Air Bags, don't look!

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Air Bags, don't look!

March 24, 2019, 10:07:12 pm

Anyhow like April 15 I knew this day would come. It's one of those things that you try not to look at even if your standing right next to it, but I did! I looked at it and it was sad, it's outside was cracked, weather checked, one large portion was missing showing me it's inner skin, mere centimeters (that's Canadian) from blowing it's innards outwards. I was afraid to look at the other seven, but after a couple of oat soda's I felt I should look, and I did! It also was sad.

The inner web tells me I can purchase new bags from SD Truck Springs for 105.00 each, my math tells me that's about 840 dollars and some change. My body's not telling me anything and that also scares me (more oat soda) ! I've read some of the past threads and I've done mechanic work, oil changes, clutches, pulled motors, gear boxes, bodywork etc.. all that stuff when it was fun.

What can I look forward to if I can't talk myself out of this?

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #1 – March 24, 2019, 10:18:00 pm

Air Bags

AS9448 by CONTITECH - CONTITECH AIR SPRING 64286/1R11-150/8563
$737.28

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #2 – March 24, 2019, 10:21:07 pm

It's kinda like you said, some of this stuff ain't fun no more. Our coach came with new airbags when we bought it but one day a few years ago we were at MOT on some other business when they were about to replace the bags on another coach. I decided I wanted to watch. They put a crew on each wheel and in about an hour all the bags were replaced. Looked like the way to do it. Let somebody else that knows what their doing do it. It would have probably taken me 4 days and I would certainly have run out of cuss words. Just a thought.

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #3 – March 24, 2019, 10:30:13 pm

Quote from: Forewheelers – March 24, 2019, 10:21:07 pm

They put a crew on each wheel and in about an hour all the bags were replaced. Looked like the way to do it

That's about two coachbucks.

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #4 – March 24, 2019, 11:22:41 pm

Haven't done one yet but for the 2K,I'll do my own,just do acouple at a time.

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #5 – March 24, 2019, 11:33:36 pm

Quote from: Travelin' Man – March 24, 2019, 10:30:13 pm

That's about two coachbucks.

Ouch, 740.00 versus 2k, more oat soda's. Do I need to remove the tires or is it just easier? If I was to do this myself

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #6 – March 25, 2019, 05:24:34 am

Quote from: Mobius – March 24, 2019, 11:33:36 pm

Do I need to remove the tires or is it just easier?

Eric,

To answer your basic question, on a '97 you can remove and replace the air bags without removing the tires.

The best thing for more room and less skin loss is to just remove the fenders. With the fenders off everything is right in front of you while setting on a 5 gallon bucket. If you don't remove the fenders then second best is to remove the tires. This still leaves the one bag on the right front forward air bag to fight. This is the one that is hid next to the step well. If you remove the docking light that is right next to it this will give you a hand hole to work through but if the air fittings are too tight then you will need plan "C" which reverts back to plan "A" (fender removal)

Mike

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #7 – March 25, 2019, 09:18:37 am

Quote from: Mobius – March 24, 2019, 11:33:36 pm

Ouch, 740.00 versus 2k

It's $740.00 vs $2740.00 (that's US), and I would suggest trying it without removing the fenders. Cut the bags off with a sawzall or something similar to gain added working room and if that doesn't work for you then remove a fender or two. When replacing the nuts use regular nuts with lock washers instead of the OEM steel lock nuts as they will be much easier to put on, and remove if there's a next time.

Also you'll have to remove the shocks which may require an impact wrench for ease of disassembly/assembly. Once you start working on one shock and air bag you'll figure it out.............it ain't rocket surgery.

Let us know how everything works out.

P.S. I didn't remove the tires or the fenders and the job took me about 1-1/2 to 2 hours per bag.

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #8 – March 25, 2019, 09:43:16 am

Thanks Mike and T-Man, great advice and the info I was looking for, time to place the order.

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #9 – March 25, 2019, 11:02:48 am

It's just not a hard job if you prepare and have all the tools ready to go. I strongly recommend a Harbor Freight Air/Hydraulic jack. I was stubborn and didn't remove any fenders. Much easier if you do. They only take a couple of minutes with a electric driver. Air bags are thick, thick, thick so you usually can drive for years after they look terrible but nice to have all new ones. They don't come with hardware so I purchased stainless washers and nuts. I just soaked the stud with LPS/PB Blaster/etc and they all came off nicely. If you have a small air or electric impact, the two bottom nuts come off in less than 5 seconds each. Use the coach air to run the air tools if you don't have a compressor. Here is a link to my DIY installation: U300 Air Bag Installation & Tools - Google Photos

NO NEED TO REMOVE THE TIRES!!! You can see how easy it is in my photo and how much clearance you will have once the coach is jacked up.

Don't pay extra for Firestone bags as Continental Bags are much less expensive and at least as good. Shop around to get the best price with free shipping and no tax. Think I paid about $80 or so delivered for the Conti bags. Prices have gone up a little.

Don't be in a hurry to remove the fitting on the hollow air supply stud. It will come off. It has to be exactly lined up when installing the air supply or the fitting won't screw back on. One degree can make a difference. Use teflon compound rather than tape to seal it. None required for the tube fitting so don't put any on!

Make sure to block the tires and use a safety stand to avoid an accident.

Carry a tubeless tire repair kit with rubber plugs to make a temp repair if you get a leak on the road. You will notice the air pressure cycling faster than normal.

Pierce

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #10 – March 25, 2019, 11:06:47 am

I did two front ones in 1 hr. Did what T man did, cut them off with a sawzall.
They really weren't that bad.
Continental Bags are awesome. Correct length
Made a wood block to limp off the freeway if I loose one.
Purchased a shut off valve for the air line.
Bought extra fittings, nuts and anything else for backup.
Bought a spare bag, and going with it. Others aren't that bad.
Swivel headed ratchet works great
Chris

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #11 – March 25, 2019, 11:19:16 am

I have been a long time proponent of doing things the safe easy way and taking the fenders off to do a few things rather than lying on your back reaching up. I did our rears this way and it was so simple and gave so much clearance to clean and protect the general area around the bags while replacing them. There are now a few more owners who have started to remove fenders and all the comments since have been happy ones. I have a real problem with the comments of the stalwarts who just refuse to understand how easy it makes the job, but that is their perogative.
The fenders come off easy, and go back the same with no sign of ever being off. Done it many times for fixing various issues, and our coach has full body paint, not vinyl stripes.
JohnH

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #12 – March 25, 2019, 11:29:37 am

As Chris posts, don't try to drive with a defective air bag unless it will hold enough pressure to keep the tire off the top of the wheel well. It's Fiberglas and won't take much abuse. You could use a Vice-Grip to carefully pinch off the plastic line but depending on your weight, one bag may not be enough to get wheel well clearance. Best to try and use a tubeless plug to close the hole as they usually fail facing the tire.

Again, get all ducks in a row before starting the job. After the first one, you will only need fifteen minutes for each one.

Once done, you will be eligible for a Meisterbrief in air bag service to put on your wall. In the old country, you can't teach someone else without having it.

Pierce

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #13 – March 25, 2019, 11:31:48 am

Might check with local truck suspension/ spring shop(s). Had all the bags replaced in 2015, 1400.00 all done bags fittings all complete. And I did this kind of work for 38 years, well worth the labor $$. With that said if one was talking 2K in labor now that's another story. Check around before you buy the bags you might be surprised. Just a of how much busted knuckles be worth. 😎

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #14 – March 25, 2019, 02:22:03 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – March 25, 2019, 11:19:16 am

I have a real problem with the comments of the stalwarts who just refuse to understand how easy it makes the job, but that is their perogative.

I'm sorry you have a problem with me John as I didn't join this forum to be a problem to anyone. I have received a lot of help and useful information from the members here (you included) and in return I merely try to help others with my limited knowledge about things.

I would like to say however that the information I gave Mobius did offer him the option of fender removal or not, so I may not fall into the stalwart category.

Peace Bro

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #15 – March 25, 2019, 03:13:04 pm

I did the air spring replacement without fender removal. I was not fun! I made a small access hatch in the step well on the curb side, and in the back of the front compartment directly adjacent to the air fittings on the front air bags. It was still a major PITA because of the steel locknut on the air fittings which makes you fight for every millimeter to loosen and tighten. The forward drive wheel air springs were also challenging for a similar reason. I did the shocks at the same time and their bolts were/are fastened with same kind of distorted thread locknut, but doable with an impact and a lot of motivation. The necessity to hold the bolt head (on the top fastener) to stop it from turning adds to the fun there. I started the project without taking the wheels off, but ended up doing it for the air fittings on the front bags for and aft.

Okay, I did it... but were I to do it again, the fenders are coming off! I will take the drivers side rear fender off when I install the resonator, assuming I live long enough to move it up the project list

I do think it would have been much easier and faster to take the fenders off and it would be a good chance to make sure all the trim fasteners are well sealed and holding. I have spent many hours under the coach welding, grinding painting, etc. and I much prefer to work without laying on my back or side if at all possible.
Don

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #16 – March 25, 2019, 03:18:05 pm

To add th my post, if I was going to do the bags, those fenders would be out of the way. 😎👍

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #17 – March 25, 2019, 03:22:27 pm

We like MOT and used them to change out all 8 air bags a few years ago.
Replaced 8 original (1996) air bags with new. No problems just seemed good to do.
Firestone Air Springs P7000230 181.35+tax x8 = $1570.48 Label from box: FI W01 358 9448 from Tyler Truck Center, Tyler TX Labor 1 hr each = 8 hrs x $99/hr ($110 less 10%) = $792

Here is our air bag picture story:

Air Bags Replaced - 1997 U270

right

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #18 – March 25, 2019, 03:29:45 pm

I will add that at the time I did the bags and shocks, I had other projects going at the same time including rebuilding the bottom of the step well. At the time, I had the step box out and the bottom of the step well demoed so things already looked like a disaster in progress. I thought if I proceeded to remove the fenders, Tys might never recover...

It was at Bill Chaplin's warehouse and she was already suffering from warehouse fever. I think I might have underestimated going in how long we might be there

She is getting used to my powers of underestimation now...
Don

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #19 – March 25, 2019, 04:41:51 pm

Is everyone having "cabin fever" in the dreadful weather arguing about whether to remove the fenders or not to R&R the bags???

I had too much time on my hands so designed a little tool as seen in my photo link that enables me to remove the one hard to get nut fairly quickly on four of the airbags. A fun challenge.

So, the R&R goes like this. Two minutes at most to put the jack in place and lift the coach high enough to slide the bag out and the new one in, another minute to gun the bottom nuts off the bag. A couple more minutes to remove the easy to get top nut and then about five minutes with the special tool to remove the hard to get at nut on four the the bags.

Hey, if you think it's harder without removing the fender, then remove the fender. Not a difficult choice or operation. As I get stiffer in my "golden years", I may pop the finders off if I do it again. On the other hand...

Pierce

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #20 – March 25, 2019, 05:25:20 pm

T man, that was not a dig at you or anyone, just a comment that some just refuse to consider it as they are more than likely are scared about taking them off. When I did my first one I was apprehensive somewhat as I do not think it was ever done by anyone before, or at least not mentioned on forum.
My first one to come off was the rear one for the CAC to come out for repair. From then on I had the knowledge and no worries about doing it again. Some of you are a lot more nimble and able to get into awkward positions, but with my back I cannot do that, due to spine surgery etc.. This is the reason I put the pit in too.
Sorry if I got you upset but it was not intended to demean anyone. I can afford to have a shop do my work but choose not to so I get to learn more.
JohnH

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #21 – March 25, 2019, 08:30:46 pm

Beau Reece replaced ours a year or two ago. He had a helper, and they each took a side. They averaged about 15 minutes per bag for the first seven. The last one took 30 minutes and involved cutting the old bag to pieces. Both of them were involved on that one. In all cases the new air bag went in easier than the old one came out.

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #22 – March 26, 2019, 01:21:45 am

Quote from: Travelin' Man – March 24, 2019, 10:18:00 pm

AS9448 by CONTITECH - CONTITECH AIR SPRING 64286/1R11-150/8563
$737.28

A 15% off Pop Up came up on my screen so that'd be....$626.68....even better!

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #23 – March 26, 2019, 08:31:09 am

Take Chris' advice, Get NEW air fittings, nuts, bolts. and washers
(Fastenal for N,B,W)

Quote from: gracerace – March 25, 2019, 11:06:47 am

...
Bought extra fittings, nuts and anything else for backup.
...
Chris

Re: Air Bags, don't look!

Reply #24 – March 26, 2019, 09:14:40 pm

Quote from: RetiredGuns – March 26, 2019, 01:21:45 am

A 15% off Pop Up came up on my screen so that'd be....$626.68....even better!

A day late and a dollar short, only 5% now so I bought 8 for 710.00 plus free shipping. I'll probably start by leaving the fenders and the wheels on, if it becomes a pita than I'll remove them. Thanks for all the useful information, it's not what I know but who I know that knows!

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