Changing Airbags

Topic: Changing Airbags (Read 1993 times) previous topic - next topic

Changing Airbags

March 19, 2018, 02:30:39 pm

I am half way thru changing my airbags on my 2001 U320 with IFS.

Question 1.

To get at the hidden bolt on the front rear airbag, it looks like I have to remove rear fender skirts. It looks like I have to remove rubber strip between upper and lower body. How hard is it to remove strip and can you re-install same strip after job is done? Also does the paint stay on or does it crack and break apart.

Question 2.

I also need to remove the front drivers side tire to get at that airbag. I actualy have the right socket, how long a breaker bar do I need to release the nuts?

Thanks Steve

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #1 – March 19, 2018, 02:51:12 pm

The lug wrench lenght depends on how much you weigh. I need about 5 ft.
Double check and make sure you turn the nuts the correct direction.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #2 – March 19, 2018, 04:29:16 pm

I did rear airbags without remove fenders. I just removed the tires. My RV is not rusty, though.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #3 – March 19, 2018, 04:37:34 pm

Steve,
I was able to replace my rears without removing the side panel, I jack up the rear to the highest it would go and had enough room to access all the bolts.
As to the front bag I turn the wheel to the right, again the unit was jack to the highest point.
Remember safety and have the jack and jack stands capable supporting the weight.
Attach is a picture my front air bag sitting without air.
Steve

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #4 – March 19, 2018, 05:07:11 pm

Not sure how your air bags are setup with IFS. For our non-IFS, we cut a step wall hole and the same for the street side to access the air line fitting. The holes saved us from removing painted fenders.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #5 – March 19, 2018, 07:47:24 pm

I am considering purcahasing a 2002 U270 w/ 75K miles..... 16 yrs.....at what age is it recommended to change out air bags as a prevenative maintenance? Present owner says they are original.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #6 – March 19, 2018, 08:55:25 pm

The only reason I replace mine they were weather check and cracking at 15yrs old. Being the coach has been in the Southwest most of its life properly didn't help in the longevity department.
Also what I have learned in the past three years of owning an older Foretravel is that you not repairing the coach rather you are in an everlasting restoring process.
Enjoy, Steve

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #7 – March 19, 2018, 10:31:52 pm

Mine were OE. 30yrs. yeah 2 leaked a bit.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #8 – March 19, 2018, 10:50:33 pm

Quote from: Protech Racing – March 19, 2018, 10:31:52 pm

Mine were OE. 30yrs. yeah 2 leaked a bit.

Sold a 1962 Gmc Bus a couple of years ago, original airbags. 50 years+?
Maybe they built them better in the old days.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #9 – March 19, 2018, 11:27:43 pm

I think I have 3 original oem and one replacement at 29 years. Going to change them all. I think I seen a post where FOT or MOT cuts a new one open to inspect prior to replacing. So qaulity may be slipping.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #10 – March 19, 2018, 11:56:08 pm

My coach is 17 years old. Only the two front airbags (IFS only has two) looked bad, rubber crumbling off the bottom of the bags. On the rear the back two showed some wear and cracked rubber, the front two still look good. I was planning on changing all the bags at once but I may now leave the two that are hard to get off as they look good.

I am kind of afraid of what is running down the road, I showed a trucker friend of mine the front crumbling air bags and he said he would not have bothered to change them yet as there are no cords showing.

Steve

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #11 – March 20, 2018, 12:54:34 am

Mine weren't leaking air just crack and flaking, just did them as a prevenative maintenance. I did cut one open and the inner ply was still good but I do wonder why we can't get more then 10 years on 16 ply tires but some can get thirty years on a two ply airbag.
Steve

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #12 – March 20, 2018, 10:41:52 am

Ours were crumbling also but lasted several more years until one started to leak a bit. Was just no big deal. We even took a couple short trips after the second started to leak. When the cords start showing, you should order up some new ones.

The airbags get a lot of chemicals and road debris thrown up on them. The rear most bags in each wheel well are usually the worst.

Tires may have a 16 ply rating but don't have 16 plies. That's why they use the term "rating." Lots of tires on the road with over 10 years. Recaps are what you usually see on the side of the road.

Pierce

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #13 – March 20, 2018, 12:39:47 pm

Steve, if all you have is some rubber "crumbling" at bottom I would say they have 5 yrs or more left. I had same on rears and when I took them off and cut apart they had lots of life left, but it was done. As Pierce notes "if" they start to leak it is usually just a leak that makes it a pain but not a blow out calamity.
If it was me I would leave the fronts alone When I did the rears a year ago i decided to leave the fronts as less weight on them and mine are the same as yours (condition) by the sounds of it.
If you want me to come and take a look at them to make a second opinion just call me.
JohnH

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #14 – March 20, 2018, 03:31:26 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 20, 2018, 10:41:52 am

Recaps are what you usually see on the side of the road.

Back in the '70's I sold automobile and light truck recaps in coastal South Carolina as part time employment. I picked up a trade journal one day and read that half of all blowouts were new tires.

It doesn't seem to be any different now; Learn About Retread Tire Reliability - Retread vs New Tires

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #15 – March 20, 2018, 03:51:01 pm

Quote from: Travelin' Man – March 20, 2018, 03:31:26 pm

read that half of all blowouts were new tires.

True dat! I blew a front that was getting old, but seemed o.k., when it went, it scared the pucky out of me!

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #16 – March 20, 2018, 09:30:11 pm

Here are a few pics of mine from 2 years ago
They were original (about 21 yr)

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #17 – March 20, 2018, 10:32:52 pm

24.9 years before I got my first hole. Replaced all 8 and reset the clock.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #18 – March 21, 2018, 12:34:36 am

The fronts on my coach were much worse than the one in your picture. The very back two looked about the same and the rear front pair look better. I think I will leave the two alone and have two spare bags ready to install if and when I need to.

I failed to loosed the front lug nuts with a 3 foot long 3/4" drive breaker bar with a three foot extension. Even bouncing on the bar was not enough to break them loose. So i browed a large 1" impact and off them came. Right tool for the job sure makes a difference.

Steve

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #19 – March 22, 2018, 02:15:33 pm

Yup. The fender skirts need to come off, and replacing them is easy. We did all 8 of our airbags (on our 25 year old GV) last summer, it took only a couple of hours with us removing panels to keep ahead of the mechanic who was doing the replacements.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #20 – March 22, 2018, 02:47:11 pm

The problem on a 2001 is the moulding strip that runs the length of the coach has to be removed to get the fender skirt off. As 2001 is the first year of partial body paint the moulding strip would have to be repainted as the 17 year old paint would crack and some would fall off. My brother owns a body shop but I still don't want to go through that whole experience if I don't have to. The only two bags I am not replacing have no visual issue like the other 4 do. Also on my coach there is no need to remove the front fender skirts as the IFS's two airbags are centered behind the wheel.

Steve

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #21 – August 12, 2021, 09:28:35 am

Are the airbags OEM from Foretravel or open market?

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #22 – August 12, 2021, 03:12:32 pm

Open market. Type in air bags in the search window for lots on posts on this.

Re: Changing Airbags

Reply #23 – August 12, 2021, 06:16:00 pm

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Pierce

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