I had 1 airbag develop a leak as is was sitting in my driveway. So i pumped them up and ran out to place safety blocks under coach. This took me 2 attempts to accomplish. the second attempt was a success as i called on my inner carl lewis lol. Anyway i was able to get the bag out and crossed referenced the numbers on the firestone airbag and it was a lot more expensive than i anticipated. my question is are there airbags out there that are good airbags as the firestones or should i just bit the bullet and stay with the firestones?? I will be replacing all 8 of them.
Tony,
Several here have used these AS9448 by CONTITECH - CONTITECH AIR SPRING 64286/1R11-150/8563 (https://www.finditparts.com/products/7889630/contitech-as9448)
Do a search here and see there results.
Mike
I purchased my last set of Firestone bags through Michigan Truck Spring for my old Vogue, they look like the same size as my 99.
108.00 ea and free shipping, granted this was about 4 years ago.
Truck Parts & Trailer Parts - Pickup Truck & Trailer to Semi Truck (https://www.truckspring.com/)
Look up Find It parts I got the continental for 88. bucks a bag and free shipping. They don't have them all the time but when they do you have to jump on them. Good luck ^.^d
Continental is an excellent German company making tires, belts, air bags, etc, etc. We have their tires on one of our cars and they are excellent. Their fan/accessory belts were always my first choice for customers.
Pierce
Think a couple of members have used them with no problems.
I just replaced all 8 of my airbags with Firestone. I bought them from NAPA. With discount they were around $150.00 each.
I replaced all my OEM Firestones with new Contitech air bags. They appear to be excellent quality and I spray them with 303 for UV protection. Snagged them last year at Finditparts for $73.04 each.
My OEM Firestone air bags were 22 years old when I replaced them, with new Firestone @ about $150 delivered from Michigan Truck Spring. Maybe some of the other brands as as good? Don't know...... has anyone replaced 22 year old bags of another brand? I decided that IF these new Firestone bags last 20 years then I'll have no worries with air bags again. :) The difference in cost just wasn't enough for me to change from a proven good product. (in my opinion).
There are other good brands of tires also............ I went with new Michellins...... because I have had good luck and experience with them. Others may not have. I went with what gives me "peace of mind". I didn't choose the less expensive way to go.... for sure. I'll just have to save the money in a less critical areas.
Four,did you notice any difference in the ride with the new air bags,some have some have not?
Wow to save $70 bucks per air bag times 8 bags is over 1/2 a coach buck. Thats a pretty sweet savings. Even if they don't last quite as long as the firestone, and of course there is no info either way that I know of at this point, that is a pretty significant savings.
I replaced all 8 Firestone air bags that were 24 years old still holding air but showing signs of dry rot (cracking) with 8 Contitech air bags this spring. I have put about 3000 miles on since doing this and have noticed that the coach seems to ride better. I paid around 80.00 each when I purchased them. ^.^d
Or they could last twice as long. Price is not an indicator of quality. Since Firestone is part of Bridgestone now, it's the Germans against the Japanese. If Firestone bags are like the bags of old, I'll take the Continental bags any day.
Pierce
When I came on the Forum just now, I thought the thread was about some of us members! ;)
Mike, That would have been Old Gasbags.
Now thats some funny stuff right there...
No noticeable difference................ wish I could say "yes, definitely" ........... but I can't.
I rode better tho'............. :D ........ not wondering if one was going to blow out on the next pot-hole! ^.^d
When you buy a new or even a used airbag, you can just put a knee on it and compress it all the way without much force. You could almost play one like an accordion if they made noise. This is how flexible they are. The same air pressure would be used in a new, used, Firestone, Goodyear or Continental airbag so I can't imagine any possible difference in ride since they all have the same dimensions inside and outside.
Pierce
Justin,
How about a compromise? Price may or may not be an indicator of quality. At less than 25% of a factory job on the seats, mine are much better than new. My dental work in Mexico was at least equal of a dental office here in my town for about 9% of the cost. Buy a Japanese luxury car and try find a European luxury car for anywhere close to the price that comes even close to the quality. Not going to happen at any price. Buy a ignition solenoid from Foretravel or NAPA/online. The same Cole-Hersee solenoid. Does the higher price translate to better quality?
But the most important example is getting a new hip, back surgery, or major operation. Go to your local hospital and have it done or research the best hospitals and have it done by one of the top ten in the field that applies to you. Our hospital has a terrible reputation. I chose UC San Francisco. Out of 5500 hospitals, it's the number 5 in the U.S. After so many gloom and doom opinions from high priced specialists, I can almost do circus acts and get asked for my driver's license now. ;) The price was the SAME!
As one of my businesses was with vehicles, I can't warn enough against taking an RV to a dealer (that sponsors NASCAR races), letting them work on your coach and then give you a very expensive bill. Is what they charge an indicator of quality?
Pierce
"How about a compromise? Price may or may not be an indicator of quality"
Pierce, I can agree with that, I think it probably is more than not, if similar comparisons are made. "apples to apples" ?
Labor rates are a big factor, employee dedication to quality workmanship is another. Low paid workers don't always mean poor workmanship, high paid workers don't always equate to quality work either. We have all seen that.
As another example tho' ............... I'll put my 95 GV up against a 95 "W" in a quality test any day. AND considering it cost at least 3 or 4 times what the "W" did back then it should be much higher quality. In this case you get what you pay for. Hope not to offend any "W" owners, not my intent. As it wasn't our intent to highjack this thread.........
:D
I replaced mine with Firestone at $148.00 each because thats what truck Truck Pro delivered to me.. I would have no qualms using another brand but my parts vendor looked at the old bag and brought Firestones. The other brands should be fine. I can think of no reason for new bags to ride any different than the old ones providing the old ones held air at proper ride height but I do know that my mind is easier with new rubber. Then one can think of something else and moving on is a good thing.