Harley-Davidson is, without a doubt, the world’s most iconic motorcycle brand. Known around the world for their classic styling, finely-tuned performance, and unmistakable sound, Harley bikes have an appeal that can’t be found anywhere else.
Many Harley-Davidson models made after 2008 feature an air suspension system. These suspension offer an unbeatable ride and can be adjusted for different situations and rider preferences. By almost all accounts, this switch to air ride systems made the legendary bikes even better.
But in some cases, riders have noticed Harley-Davidson air suspension leaking problems. This can result in a ride that’s uncomfortable at best and unsafe at worst. To help you solve your issues, our Suspension Experts have put together a step-by-step guide to help you identify and fix leaks in your Harley air ride.
How to Fix a Leaking Harley-Davidson Air Suspension
Air suspension leaks can be unsettling for Harley-Davidson riders. But finding the source of the problem and fixing it is usually more straightforward than you’d imagine. It also doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. This walkthrough will tell you the steps you need to take to fix your leaking air ride and get back on the road comfortably and safely.
1. Determine Whether Your Harley-Davidson Has an Air Suspension Problem
The first step to fixing air suspension issues on your Harley is to confirm that you actually have them. Other issues on your bike can feel or look similar to air ride problems, such as a bad linkage or a poorly-mounted fender. You’ll want to confirm that the issues you’re noticing are indeed coming from the air suspension before you do anything else.
Signs of Harley-Davidson Air Suspension Leaking Problems
There are several telltale signs that indicate that your Harley-Davidson has a leaking air ride. These include:
- Longer air up cycles: If you notice that your air springs are taking longer than they were before to fully inflate, there is likely a leak in the system.
- Sagging suspension: When your Harley air suspension is leaking, it will have trouble maintaining the proper ride height. A sagging suspension could be due to several other issues, but the most likely answer is a leak somewhere.
- Longer stopping: Your suspension plays a big role in your braking system, absorbing much of the force of stopping your bike. If your brakes are in good shape and your Harley is still taking longer to stop than it should, a leaky air suspension is likely the reason.
- Bumpy ride: A working air suspension offers a smooth ride that sails over bumps and dips in the road. If you’re noticing a lot of feedback from changes in the road surface, your air ride isn’t functioning properly.
How to Confirm Air Suspension Leaks on a Harley-Davidson
If you notice any of the signs listed above, you can confirm whether or not your Harley suspension is leaking air. To do this, you’ll just need a pressure gauge – or the Harley air suspension pump that includes one.
Your bike should have a nozzle where you can connect the pressure gauge, usually on the left-hand side under the seat. While your Harley is at rest, take periodic readings of the pressure in your air springs. If it loses more than a few PSI, this will confirm that you have a leak in the system.
2. Identify the Source of the Air Suspension Issue on Your Harley
Once you’ve confirmed that your Harley-Davidson air suspension is leaking, it’s time to find where the leak is coming from. Even motorcycle air rides have many components, meaning there are many potential sources of an air leak.
However, air leaks are much more commonly found in some components than others. These include:
- Air springs: Since the air springs on your Harley suspension do the grunt work of holding your bike up and making adjustments, they are prone to wearing out and leaking.
- Air delivery lines: The flexible lines that carry air from the compressor to the springs are susceptible to getting cut or punctured from road debris and other sources.
- Seals and gaskets: Rubber washers and gaskets that keep your system sealed can corrode, dry out, or crack over time. When they do, they can easily lead to a leaking air suspension.
- Air compressor: Your Harley’s air compressor itself is a sturdy part made of metal, but the connection points can sometimes become warped or damaged, resulting in a bad seal and air leaks.
How to Find the Source of Harley-Davidson Air Suspension Leaks
Sometimes the source of an air leak in your Harley-Davidson suspension is obvious to the naked eye. But in most cases, you’ll have to do some investigating.
The best way to find a leak is the delightfully old-school soap and water method. Here’s how to do it:
- Gather supplies: All you’ll need is some dish soap, water, and a way to apply the mixture to your air suspension components. Some people prefer to use a paintbrush, while others prefer a spray bottle. Both work fine. You’ll also want some kind of permanent marker you can use to mark any leaks you find.
- Apply soapy mixture to components: Spray or paint the soap and water mixture to each component in the air suspension system. But do so one at a time so that you can more easily observe the results.
- Look for bubbles: When the soap and water mixture sits over a leak, the air coming out will cause it to bubble up. Once you see these bubbles, you’ve found your leak – or at least one of them.
- Mark the leak point: Use a marker to note where the leak is. A permanent marker works best since you may go over it again with soap and water.
- Test the whole system: Just because you’ve found one leak doesn’t mean there aren’t more. Once you’ve marked the leak you’ve found, continue to test the rest of the system to make sure it isn’t the only one.
3. Decide Whether to Fix or Replace Your Faulty Air Ride
In some cases, a leaking Harley-Davidson air suspension can be an easy fix. Other times, you may need to replace some or all of your components. The following sections outline some of the times that you can – and can’t – fix your existing air ride.
When You Can Fix a Leaking Harley-Davidson Air Suspension
There are several air suspension leaks that you can fix without needing to replace major components. These include:
- Damaged seal or gasket: If an air leak is the result of a worn out or damaged seal, replacing that seal should be all you need to do. For most people, this is a simple, easy, and cheap fix.
- Slipped air line: Your Harley’s air delivery lines can sometimes slip out of place and cause a leak. If that’s what’s causing your leaking suspension, you’ll simply need to put it back in place. Applying some silicone lubricant gel to the line before reinserting it can help ensure that it goes into the socket as far as it needs to.
When You Need to Replace a Leaking Harley-Davidson Air Suspension
Unfortunately, many of the issues that cause a leaking air suspension require replacing one or more components. These include:
- Leaking air spring: An air spring that leaks due to wear or damage cannot be fixed completely. You may be able to patch it for a temporary remedy, but ultimately replacing your air springs is the only real solution.
- Damaged compressor: If your air leak is the result of damage to your compressor, you won’t be able to fix it yourself. You could potentially repair damaged connection points at a machine shop, but it’s likely cheaper and definitely easier to simply replace the compressor entirely.
- Punctured or torn air supply line: No amount of duct tape is going to completely fix an air line that is torn, punctured, or otherwise damaged. To fix the problem, you’ll need to replace the hose itself.
4. Find High-Quality Suspension Replacement Parts
If you need to replace one or more of your Harley-Davidson air suspension components, you’ll want to get parts you can rely on. While there are now many companies that sell replacement Harley air ride parts, not all of them offer the quality and fit your bike requires.
What to Look For in an Air Suspension Replacement Supplier
It can be difficult to tell whether or not replacement Harley-Davidson air suspension parts offer the quality and fit they promise. But in general, trustworthy parts come from trustworthy companies. Here are a few points of consideration when you’re looking for a replacement air suspension component supplier:
- Parts for specific models and years: Some companies reuse parts from one model that provide a “good enough” fit for other models. This can lead to poorly-fitting parts that may also start to leak right away. It’s also a major red flag that indicates a low-quality provider.
- All mounting hardware included: Reputable suppliers will include everything you need to install your replacement parts, including mounting brackets and even nuts and bolts. Some companies try to save money by skimping out on the hardware, leaving you to find the right parts yourself.
- Product guarantees: Whether in the form of a fitment guarantee or a limited warranty, product guarantees are a sign that a company stands behind the products they sell. They’ll have to absorb the cost of replacing your parts or refunding you, so they won’t offer a guarantee unless they trust their product.
- Company reputation: Online reviews can help you get an idea of the customer experience with a certain company. While you can expect a few bad reviews for any company, consistent patterns of complaints can indicate a problem and a company you want to avoid.
- Customer support: A good supplier will be willing to help you before, during, and after the sale. Look for companies like Strutmasters that offer multiple ways to contact them for help if you need it.
5. Install New Harley-Davidson Suspension Components
Now that you’ve chosen your supplier and parts, it’s time to put them on your Harley-Davidson. Some people prefer to leave this job to the professionals and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, you may find that replacing suspension components is easier than you’d think.
Strutmasters offers kits and components that are designed not only for quality and performance, but also for easy installation. Putting new suspension components on your bike only requires a few simple hand tools and a couple hours of your time as long as you’re even moderately handy.
Every kit and component sold by Strutmasters includes detailed installation instructions. These can guide you through the process. If you get stuck, you can always call our Suspension Experts to help you finish the job.
The Fix for Your Harley-Davidson Air Suspension Leaking Problems You Can Trust
Strutmasters has been providing suspension solutions for vehicle owners since 1999. With a reputation built on quality and service, we only sell products that we’d put on our own vehicles. All of the kits and components we sell – including the parts you need to fix a leaking Harley-Davidson air suspension – meet the same rigorous quality standards we set for our own products. And like everything else we sell, all parts come backed by a limited warranty.
If you’re ready to stop the air leak in your Harley and get back on the road, you can order your parts directly from our website. You can also call us at 855-622-8795 if you’d prefer to have one of our Suspension Experts help make sure you get exactly the part you need and answer whatever questions you might have.
