Skip to main content
Topic: Rebuilding an air dryer? (Read 685 times) previous topic - next topic

Rebuilding an air dryer?

After checking around, we decided replacing our air dryer was a better option for us than trying to fix ours. We have the old one in a box.  Can these be rebuilt and if so, does anyone close by want to try, or should we just dump it?  We will be in Quartzsite in a few days but don't want to haul it around much after that.
Thanks!

Mike
"KEEP ON TRUCKIN'"
1999 CAI-3600 U320
Mike, Karen & Butterfly

Re: Rebuilding an air dryer?

Reply #1
After checking around, we decided replacing our air dryer was a better option for us than trying to fix ours. We have the old one in a box.  Can these be rebuilt

If it's a Haldex/Midland, they're worth about a $99 core charge at NAPA.  They are valuable as a rebuildable item.  For some reason I seem to recall reading there aren't any new ones being made, only rebuilt units available these days. 
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Rebuilding an air dryer?

Reply #2
After checking around, we decided replacing our air dryer was a better option for us than trying to fix ours. We have the old one in a box.  Can these be rebuilt and if so, does anyone close by want to try, or should we just dump it?  We will be in Quartzsite in a few days but don't want to haul it around much after that.
Thanks!

Mike
Have you replaced the whole unit, and if so, who did it? Our CAT needs some air dryer work, as well.
Possibly different engine?
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Rebuilding an air dryer?

Reply #3
Mike, If you are giving it away I would love it as a spare. The only problem is that we will not be at Q untill around the 7th feb but I am sure Brad Metzger who will be in your area soon will pick it up and look after it till we get to meet him at Tonopah or?
I guess it is the Midland Haldes Pure Air unit ?
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Rebuilding an air dryer?

Reply #4
Mike,  Come on in, lots of room...  We may be interested in your air-dryer and are already in Quartzsite.
See you all,
Barry & Cindy

Re: Rebuilding an air dryer?

Reply #5
First come first served Barry !!! he he  ^.^d
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Rebuilding an air dryer?

Reply #6
@ Michelle - Thanks for the heads up on the  core charge from NAPA which is where I bought the replacement air dryer.

@ Mike - We lost air pressure going into Temecula, CA and called Coach-Net who sent out a mobile mechanic. The mechanic found that the air governor was leaking big time which he replaced. That didn't fix the problem. He determined it was the air dryer and by-passed the air dryer so I could get back on the road because it was late afternoon and I wouldn't be able to get a replacement until the next day. We went on to Borrego Springs and I ordered a new air dryer from NAPA that FOT recommended as a replacement (Haldex PURest part # DA 34100) and a local mechanic in Borrego Springs replaced it. It is something I could have done if I had been at home with all my tools. It is not that hard a job.
A word of warning, the replacement is a little bigger and had to be moved a little which required drilling a couple of new bolt holes.

@ John - It is a Midland Haldes Pure Air and if NAPA doesn't give me a core rebate as Michelle suggested, it is yours.

Cheers all,

Mike
"KEEP ON TRUCKIN'"
1999 CAI-3600 U320
Mike, Karen & Butterfly

Re: Rebuilding an air dryer?

Reply #7
well first I hope you do get the core charge as every bit helps, but if not then thank you.
I will make arrangements with you should it be necessary if you could emeail me at the time.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Rebuilding an air dryer?

Reply #8
I ordered a new air dryer from NAPA that FOT recommended as a replacement (Haldex PURest part # DA 34100) and a local mechanic in Borrego Springs replaced it. It is something I could have done if I had been at home with all my tools. It is not that hard a job.

A word of warning, the replacement is a little bigger and had to be moved a little which required drilling a couple of new bolt holes.

For others, in the past many of us have replaced our Pure Air Plus with a remanufactured unit, DA33100X.  At least for us, purchased from NAPA, it was indistinguishable from new and came from Haldex/Midland (rather than "bubba's reman shop").  Cost (after getting core charge refunded) was roughly equivalent to buying the major and minor rebuild kits and doing your own rebuild (plus the reman'd one has everything new, including the heater).

It could be that these factory remanufactured units are becoming more scarce, thus the recommendation from FT for a new DA34100)
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

 

Re: Rebuilding an air dryer?

Reply #9
I found out today according to NAPA there is no core rebate, so the air-dryer is yours John. I will be in Quartzite Sunday. I'll give it to Metzger when I see him.

Cheers,

Mike
"KEEP ON TRUCKIN'"
1999 CAI-3600 U320
Mike, Karen & Butterfly