B and B Suspension has promptly supplied FREE replacement accumulators for any that failed early, even if well beyond the free replacement period.
The vast majority of customers had no failures.
Analysis of the pattern of failures strongly indicated <5% of vehicles were generating >95% of failures, and ALL of the multiple unit failures. In-depth analysis of failed units showed two distinct failure patterns. Single unit failures were from loss of charge gas through charging valve, and the diaphragm usually was not damaged or deteriorated at all. Multiple unit failures had much different appearance, with many cracks developing in the 'flex zone' of the diaphragms, progressing until charge gas escaped into the oil. Microscopic examination showed micro-cracks all over diaphragms, indicating attack on the material by something other than AHC oil. Diaphragms are essentially inert when exposed to AHC at any temperature under about 450 F.
We concluded contamination of the system fluid was the likely primary cause of all multiple and repetitive failures. We developed a quick, cheap, easy, yet definitive test to detect foreign substances (contamination) in AHC oil. Of course we do not warrant our product against failure if used in contaminated systems. We began asking all Owners reporting any failure to test their AHC oil using the posted Water Reaction Test. We require this test for all New customers as a condition of validating the product warranty. The majority of owners are appreciative of our handling of this unfortunate situation. We provide a suggested protocol for cleaning up the AHC system which is not costly, easily performed in a driveway without any lifts or jacks, does not require removing the struts, but does take some calendar time (up to 3 weeks) if repetitive flushing is needed to remove all the crud.
Moreover, we DO offer existing Customers with failures caused by contaminated AHC fluid --- new, fully warranted, replacement accumulators at 50% discount--- if that Owner agrees to clean out the contamination their AHC system to 'clean' condition as shown by the Water Reaction test.
There have been a very few Owners who refuse to recognize their responsibility for maintaining the condition of their vehicle, and have even gone so far as to demand full refund + reimbursement for costs of installation of the replacement parts we supplied FREE. Our attorney advised we refuse all such demands since we would certainly prevail in any legal action and would recover all our costs of defending such an action plus punitive damages and likely sanction of the plaintiff's attorney.
B and B stands behind the products we sell and provides outstanding warranty service and unlimited technical support, so long as our products are used in the usual conditions of the AHC system. A contaminated AHC system is NOT a normal or expected condition.
