Reverb Dropper Post - loss of Air Pressure

[New Landy new life]

My dropper is just gone 2 years old and Yesterday she just dropped at the beginning of a ride from having no air pressure.

Was a long hard ride keeping up with my mates having my knees around my ears for 50 km and all because I didn't find the time to buy one of those aluminium clamp rings for such type emergencies.

 

Moving on....... I was wondering if the cause could have been because I over clamped the seat post not so long ago.

 

I was having issues all of a sardine where my seat post was slipping down the seat tube and I had to give her a good strong clamp before she would stay on my mark.  Afterwards I cleaned the seat tube and post and used some water paper to roughen the surface a bit to allow a better clamping at less force.

 

Maybe too late for the dropper !

 

Are these posts quite thick walled, or could I have over-clamped and distorted the post causing a seal to become damaged or is it merely due for a service?

 

I have tried pumping the seat a few times but there are air bubbles escaping through one of the small holes in the bottom plate when I put a little water in the bottom of the post. 

 

Any advise welcome