How to change the front air strut on your Range Rover (2003 and up)

The title says it, here is the procedure for replacing your right front air spring, in case you have a leak. Is not that hard to do, just take your time and having a friend ready is always good, but I can do these with my eyes closed and by myself, so you should too.

What you'll need:

• Arnott Right Front Air Strut  
• Silicone Lubricant 
• TEKTON Stubby Wrench Set
• Thin Wrench Set Metric  

Procedure:

Crack the wheel lug nuts first then set up the car. Jack up the car and secure it in Jackstands. Then you need to remove the respective front wheel.

Now to the top, undo the three 16 mm nuts and remove the black plastic cap.

I like to place the nuts inside the plastic cap so you don't lose them.

Now the bottom, with the wheel removed, you have to unclip the lines that attach to the suspension strut. There is a brake line, a brake pad wear sensor if you are on the right side, and wheel speed sensor.

Here is a pic of the lines unclipped.

Now you have to undo the sway bar link, with a thin wrench 18 mm and an 18 mm socket. In the pic you can see how the thin wrench is supposed to hold the sway bar link.

Remove it, you might need to pry on the sway bar to ease it out.

Now you need to undo the nuts and bolts that connect the strut to the spindle.

Now the strut can come down, but there is an ait line still attached to the top. I like to rest the bottom of the strut in the drive shaft, and with a stubby 12 mm wrench undo the line.

The new strut comes with a new line fitting. Undo it and DON'T LOSE THE LITTLE RING INSIDE when you take it out. Also remove the nuts that come with the new strut.

 The new ring and fitting.

Take the old ring and fitting from the old line.

Place the new one in place. Make sure they fit in the following manner. There are instructions that come with your strut too in case of doubt.

Now you have to rest the new strut in the drive shaft. Then attach the line to the new strut and tighten it with your 12 mm stubby.

With one hand you have to push the strut up and align the studs into the holes. with another hand catch one of the old nuts. I know the strut came with new nuts but they are not locking nuts like the original land rover, so I like to put the old nuts. Catch the three nuts by hand. 

Catch the sway bar link, and catch the bolt by hand then tighten with the thin 18 mm wrench and the 18 mm socket.

Here is a pic of how I pry on the sway bar to make it easy to catch the link to the strut.

Now align the spindle holes with the strut holes and push the bolts through. Easier said than done.

Catch the nuts by hand and then tighten.

Spray with sylicon spray the lines and catch them back in place.

Tighten the top 16 mm nuts.

Place your wheel, lower the car and don't forget to tighten those lugs!