DIY Air Bag Change

Topic: DIY Air Bag Change (Read 2167 times) previous topic - next topic

DIY Air Bag Change

March 04, 2015, 10:05:07 am

On a scale of 1 to 10 (hardest) how difficult is a DIY air bag change? Or is this job better left to the pros?

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #1 – March 04, 2015, 10:14:52 am

Quote from: Old Hippie – March 04, 2015, 10:05:07 am

On a scale of 1 to 10 (hardest) how difficult is a DIY air bag change? Or is this job better left to the pros?

Here are the procedures of a few that have done it and the difficulty factor. Air Bags
You be the judge

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #2 – March 04, 2015, 10:19:33 am

Good Morning - I changed my two rear air bags and it was not difficult. It was a "5" at most. However, the "right" tools were essential for an easy go-of-it. In my case, the right tools were essentially a 1/2" air impact drive gun and socket set. Had I not had access to them, I would not have been able to "break" the nuts loose. Two other recommendations - oil and clean the visible threads of the bolts securing the air bags for easier removal and with no potential thread damage; also, when physically removing the air bags from their mounted position after bolt removal, be extremely careful not to lose control of it and drop it (like I did) which in my case dented and ruined the existing air line fitting leading to an unnecessary and time consuming search for a replacement.

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #3 – March 04, 2015, 10:45:54 am

Haven't done it myself, but the PO of my coach did it, so I got the story from him. Difficulty is directly related to your particular coach model, so look for recommendations from same-year-model owners. On some coaches it is a fairly simple R&R, but may require specialized tools. On other coaches, I've seen removing body panels as part of the recommended procedure...a bit more complicated. Good luck!

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #4 – March 04, 2015, 12:43:48 pm

I think that changing the Airbags on an American Coach Vs. an 8 bag Foretravel is apples and oranges. Even different model 8 bag Foretravels have significantly different difficulty factors. The hard part is when the air fitting is against a bulkhead. The nuts on those hollow air fittings are lock nuts that fight you every millimeter of the way. I think were I to do it again, I would take off the fenders... and if you do do it, taking the wheels off is a big help and doing the air bags is the best time to change the shocks as well. In fact, if you want a taste of what the fitting nut on the air bags is like, take off any accessible shock bolt. The nuts are the samosa the ones on the air bag fittings, as I recall.
Don

Quote from: JeffOnLakeConroe – March 04, 2015, 10:19:33 am

Good Morning - I changed my two rear air bags and it was not difficult. It was a "5" at most. However, the "right" tools were essential for an easy go-of-it. In my case, the right tools were essentially a 1/2" air impact drive gun and socket set. Had I not had access to them, I would not have been able to "break" the nuts loose. Two other recommendations - oil and clean the visible threads of the bolts securing the air bags for easier removal and with no potential thread damage; also, when physically removing the air bags from their mounted position after bolt removal, be extremely careful not to lose control of it and drop it (like I did) which in my case dented and ruined the existing air line fitting leading to an unnecessary and time consuming search for a replacement.

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #5 – March 04, 2015, 01:13:20 pm

Here is how we dealt with (photos and all) our two front air bag's very difficult hose fittings:
Air Bags Replaced - 1997 U270

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #6 – March 04, 2015, 01:45:31 pm

I just got done doing. After trying to remove 1 rear one I took the fender off. Took little over 2 hrs to change out all 8. Cleaning up slicone and re installing the trim took the longest time

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #7 – March 04, 2015, 02:30:46 pm

Nice posts above. Turbojack, 2 hours is excellent time but requires the correct tools as above posts. Liquid Wrench on the nuts a day ahead speeds things along. The new bags don't come with nuts so nice to get your favorite type ahead of time.

If you have a leak, a tubeless plug kit may get you down the road until you can change them out. Naturally, if one goes bang, the plug won't work.

Pierce

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #8 – March 04, 2015, 06:09:50 pm

Quote from: turbojack – March 04, 2015, 01:45:31 pm

I just got done doing. After trying to remove 1 rear one I took the fender off. Took little over 2 hrs to change out all 8. Cleaning up silicone and re installing the trim took the longest time

I had posted above on my phone.

The 2 hrs was removing fenders and replacing air bags. Took me about 4-6 hrs to clean sides of coach & trim pieces up and to re silicone back on. Before I put fenders back on I checked for air leaks and found none.

I had to cut one 90 adapter on the passenger side front air bag. I had to stop at a hose place to get the correct fitting that would work with the old cap on the hose since I did not want to replace that since very little room to get there.

I did use some stuff to clean and loosen up nuts before I started to remove. When I get home I will look and see what it was called. I have never used anything that worked as good as that stuff did. I replaced all the nuts and lock washers on all of the bolts except for the one nut that went on the air intake. That one I sprayed with my cleaner and made the nut look new. Took all of the rust off of it.

Tools I used were Impact with long extension, Breaker bar for the top nut to break loose, air ratchet, wrench and one crow foot to remove/replace the air 90's Also screw gun to remove the 10,000 screw to get the side trim and fenders off and back on.

Would I tackle again? In a heart beat.

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #9 – March 04, 2015, 08:57:09 pm

Nice to see someone else removes fenders to make a job easier. Not hard to do is it? Plus you get to have a good look around for other problems.
JohnH

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #10 – March 04, 2015, 09:00:58 pm

When I replaced my tag axle air bag I can't remember what happened but I had to get a new air line compression fitting from lowes. The old one was damaged in removal. It was stuck good if I recall correctly so I had to take a wrench to the air line and damaged things. The job is simple in theory but those top bolts really really really really fought me. There was mucho cursing and tool throwing.

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #11 – March 05, 2015, 08:05:01 am

I had all 8 of mine changed last year at Josam Frame and alignment. Between his price for the bags and what I could get them for, it cost me an additional $400.00, for me hardly worth slithering around under the coach, and the skinned knuckles, but I'm getting old so I pick and choose my battles with the coach. In one day out the next, no extra holes cut, no panels removed. I run a large vehicle repair shop and have the ability to do it, but we almost always send out suspension work on our big trucks. If you have time and the equipment they are not hard do except for the 2 front ones. I looked on the internet at prices for the bags (most truck places do not stock that bag). You might check with you local truck suspension shop and see what they will do them for.

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #12 – March 05, 2015, 08:46:20 am

I am with Bruce, had mine done at Bernd's, the two hard front bags, were accessed thru the dock light mount hole, that and the right tools, was doable.
Love the 1-10 scale, it all depends on ones ability, some a 1 would be a 10+ for another.

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #13 – March 05, 2015, 09:55:25 am

thanks all. I spent some time yesterday looking at the air bags (at least what I could see) and it looks like a 7 or 8 degree of difficulty for me. What got me to thinking about this change was the front air bags seem to squeak when they flex during driving. I did not see any exposed cords or large cracks in the bags. So, I think I will wait on this until I can see more reasons to change them.
At least I understand what is involved now thanks to you guys and will probably have it done.
Pick your projects!

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #14 – March 05, 2015, 10:54:19 am

You should change at least one airbag yourself just so you'll know how. It's not difficult. You should carry a new airbag with you if you think your airbags are getting bad. You'll only blow one airbag at a time. I've never heard of anyone blowing two airbags at once. You can easily change the bad airbag yourself in the campground or in a parking lot if you have a new one with you. I've changed all my rear airbags myself and I didn't need impact wrenches or any additional leverage. The bolts came off easily and I didn't damage any fittings. I took my fenders off to get to the airbags, which wasn't difficult either. I think you should do at least one airbag, see how easy it is, then feel guilty about paying someone else to do the rest of them while forever wondering if they did a good job.

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #15 – March 05, 2015, 03:57:48 pm

Anybody got suggestions for a reputable online source for air bags?

I've found decent prices at:

Stengel Bros
TruckComponentsOnline
SDTruckSprings

Anybody dealt with any of these? Good/bad??

Better suggestions?

I'm looking for the two tag axle bags Goodyear #1R11-039.

FOT want $291 each. Online places are at least $100 cheaper, but who knows who you're dealing with.

Thanks

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #16 – March 05, 2015, 04:47:48 pm

SD Truck Springs sell the bags for a good price. They deal with truck fleet owners and can't mark the bags up like RV places can. They include shipping also. Don't pay extra for absolutely nothing. Treat yourself to dinner instead.

Pierce

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #17 – March 05, 2015, 07:27:59 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – March 05, 2015, 04:47:48 pm

SD Truck Springs sell the bags for a good price.

Pierce

That is where I purchased our eight air springs last year. Shipping is free, good deal.

Roland

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #18 – March 05, 2015, 08:05:50 pm

Call your local Fleet Pride Store, they are pretty good about having a variety of parts for trucks.
Gary B

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #19 – March 05, 2015, 08:24:09 pm

Thanks guys. Air bags ordered from sdtrucksprings.

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #20 – March 06, 2015, 01:20:33 am

Jim,

You will be surprised how fast you get them. When they took my order, they told me exactly how many of that model was in stock. They probably sell a thousand air bags for every one a RV dealer sells.

Once I had the safety in place, I used the black vinyl cap by putting down a blanket, putting a knee on a bag to collapse the bag, putting the larger of the black vinyl caps on the hollow air feed stud and then putting it in place before air could leak in. With the bag still compressed, it will go into place in just several seconds.

Once they are all done and you have pressurized the system, take a spray bottle with soap and check all the fittings you worked with for small leaks.

Pierce

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #21 – March 06, 2015, 08:05:34 am

I'm not sure I recommend the method used to remove a couple of my air bags by the mech. in MI , but I didn't object either.
As mentioned, there are two bolts on the top and two on the bottom. The ones facing the tires are (relatively) easy to get at. The ones on the other side of the stringer, not so much, especially the top ones.

Once the easy (?) three were out and the top back loose he used a Saw-zall with a long metal blade to cut the last ones.
On re-installation he used a good sized dab of Never-Seize and the new bolts and washers I had previously purchased (Fastenal).
New air elbows.

The coach air leaks off in a couple of days but the leveling system is rock solid.

My costs Air Bag Replacement Cost (maybe)
HTH

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #22 – March 06, 2015, 10:10:33 am

How do you go about finding the part number for the air bags? Did all Foretravels use the same part number?

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #23 – March 06, 2015, 10:12:34 am

I just looked at the link Barry had posted and I answered my own question. Thanks.

Re: DIY Air Bag Change

Reply #24 – March 07, 2015, 11:43:52 am

I bought my spare bag from SD truck springs. They pretend to have the tag axle bag but nobody does except 6 week lead special order from Good year and Foretravel and Newell carry it.

Affiliate Notice