I am about to spend the next month or so doing many things to our coach. One of them is going to be the air bags/shocks. I am searching for the tools that Scott Davidson/ DSD custom made and I think maybe sold to Elliot? Wanting to rent or buy if the owner is willing to do so. Whomever is in possession of them, and willing to assist in this matter, please get with me.
If rent, for the sake of shipping weight, I dont really need the extensions, pull handle or tap as I have plenty of those.
Thanks,
Mike
(https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=45706.0;attach=126814)
Elliot only got the modified tools. I should have hung on to them, they would already be in your possession. The locking extensions are really a plus because you can hang the entire mess off the top wrench. The breaker bar worked way better than a ratchet. And there is no reason for friction lock nuts that were used. Cutting the threads straight is fine. They are not subject to rotation and won't come loose. The length of the 3/4 gearwrench was shortened to the same length as the large one. Center to center. If I needed to do a set of bags I without question would remake the tool kit.
Hopefully Elliot or whomever may now have them will come forward and allow me to rent/borrow/buy so I don't have to make a set for myself. Obviously you and others have proven this is worth the effort to have these vs going at it without.
I will take a look and see if I still have them. I might have given them to someone else after I sold my u320 but can't remember if I'm being honest
Memory jog if it helps Replacing air bags (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=46368.msg471566#msg471566)
Did the bags on my 36ft 2001 U320..... didn't have to make any "special" tools.... but did buy a 90degree impact from HF, to do the shocks, which need to be removed/replaced for easier access to the airbags.
Thanks for at least looking. Let me know
I'll be doing the shocks also.
Ive got more tools than several shops, BUT as Scott made these tools special for such a job, be nice to be able to use them if there around,.
Mike, If you don't get the tools and don't want to make a set, I did all eight bags and was fairly easy with standard tools if you remove the wheel skirts. The only tool I needed that I didn't have was an 1 1/8" ratchet end wrench. With the skirts off, you can access all 8 bags. Removing the skirts is pretty straight forward. Biggest issue is just carefully remove the aluminum strip as it bends easily.
Air Bag Replacement (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=45091.msg457901#msg457901)
Hum, with those tools you dont need to remove shocks or the skirts. I'm just lazy I guess.
Your probably right Scott that it's easier with the tool set. I was in a bind and couldn't wait for the tools, therefore went the skirt route. But it wasn't that bad of a job, but I didn't have anything to compare it to. Either way, was just happy to get em done.
Sorry guys, no luck. I must've handed them off to a different member. I will try to scroll back through my emails and for messages to figure out who it was.
I thought I had first chance to buy them back if you ever sold them
Thanks for all the input and feedback guys. Yes had given thought to the skirt approach as well, and may still go that route.
Just save the passenger front for last, you will be smarter by the time you get to it.
Tom
That's actually pretty good advice. I agree
I see some suggest replacing the nuts. Anyone know the exact sizes I need to order?
1 1/8 ratchet wrench also seems to come recommended. I only have up to 1" so need to get one of those from HF or similar.
If you have a 1/2" drive 1 1/8" socket and a long flexible 1/2" drive ratchet it will work, at least it did for me.
I did my bags and don't remember needing any special tools. But I do have a very large selection of unique tools to choose from (swivels, gear wrench, adapters, crowsfoot, etc).
Mike, I don't remember the 1 1/8" nut size, but as Scott stated earlier, there is really no need for lock nuts on those. I picked up the nuts at NAPA. the bottom nuts I believe were standard thread 1/2"> just used a nut and lock washer on those.
If you do go the ratcheting end wrench route, get a fine tooth ratchet, it'll make it much easier.
Also, when removing the old bags, (but only if you don't plan on saving them)you can loosen the big nut a few turns, then get under the nut with a sawzall and zip em right off. It saves a lot of time trying to get the big lock nuts off.
Yeah I have all that, but a few have mentioned using a ratchet box wrench, I guess on the top nuts. That I don't have.
Yes I read DSD post on the useless locknuts, was just planning to replace all of them. My OE bags still look quite good, but replacing due to age. I dont see where many care to have any used ones, so other than keeping maybe 1 of them as an emergency spare, might just cut them out as you mention. I'll open one up next day or two and just go to Tractor supply and buy up a bunch of whatever fits top and bottom.
When I did mine I had to make a special to remove the air elbow but the tools Scott made would make
the job easier.
Another technique may be to hit the nylock with a propane torch to melt the lock-nut material. Obviously, be careful.
With that said, I don't remember the locknuts being that difficult to remove or install.
I was looking at the air bag yesterday and I thought that when first welding in the air bag platforms
why the weren't put in with the air lines facing the axels then there would only have one nut hard to
get at.
That was done to protect the air line from damage from something thrown up by the tires.
On my coach I replaced the shocks and air bags. What I remember being the hardest part of the job was getting to the nut on the front of the passenger side front air bag and the air line fitting. I wound up cutting the rubber off the air bag. The other thing I remember is the nuts and bolts on the shocks had metal self locking nuts and some very powerful locktite. They were extremely hard to get off with the tools I had. From memory I think I didn't have room to get a big impact on some of them. I did eventually get it done. But I'm very stubborn.
Tom
Protecting the air lines makes sense to me. If you have a blow out separating the air lines from a slinging tire carcass just makes sense. Also mentioned earlier was to remove the nylock. They were friction lock nuts and that is why I used a tap to remove the locking device. I also used a corrosion preventive material on the threads.
Still working on this project, as have several things going on. But completed the entire rear of the coach in 2 days time. Removed the fender skirts, which was not that hard, BUT the outside trim strip was glued near the entire length which complicated/slowed the removal. Also the top of each skirt also had about 6-8 screws across the top of it, behind the Trim strip and in addition to the screws in the trim strip. While I had the skirts off and easier to get to, they went on body panel stands and got buffed out to a nice shine and fresh coat of marine wax before I reinstalled.
No big issue getting any of the bag bolts out. ONLY the 3/4 air nipple stud on mine were using the locknut, the rest were using standard nuts with lock washers. Like DSD, I used a 3/4-16 tap to cut the thread locks out of the lock nuts and went back with lock washers. The large 3/4" bolts on the shocks were the only thing where I had to dig out my large Earthquake impact gun to remove. They had and went back with lock nuts.
Back at it later today with the front. Skirts and tires will be coming off. Tires coming off as I have, and want to add the helper springs to the calipers.