said lol
No problem, seems like just a cheap bearing prone to failure. The one I replaced failed within a week. I ended up coating them in rust check lube (green can). Haven't had an issue since.
@@awdspam personally I think that's a bit overkill. I think the cuse of the problem is dirt landing on top of the bearing and over time making its way in the bearing. I think a coat of lube in a spray can will do the trick. I have another video where my suspension is squeaky, I show what I do with all my suspension parts now.
Very useful I have to replace both of my front ones because they literally sound like yours , I had put wd40 hopefully that would’ve helped but , thank you for the Tutorial !!
Well I've been lubricating them since this video and haven't had an issue. Also with the problems I've had being bagged I'd probably do it again and I daily the STi during the summer. But of course it's your choice!
bro thank you so much im on coils that sounds was so annoying. can i ask if the bearing is different for each suspension? and also did you have to get an alignment after you were done?
It's an issue with coils too eh, that's annoying. Unfortunately I can't answer that question. I'd imagine they are similar but im not sure if they are the same. Also yes you'll need to do an alignment after this job. I did my own string alignment so I did it again myself.
@@zach_lush yeah coils have it too apparently and i would say you have no idea how annoying it is but you do lol. just sucks cuz i just got my alignment but thanks again! i really appreciate it 🙏🏽
Ah, yeah its a very common issue. I recommend applying some grease to the top of the bearing. Ive done it to mine and they have been perfect ever since. Ever spring ill clean it out and apply new grease.
Everything was maxed out at negative camber so it was easy for me to get it back. Otherwise you could use a paint pen and mark where everything is to easily line it back up!
Thanks! Well the bearing is still in there. I'd say around 20,000 km. It started to make noise after 1 week of replacing it but I applied some lube to the top and it stopped. Been quiet ever since.
o man looks like I have a less extreme example of this on my 17 Mustang. it only happens when i turn the wheel 1-5 degrees at slow speeds. Is it possible it just needs some pentrating oil vs a whole replacement? Had the whole install done maybe 200 miles ago...
Lube it up before the bearing is destroyed. My started out small and gradually got to this point. I have another video about squeaky suspension and how I fix mine. Good luck!
What sucks the most is once you do this repair, you mess up your alignment. You end up spending way more then you should on such a simple problem they’re aware of. So sad.
@@x3viLxZx yes for most people it does turn into a very expensive repair, especially if a shop is doing all the work. In my case it's not too bad since I do my own alignments. But yes they are aware of this issue which is frustrating. After I did this repair within a week it started making noise again... ended up luring it up a ton, haven't had a problem since!
2:05 in the middle of the red plate part, do we need that part piece?? If so where can I purchase it alone if possible, Because I recently seen like oil or something I’m not sure if it prevents that because I’m having this clunking sound as well.
Any part that comes with the strut you'll need. Your local shop that sells air suspension should have replacement parts. You can try putting lube on top of the bearing, fixed my issue once.
I’m literally having this issue right now. My bags were installed probably 2-3 weeks ago and is already making that noise. I will have to replace the pillowball bearing.
@@zach_lush it was useful. Now while I still have my warranty for about another 5 months it seems to be that the pillowball bearing is a KNOWN defect across its entire lineup. I have a mustang and you’re working on a VW. I filed a warranty claim and never received an email from them. They simply sent the part just from me describing the issue to them. That tells me they know about the issue and they are not doing much to fix it. If I were you or anyone reading this, whose warranty is expired, call them out on it. Make them cover it for free every single time.
@@asapmimic1289 I was actually working on my Subaru, but yes I'm pretty sure Airlift is aware of this issue. The bearing started to go about 4-5 months into ownership. I stored the car for winter and when I got it back on the road in spring and diagnosed it the warranty ended. So they did nothing for me. Even after installing the new bearing it started going again, I coated it in grease and it seems to be holding up.
Hi great video!. I got question here. What make you think the pillowball bearing need to be change? Because I got problem I'm running on ksport coilover and whenever I make a rotation I can hear some noise.
@@zach_lush nice haha! and I think maybe I should try to replace the bearing first and if the problem still persist then it different story. Thank you man!
Next time you don’t have to remove the whole thing. Take off wheel, strut link thing (I forget what it’s call but it’s the small bar) and unscrew the center nut holding the whole strut up WITH A JACK HOLDING IT UP. Then you can lower and scoot it over to get the whole bearing assembly out.
Thanks for the tip. But it didn't really matter to me since my alignment has my camber maxed out. So when I put it back in I just had to max it out again. Plus I do my own alignments!
@@zach_lush how long do your bearings last? Mines like 6-8 months. Before I start getting symptoms. I just replaced the pair right now. Idk if it’s heat that’s contributing or what. Airlift just tells me it’s a wear item
@@Ano_Ba_Girl my first set was maybe 3-4 months. Replaced the driver side in this video and my passenger was starting to make noise aswell as the driver side which I just replaced. I now spray the top of the bearings with lube and it keeps dirt from getting in there and causing pre mature wear. I clean the lube out every spring and apply new lube. Haven't had to replace a bearing since I made this video
@@zach_lush what lube do you use? I’ve been using wd40 brand silicone spray every month and it’s been working until this past week it wouldn’t go away. I even put fricking penetrating oil in it but nah. Took them out and like the plastic inner sleeve was basically all out lol
@@Ano_Ba_Girl I find as soon as dirt gets in it it destroys the inner lining of the bearing. I use the lube as a barrier to keep dirt out. I used a white lithium first but didn't really like it. Then I used the rush check green can. This spring I used some fluid film and it's bee working like a charm. Maybe I'll make a video about it soon. Seems to be a very common issue
Yeah its brutal. After you replace it put a layer of rust check green can spray on the top of the bearing. Did that to mine and till this day have the bearing I replaced in this video.
Last tuesday i replaced pillow bearings and stabilisators on both sides. It lasted one week, same thing. Ok i drive low 3.0 in front and 3.40 rear butt for the part that cost 38 euros a piece it should lasted longer. Is there any alternative? It is original airlift bearings from Germany. Is there any grease, lube that has to be putt on bearings, anything? I have this suspension for 3 years and this is 3 rd set od bearings and 2 nd set of stabilisators gone...
I had the same issue with the bearings. After 1 week is started to make noise again. I applied a layer of rust check grease (green can) to the top of it. I did that over 2 years ago and it still going strong. Hope that helps you!
@@zach_lush great! I live in Europe,Croatia so i dont have that make of dust cleaner here. Maybe some alternative... there is some Wurth rust cleaner here to buy... where are you from?
You are correct, it no longer works. I added a new one from a Canadian shop. They are currently out of stock but it gives you an idea what to look for. I'm also not 100% sure if it's the correct one. Haven't had to change mine since I posted this video.
Well I replaced mine. Thanks for the video!!! I used the lift at work. Took me about 30 minutes to do both. But did you know olm makes strut caps ? For our generation lol.
Not a problem. Yeah I'm aware of the strut caps, just not a huge fan of how they look. I ended up spraying some lube on them and it helps keep any dirt causing future problems!
According to Bagriders, that center bolt has to be torqued down to 40lbs, and that dry lube should help. I'm about to do mine today. Oh, another you have to heat up those 4 screws due to the red locktite, so it can be removed easily.
I did apply lube and it helped, made them last for awhile. Yeah I realized after with those screws, not a fun job to do. I'm still not a fan of the pillowball design. Bag riders super low struts has a new design to take the stress off of the pillowball bearings. Looks a lot better
Hey, here are the dimensions. There is two widths to it, hope this helps. If you find anything let me know! OD 33 mm ID 18 mm OD Width 16 mm ID Width 19.8 mm
@@eekimus hey, I think I meant the ID and OD. I don't have any other measurements since I don't have a bearing on me. Was hoping someone would comment on the video with a source I could link for everyone.
my gti has a different design from any video I've seen the cup the bearing sits in is a completely different shape and the bearing is held in by a snap ring instead of the 4 bolts I'm beating on it right now and it's not seeming like it wants to come out
@@cristomorales3425 in all honesty I do not remember. Happened so long ago. If you worried about this happening to you try applying some rust check green can spray ro the top of the bearing. You can do this with the strut on the car. Just pop the hood open
@@darren.a.b7400 that's what I did, sprayed it from the top, ran the car for 5 mins turning the wheels lock to lock. If the bearing is too far gone you'll have to change it.
@@PS3IdFury010 oh, you need to tighten the rings under your bag. Use a flat head and hammer it tight. The wrenches you provide will not tighten it enough
had the same issue after 2 months with my driver’s side, had it replaced under warranty, now i’m about 5 months in and my passenger side is going out as well & im suspicious of the drivers side contributing to the noise im hearing, if you happened to find a cheaper bearing of the same dimensions that would be awesome, don’t wanna spend $72 every couple months
Seems to be a common issue, shorty after replacing this bearing the noise was coming back. And my passenger side started to go bad. Somewhere in the comments I posted the dimensions of the bearing. Before you try to replace it again try spraying it with some sort of lubricant. I did it with white grease first, cleaned it up and tried rust check coat and protect (green can). Havent heard a noise since.
I have a similar issue I called so I can have my driver side warrantied, have you ever heard of lubricating a pillowball bearing? If you don’t lubricate it, they claim is the reason why my bottom perch gets loose as I drive? What’s your guys opinion?
If you go directly to the airlift website they’re only $5x.xx. I assume they’re more expensive from other websites to make some profit ya know what I mean?
@@El_topolin I got mine through a local shop that sells airlift parts. Just double check with them about the bearing. I believe airlift uses the same size for all their struts. I could be wrong though.
@@zach_lush I've done all of that. My last bearing lasted 2 weeks. I put it in Friday the 2nd and by the 16th it was gone. Always torqued to specifics and use loctite. The bearings from airlift are terrible. It was a company out or Russia that had better bearings but they can't ship to the U.S. at the moment.
My is the exactly problem , I need send the car for car audio security 2 time per month . Why kit like airlift is so expensive and very delicate kit like something cheaper?
I have my airlift performance 3P for about 3 years now , i love the airlift performance but is bad sometimes from that noises . I drive every day with family they not help sometimes because that noise, is very delicate aswell if you drive in to spot holes and speed bumps you dead 💀
@@themadnessgti9079 yeah its frustrating when the bearing goes but it seems to be common. I find if you put some lube on it, it helps make them last longer! Give that a shot
I agree this makes sense. However 2 weeks after I swapped it out I started hearing the noise again. I lobbed up both bearings and haven't had any issue since.
@@zach_lush yea dont be aafraid to use a good bit off grease. try not to get water in the top of the assembly and dont try and apply grease to the top as it only carries down dirt to the bearing and most likely wont grease it
@@baggedtuned8569 oh yeah that would be a good place to grease up too! I'm planning on going through all of my suspension this summer and cleaning it up
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I replaced so many other parts until I found this video and this is exactly what my Tesla sounds like. Just got the bearings today, not looking forward to swapping them in but glad that you put together this video. Props man
Thanks, happy to hear it helped! I recommend applying a bit of lube at the top of the bearing after replacing them. A week after I changed mine it starting to give out again, applied the lube and I've had the same bearing since I've posted this video. Good luck!
glad to know im not the only one having this problem. been trying to find solutions for this on YT but this is the exact one Thank you so much!
It's a very common issue, your far from the only one! But not a problem, happy to see it helped. I recommend adding some lubricant to the top of it afterwards to help keep debris out of the bearing. Did that to mine since I posted this video and they are still holding up!
I've had mine since 2017 and had to replace the driver side twice. Fun times, great video!
Thanks, try applying some Rust Check lube (green spray can) I apply a bit to the top of the bearing and it helps keep dirt out. I've done this since my video and haven't had an issue with it going bad again.
Usually pillow balls fail if you hit a pothole or something hard in the road.
Air fitting issues is usually caused from not installing the airline correctly. Very rarely the fittings will fail. We've install well over 100 kits and have only had a few fittings fail. Which are under warranty for 1 year from Airlift. If you don't want fittings to fail, don't use the plastic push to connect (PTC)... Upgrade to Parker PTC all brass DOT fittings or Swagelok stainless steel compression fittings. You'll never have that problem again.
If you do use the Airlift / "SMC" fittings, make sure the air line has ZERO tension on the line and it's not pulled off to the side in any direction. A airline that is slightly off center will damage the internal o'ring inside the PTC fitting. One thing you can do to help this is sand the cut edges after clipping them. You can also use a hone to clean up the inside and prevent the line from cutting into the o'ring, inside the PTC fitting. you MUST do this when running copper or aluminum hard lines.
Another thing, when installing your front SS brained leader lines, run the line with the brake line. Use an rubber & steel or high quality plastic cable anchor to secure the leader line and air line to the body. This will insure that they will travel with the suspension and turning radius of the wheel, without any tension. This will give you the clearance you need. Also use and many zip ties as possible. I tie off multiple zip ties every 2-3" around the brake line and strut.
One trick I like do quite often, get some Vi-Air air compressor leader lines. They are smaller in diameter and are easier to route. They make them in 1/4 male NTP in 36" length. P/N 92809. These are direct bolt in, into the Airlift bag ports. They are a little expensive, about $40 each, but this little extra insurance will go along way. You'll have enough protected line for the suspension to travel without rubbing though.
Thanks, im sure future viewers will find this information helpful.
However, the area I was driving in had pretty smooth roads and the pillowball bearing failed within a couple of months. Changed it and within a week it was failing again. Seems like debris entering it from the top was causing premature failure.
I got a s550 mustang with the same exact issue. Gonna order a new bearing and hopefully this fixes the issue! Thanks for the tutorial on how to install these!
Goodluck! Seems to be a common issue. After I did this about a week or two after the bearing started to squeak. I coated it in a green can of rust check and the squeak has been gone ever since.
I’m having the same issue on my 2017 wrx. Man this help me a lot after searching on TH-cam for video of my exact issue thanks
Happy to hear it helped! I applied some lube spray at the top of the bearing after to help keep dirt out of it. Seemed to do the trick since i havent replaced the bearring since this video.
Very insightful video bro, thanks for this. I just picked up a used set of Airlift Performance struts for my 2015 Accord and the top hats are a little loose but not as bad as yours were. Should I plan to replace mine before attempting to install them?
Thanks for watching! Hmm it might be worth swapping them. You can also try applying some great to the tops of the bearings. Could help you out for short term until you get the bearings (if they are bad of course). Either way good luck!
3:17 always use PB blaster and let it soak before attempting especially on rusted hardware or hardware that strips easily
Yeah I figured that one out quickly!
Im glad you made this same sound had a feeling it was the pillow ball but thank broo
No problem, good luck replacing it! I recommend applying a bit of lubricant to the top of the bearing after it's been installed to help keep dirt out of it. I did this since I posted this video and still have the same bearings installed. Rust check green can or fluid film should work.
Thank you for this! This is currently what my fiancé and I have to do now! So this is very helpful!
No problem, happy to see this helps! After doing this I noticed my passenger side bearing started to go out. Instead of spending another $80 for a bearing I coated it in white lithium grease. Seems to be working still
@@zach_lush Thank you for this video. When you coated the passenger side bearing after the 1st side went out, did you also have to remove the strut to put the grease in? Is it reachable without disassembly?
@@jaybeezee12 Hey, not a problem. When I applied the lube I did it with the strut still in the car. Just added a thin layer to the top so if any dirt comes near it the lube will catch it rather then the bearings. I actually show what I do in my latest video when I'm cleaning the engine bay.
Is there anyway you can link that video since a little time has passed? I’ve got a 2013 mustang gt and believe my bearing is starting to go out but it’s not too loud yet so If I can just grease it and fix it that would be awesome
@@chaseandrews1976 here you go!
th-cam.com/video/ma6yLhO7BPY/w-d-xo.html
Well very grateful for this video. I gotta do both my pillow ball bearings. Lol. Just curious thought when I ordered off bag rider it only offered 1 part number for a 15-21 wrx air strut
I'm not sure what you mean by that. I didn't order from bag riders, got mine from a local shop. I'd imagine they are the same though. Once your finished coat the bearing in rust check lube in green can. Mine started to go bad again after 1 week of driving.
That’s nuts I appreciate it. I’ll be honest I sprayed it with rust penetrator awhile back and it helped out tremendously. Ima coat it with great like you said lol
Thank you! I been having the same noise when turning, but couldn’t find out what it was. What caused the pillow ball bearing to give out?
No problem, seems like just a cheap bearing prone to failure. The one I replaced failed within a week. I ended up coating them in rust check lube (green can). Haven't had an issue since.
@@zach_lush would you recommend coating the bearing in a thick grease like those used for wheel bearings before installing on the top hat?
@@awdspam personally I think that's a bit overkill. I think the cuse of the problem is dirt landing on top of the bearing and over time making its way in the bearing. I think a coat of lube in a spray can will do the trick. I have another video where my suspension is squeaky, I show what I do with all my suspension parts now.
Very useful I have to replace both of my front ones because they literally sound like yours , I had put wd40 hopefully that would’ve helped but , thank you for the Tutorial !!
Brutal! Unfortunately if they sound like mine it's too late, gotta replace them! Happy to help and good luck!
@@zach_lush yup pretty much placed my order for two bearings , very costly it’s unreal lol
@@cesar216 yeah its pretty crazy
This has changed my mind completely. No longer getting airlift. Not worth the hassle. Maybe on a show car or if I was a millionaire.
Well I've been lubricating them since this video and haven't had an issue. Also with the problems I've had being bagged I'd probably do it again and I daily the STi during the summer. But of course it's your choice!
@@zach_lush what do you use for lube? Wd40? White lithium? Silicon spray?
bro thank you so much im on coils that sounds was so annoying. can i ask if the bearing is different for each suspension? and also did you have to get an alignment after you were done?
It's an issue with coils too eh, that's annoying. Unfortunately I can't answer that question. I'd imagine they are similar but im not sure if they are the same. Also yes you'll need to do an alignment after this job. I did my own string alignment so I did it again myself.
@@zach_lush yeah coils have it too apparently and i would say you have no idea how annoying it is but you do lol. just sucks cuz i just got my alignment but thanks again! i really appreciate it 🙏🏽
@@a_flips2944 yeah not a problem, if you mark your camber bolts with a paint pen you'll probably save yourself from getting another alignment.
I've been chasing this for months. I basically have an all new front corner trying to find this same awkward creak.
Ah, yeah its a very common issue. I recommend applying some grease to the top of the bearing. Ive done it to mine and they have been perfect ever since. Ever spring ill clean it out and apply new grease.
@@zach_lush duly noted, and big ups to ya for the video and info 🤙
@@quicksno no problem, good luck with the repair!
With the squeaking noise by any chance when going over bumps on the road did it also sound like metal on metal shock absorption?
It was mainly when turning. There shoumd be a sound clip in the video
How you took the air out from just one bag? Or do you have to drain the whole system?
You can drain it using the controller
hi, did u ever get around to measuring the bearing and find cheaper replacements?
I did not, I ended up moving and misplaced the bearing. I have it, just can't find it!
Can this be done by just removing the top hat and pillow ball without removing the entire strut?
You can try, might be difficult
What about an alignment afterwards? Did you just make note of where the caps where set?
Everything was maxed out at negative camber so it was easy for me to get it back. Otherwise you could use a paint pen and mark where everything is to easily line it back up!
Awesome video bro! Did you ever find a cheaper option?
Appreciate it! Unfortunately no, I have not found a cheaper solution. I looked into it a bit, just haven't found the correct size.
Awesome video mate! So how long did the new bearing lasts?
Thanks! Well the bearing is still in there. I'd say around 20,000 km. It started to make noise after 1 week of replacing it but I applied some lube to the top and it stopped. Been quiet ever since.
o man looks like I have a less extreme example of this on my 17 Mustang. it only happens when i turn the wheel 1-5 degrees at slow speeds. Is it possible it just needs some pentrating oil vs a whole replacement? Had the whole install done maybe 200 miles ago...
Lube it up before the bearing is destroyed. My started out small and gradually got to this point. I have another video about squeaky suspension and how I fix mine. Good luck!
What sucks the most is once you do this repair, you mess up your alignment. You end up spending way more then you should on such a simple problem they’re aware of. So sad.
@@x3viLxZx yes for most people it does turn into a very expensive repair, especially if a shop is doing all the work. In my case it's not too bad since I do my own alignments. But yes they are aware of this issue which is frustrating. After I did this repair within a week it started making noise again... ended up luring it up a ton, haven't had a problem since!
2:05 in the middle of the red plate part, do we need that part piece?? If so where can I purchase it alone if possible, Because I recently seen like oil or something I’m not sure if it prevents that because I’m having this clunking sound as well.
Any part that comes with the strut you'll need. Your local shop that sells air suspension should have replacement parts. You can try putting lube on top of the bearing, fixed my issue once.
Are all coilover bearings the same ? I’ve been struggling to get info on what to use for my maxpeeding rods
I'd imagine they are similar, doubt they are the same
I’m literally having this issue right now. My bags were installed probably 2-3 weeks ago and is already making that noise. I will have to replace the pillowball bearing.
Try applying some lube to the top of the bearing. Made mine last a few years
I'm curious to know brother what the torque is on the top nut of the strut? Would you be able to help?
I have no idea, just sent it till it was tight lol
Thanks for the video. I received 0 help from airlift and TH-cam was my next option for help.
Seems like you had the same issues as myself. Happy to hear the video was useful for you.
@@zach_lush it was useful. Now while I still have my warranty for about another 5 months it seems to be that the pillowball bearing is a KNOWN defect across its entire lineup. I have a mustang and you’re working on a VW. I filed a warranty claim and never received an email from them. They simply sent the part just from me describing the issue to them. That tells me they know about the issue and they are not doing much to fix it. If I were you or anyone reading this, whose warranty is expired, call them out on it. Make them cover it for free every single time.
@@asapmimic1289 I was actually working on my Subaru, but yes I'm pretty sure Airlift is aware of this issue. The bearing started to go about 4-5 months into ownership. I stored the car for winter and when I got it back on the road in spring and diagnosed it the warranty ended. So they did nothing for me. Even after installing the new bearing it started going again, I coated it in grease and it seems to be holding up.
Hi great video!. I got question here. What make you think the pillowball bearing need to be change? Because I got problem I'm running on ksport coilover and whenever I make a rotation I can hear some noise.
Hey, thanks. I knew it had to be changed since everytime I turned my wheel it made a very loud screeching noise haha.
@@zach_lush nice haha! and I think maybe I should try to replace the bearing first and if the problem still persist then it different story. Thank you man!
@@rafiesuhaily5263 no problem, good luck!
Did u find a link that sales them cheaper?
No, I did not
Hey there. I tried to click the link in your description for the pillowball but it didn't work. can you re-host/post?
Just updated it!
@@zach_lush Thanks! any luck on finding a replacement? can you post the dimensions you measured of the ball you kept?
Next time you don’t have to remove the whole thing. Take off wheel, strut link thing (I forget what it’s call but it’s the small bar) and unscrew the center nut holding the whole strut up WITH A JACK HOLDING IT UP. Then you can lower and scoot it over to get the whole bearing assembly out.
Thanks for the tip. But it didn't really matter to me since my alignment has my camber maxed out. So when I put it back in I just had to max it out again. Plus I do my own alignments!
@@zach_lush how long do your bearings last? Mines like 6-8 months. Before I start getting symptoms. I just replaced the pair right now.
Idk if it’s heat that’s contributing or what. Airlift just tells me it’s a wear item
@@Ano_Ba_Girl my first set was maybe 3-4 months. Replaced the driver side in this video and my passenger was starting to make noise aswell as the driver side which I just replaced. I now spray the top of the bearings with lube and it keeps dirt from getting in there and causing pre mature wear. I clean the lube out every spring and apply new lube. Haven't had to replace a bearing since I made this video
@@zach_lush what lube do you use? I’ve been using wd40 brand silicone spray every month and it’s been working until this past week it wouldn’t go away. I even put fricking penetrating oil in it but nah. Took them out and like the plastic inner sleeve was basically all out lol
@@Ano_Ba_Girl I find as soon as dirt gets in it it destroys the inner lining of the bearing. I use the lube as a barrier to keep dirt out. I used a white lithium first but didn't really like it. Then I used the rush check green can. This spring I used some fluid film and it's bee working like a charm. Maybe I'll make a video about it soon. Seems to be a very common issue
This happened to me just owning my struts a couple weeks. Airlift sent me the part to replace but it's BS that I have to do it
Yeah its brutal. After you replace it put a layer of rust check green can spray on the top of the bearing. Did that to mine and till this day have the bearing I replaced in this video.
Last tuesday i replaced pillow bearings and stabilisators on both sides. It lasted one week, same thing. Ok i drive low 3.0 in front and 3.40 rear butt for the part that cost 38 euros a piece it should lasted longer. Is there any alternative? It is original airlift bearings from Germany. Is there any grease, lube that has to be putt on bearings, anything?
I have this suspension for 3 years and this is 3 rd set od bearings and 2 nd set of stabilisators gone...
I had the same issue with the bearings. After 1 week is started to make noise again. I applied a layer of rust check grease (green can) to the top of it. I did that over 2 years ago and it still going strong. Hope that helps you!
@@zach_lush you applied on that old one, that makes sound or after you change the new ones?
@@ibdetailing9016 after I put a new one it started to make noise again after a week. I applied the grease after and it never came back!
@@zach_lush great! I live in Europe,Croatia so i dont have that make of dust cleaner here. Maybe some alternative... there is some Wurth rust cleaner here to buy... where are you from?
@@ibdetailing9016 All you need is a spray can of lube!
Can you repost where you found it? The link no longer works unfortunately.
You are correct, it no longer works. I added a new one from a Canadian shop. They are currently out of stock but it gives you an idea what to look for. I'm also not 100% sure if it's the correct one. Haven't had to change mine since I posted this video.
Well I replaced mine. Thanks for the video!!! I used the lift at work. Took me about 30 minutes to do both. But did you know olm makes strut caps ? For our generation lol.
Not a problem. Yeah I'm aware of the strut caps, just not a huge fan of how they look. I ended up spraying some lube on them and it helps keep any dirt causing future problems!
Yeah tbh they are ugly and bulky
According to Bagriders, that center bolt has to be torqued down to 40lbs, and that dry lube should help. I'm about to do mine today. Oh, another you have to heat up those 4 screws due to the red locktite, so it can be removed easily.
I did apply lube and it helped, made them last for awhile. Yeah I realized after with those screws, not a fun job to do. I'm still not a fan of the pillowball design. Bag riders super low struts has a new design to take the stress off of the pillowball bearings. Looks a lot better
What kind of lube?
Did you get an alignment shortly after getting this reinstalled?
I do my own alignments, but you should.
@@zach_lush thanks bud. I was curious to know where I can find cheaper pillow ball bushings I can't justify paying $70 a piece
@@dest125 never found a cheaper option sadly
What happens if one doesn’t replace the pillow ball bearings
Well if its broken it will just get worse. Potentially cause further damage.
@@zach_lush ok I see, thanks bro
@@GCASTROOO1 no problem
Need to do this to my airlift strut 😢😅
Ouuu good luck! I recommend applying some lube to the top of the bearing to help to help prevent it from happening again!
What did the dimensions of the bearing end up being? Found some similar on summitracing and grainger industrial
Hey, here are the dimensions. There is two widths to it, hope this helps. If you find anything let me know!
OD 33 mm
ID 18 mm
OD Width 16 mm
ID Width 19.8 mm
We’re u able to source some Parker Peabody?
@@zach_lush hi what do you mean by 2 sets of dimensions? Is the bearing tapered?
How deep or how tall is the bearing overall?
@@eekimus hey, I think I meant the ID and OD. I don't have any other measurements since I don't have a bearing on me. Was hoping someone would comment on the video with a source I could link for everyone.
my gti has a different design from any video I've seen the cup the bearing sits in is a completely different shape and the bearing is held in by a snap ring instead of the 4 bolts I'm beating on it right now and it's not seeming like it wants to come out
Interesting, I was under the impression they were all a similar design to this one. Good luck!
@@zach_lush I ended up renting a balljoint press/install tool set and it popped them out easy thanks for the video!
@@krisjones0926 happy you managed to figure something out, not a problem!
What happens if you don’t replace this?
I only replaced it since it was grinding and making noise. If you let it continue it will only get worse
@@zach_lush bet and aye by any chance did it slightly very quietly make the noice when you woudl air up or down?
@@cristomorales3425 in all honesty I do not remember. Happened so long ago. If you worried about this happening to you try applying some rust check green can spray ro the top of the bearing. You can do this with the strut on the car. Just pop the hood open
updated link for bearing?
Never found a cheaper option. Any shop local to you should have the bearing in stock.
Should the bearing be greased?
About 1 week after doing this noise came back. Lubed them up and it's been good every since
@@zach_lush what lube you used?
@@darren.a.b7400 rust check green can. I have another video about squeaky suspension and I show the things I used.
@@zach_lush can i just spray it from the top? Imma look for the video
@@darren.a.b7400 that's what I did, sprayed it from the top, ran the car for 5 mins turning the wheels lock to lock. If the bearing is too far gone you'll have to change it.
We’re u able to source some?
Unfortunately no, I ended up covering my bearings in the green rust check spray lube and it seems to help out a lot.
How do I keep my bag from spinning on the strut?
What do you mean? While your driving it's spinning or when trying to replace the pillowball bearing?
@@zach_lush while I drive the bag spins on the strut over time
@@PS3IdFury010 oh, you need to tighten the rings under your bag. Use a flat head and hammer it tight. The wrenches you provide will not tighten it enough
@@zach_lush their tight 😳
@@PS3IdFury010 I thought the same since I had the same issue. Trust me hit it with a flat head, just don't hit your threads
had the same issue after 2 months with my driver’s side, had it replaced under warranty, now i’m about 5 months in and my passenger side is going out as well & im suspicious of the drivers side contributing to the noise im hearing, if you happened to find a cheaper bearing of the same dimensions that would be awesome, don’t wanna spend $72 every couple months
Seems to be a common issue, shorty after replacing this bearing the noise was coming back. And my passenger side started to go bad. Somewhere in the comments I posted the dimensions of the bearing.
Before you try to replace it again try spraying it with some sort of lubricant. I did it with white grease first, cleaned it up and tried rust check coat and protect (green can). Havent heard a noise since.
I have a similar issue I called so I can have my driver side warrantied, have you ever heard of lubricating a pillowball bearing? If you don’t lubricate it, they claim is the reason why my bottom perch gets loose as I drive? What’s your guys opinion?
If you go directly to the airlift website they’re only $5x.xx. I assume they’re more expensive from other websites to make some profit ya know what I mean?
And per the phone operators words, every pillow bearing is the same size across every vehicle as long as it’s an airlift product
Sounds exactly like my car hahaha I’m currently on airlift
Lube it up before it's too late!
Que mm tiene el rodamiento?
I have no idea the size, moved and misplaced the bearing.
Y cuál compraste? Yo tengo que cambiarlos también.
@@El_topolin I got mine through a local shop that sells airlift parts. Just double check with them about the bearing. I believe airlift uses the same size for all their struts. I could be wrong though.
33mm OD x 18mm ID, 16mm race width 20mm ball width
@@tjdw8346 muchas gracias, sera el mismo diametro que las bc racing ER verdad? las tengo montadas en civic ep3
Installed my Airlift Performance series on my GTI and in under 3 weeks the driver side pillowball is already dead....
If its brand new warranty will cover it
I went through 5 on my drivers side in 1 year. I finally said f it and took them out.
@@ponyland9999 spray it with lube. Mine have been good for a year now
@@zach_lush I've done all of that. My last bearing lasted 2 weeks. I put it in Friday the 2nd and by the 16th it was gone. Always torqued to specifics and use loctite. The bearings from airlift are terrible. It was a company out or Russia that had better bearings but they can't ship to the U.S. at the moment.
My is the exactly problem , I need send the car for car audio security 2 time per month . Why kit like airlift is so expensive and very delicate kit like something cheaper?
I have my airlift performance 3P for about 3 years now , i love the airlift performance but is bad sometimes from that noises . I drive every day with family they not help sometimes because that noise, is very delicate aswell if you drive in to spot holes and speed bumps you dead 💀
@@themadnessgti9079 yeah its frustrating when the bearing goes but it seems to be common. I find if you put some lube on it, it helps make them last longer! Give that a shot
@@zach_lush im go take it off sooner and put the car for static . I never see so expensive kit like airlift and so bad quality lol
@@zach_lush what the reason why this broke so easy? Any ideas ??
@@themadnessgti9079 think it's just a low quality part
i wish airlift would throw in a couple bearings and a repair kit with fittings, check valves and water trap.
Yes, I agree. It would be nice if they included a few extra parts for future maintenance!
Do you have a link to the replacement screws that stripped
I do not, just went to my local hardware store to get replacments
@@zach_lush do you remember the size by any chance
@@yugrajghansham8141 I do not
take turns much slower and try not to dodge bumps too much by jerking the wheel left or right. this contributes to them wearing out faster.
I agree this makes sense. However 2 weeks after I swapped it out I started hearing the noise again. I lobbed up both bearings and haven't had any issue since.
@@zach_lush yea dont be aafraid to use a good bit off grease. try not to get water in the top of the assembly and dont try and apply grease to the top as it only carries down dirt to the bearing and most likely wont grease it
@@baggedtuned8569 every spring I apply new grease to the top of the bearing. If I don't I'll have the same thing happen
@@zach_lush i mean the top mount above the camber plate where you tighten the top mount bolts
@@baggedtuned8569 oh yeah that would be a good place to grease up too! I'm planning on going through all of my suspension this summer and cleaning it up
Mine was clunking haha
Oh thats real bad
Have the same problem rn 🤦♂️
Neremind, you used red loctite god bless you rest in peace
Just put back what was already there
Lmfao both of mine are screaming right now it’s driving me nuts
It's really annoying! Replace them and apply some lube to the top of them. Mine have lasted since I posted this video
Same bro, only 3k miles on my air ride too🥲
@@Tht_1sti rip brother
Use hand tools more my guy, power/impact is the source of your problems. Hand tools to tighten/break unless you absolutely need power.
Yup I agree with that lol
They stripped cause your using a dewalt impact all bad my g😅 but it happens to everyone fuckery is how we learn lol
It is what it is!