Air Bag Age

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Air Bag Age

February 23, 2017, 08:42:35 am

How old are your air bags ?
OR
How old were your air bags when you changed them ?

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #1 – February 23, 2017, 09:09:06 am

FWIW,
I have a 96 and just changed them. They were weather cracked pretty good. I had not had a problem that I knew about. I just knew it would be a problem and felt that I had been lucky and did not want to push it that much more than I had already. I guess 20 years are pretty good. Best of travels!

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #2 – February 23, 2017, 09:11:35 am

Mine are original. And are still fine.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #3 – February 23, 2017, 09:17:06 am

I changed mine after 17 years. The peace of mine was worth it. I also changed the shocks at the same time.

Jason

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #4 – February 23, 2017, 09:30:43 am

At 20 years of age, mine had cord and bulges, changed all.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #5 – February 23, 2017, 09:40:13 am

I replaced mine at 17 yrs. They were not leaking, but bits of rubber were falling off and I could see the cord in places. The bags (air springs) probably last longer if the coach is stored inside. I did not want to deal with a problem on the road. About $1250 for the bags in 2012.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #6 – February 23, 2017, 09:47:46 am

Same. Mine lasted 18ish years. Rears were a lot more worn than the fronts, but replaced them all with new firestone from the michigan truck spring website recommended here.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #7 – February 23, 2017, 10:24:50 am

Did mine a week ago at 17yrs old. Only one had some chord showing but as my pictures showed it was still good for a few more years. I think these are one issue not to worry about as some do, lots of life in them.
The fronts are still good and I will most probably leave them alone for now.
JohnH

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #8 – February 23, 2017, 10:41:12 am

97 U295...all look like fine. Don't know if they were ever replaced. Shocks have been.The coach was stored inside most of it's life in California.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #9 – February 23, 2017, 10:55:12 am

Replaced my '99 last year they still looked good and were not leaking. Because my '96 Monaco had a failure at 16 years I was just being proactive.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #10 – February 23, 2017, 11:12:53 am

Replaced our 1999 originals this week. No apparent leaks but a lot of cracking, flaking, decided we didn't want to push our luck. Like Jason said, peace of mind.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #11 – February 23, 2017, 12:10:14 pm

The pictures JohnH took are very reassuring. The outside of his looked awful - fist-sized open cord on at least one of them, but he sliced it open and the inside looked practically brand new, after 17 years. His pictures also showed how securely those air bags are manufactured. Impressive stuff.

Now if only I could find that thread to share....

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #12 – February 23, 2017, 01:16:42 pm

I've had the back ones replaced, but not the front. I seem to remember the front ones are tougher due to limited access? Do any of you have any good advice or experience to share on changing the front air springs?

Thanks,
Chris

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #13 – February 23, 2017, 01:27:26 pm

My front wore out first

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #14 – February 23, 2017, 02:53:12 pm

Replaced mine last fall along with shocks. No problems just being proactive. The shocks were shot however. Looking at them after the job, nothing wrong that would cause concern. This coach spent most of its life inside.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #15 – February 23, 2017, 03:08:56 pm

What did you do to your coach today VI

Page 3 I think!
JohnH

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #16 – February 23, 2017, 03:21:01 pm

Ours were all replaced by the prior owners at 20 years. PO said they still looked good, but one of them blew out when the coach was just sitting parked in their driveway. No prior warning or problems. No obvious reason for the failure.

I guess every coach will be unique - different history, different storage conditions, etc. No hard and fast rule applies here.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #17 – February 23, 2017, 03:41:24 pm

My 1994 U300 40' was built @ the end of 1993, I have the original air bags still installed, about 64,000 miles on them, They do have some "Checking" around the bottom surface, however being that they are multi-ply I am not going to change them out at this time. My friend that owns a ready mix company with 30+ trucks advised that Without torquing them they should be OK for a couple of more years. So, 2018 or 2019 is my target.... $:-\$

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #18 – February 23, 2017, 08:26:23 pm

Changed ours out last year before our 9000 mile trip out to California and back.
Didnt want to chance a blowout in the middle of nowhere. Over 20'years old, worth it for the peace of mind.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #19 – February 23, 2017, 08:38:32 pm

Thanks for all of the responses! Food for thought.

Now, I'll open another thread for the next question.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #20 – February 23, 2017, 09:25:42 pm

I replaced my rears at 18 years because there were three layers of cords showing due to rubber flacking off.
I replaced the fronts at 19 years for peace of mind, even though they looked OK.
A friend with a 98 Foretravel had one fail when about to travel last year. Did not blow but suddenly leaked very badly.
The rears on a 1996 U320 carry 78 psi and the fronts 48 psi, so rears much more likely to blow.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #21 – February 24, 2017, 11:54:24 am

I had a front bag leaking 3 years ago so I changed them all out.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #22 – February 24, 2017, 12:40:22 pm

Quote from: P. Wyatt Sabourin – February 23, 2017, 09:25:42 pm

The rears on a 1996 U320 carry 78 psi and the fronts 48 psi, so rears much more likely to blow.

Did not know that - thanks for the info!

Chris

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #23 – February 24, 2017, 01:34:30 pm

I think my 89 are original. On the list to replace next. weather checked but no cords showing.

Re: Air Bag Age

Reply #24 – February 24, 2017, 01:46:29 pm

Still riding on my originals, all is well. Been carrying a spare for the past 12 years, maybe I should pick up a fresh one just to be on the safe side.

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