Ride height valve failure

Topic: Ride height valve failure (Read 3586 times) previous topic - next topic

Ride height valve failure

October 30, 2019, 03:30:37 pm

We were on a 2 lane hilly road, no shoulder when I started getting the level system alarm. I saw my travel light was blinking on and off and I felt like I bounced off the front tire a couple times. We almost got on the Natchez Trace by Nashville, TN, but I realized that would be a disaster. I turned around and got back on I40- saw a sign "Specialized Truck repair", got off and went in late Monday afternoon. Determined front ride height valve failing, I could not find a part number so the next morning it was decided to take the old one off and get a replacement. They were very nice- worked me in with all the other truck work they had. New ride height valve installed, fine tuned, test drive- all is well.

This is the first time in 12 years full time and over 100,000 miles on our coach ( since I bought it) that the system failed. I have not noticed any changes with leveling, etc. I change out my air dryer with a factory reman every 3 years, no water or anything showed in tanks or lines. It was a scary time because we could have been stranded in the middle of the Trace or on a hill. I know others have had failures but I am wondering if there is something else to look for or should changing out these leveling valves on a schedule be part of maintenance?

Be safe and cya down the road........................

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #1 – October 30, 2019, 03:48:25 pm

Hans and Marjet has the same failure this summer in a bad spot outside Pittsburgh. After that experience I added new valves to the parts bin. Glad you got back on the road. Safe travels!

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #2 – October 30, 2019, 04:18:59 pm

Thanks Jeff- getting these parts was not hard as they are standard truck parts. My question is whether they should be added to a regular schedule of replacement/ maintenance so we don't have a failure on the road. Example- maybe change them every 10 years/ 100,000 miles- assuming that air system maintenance has been done. If the air system has not been maintained then all bets are off.

Cya down the road....................

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #3 – October 30, 2019, 05:20:14 pm

Quote from: Ted & Karen – October 30, 2019, 04:18:59 pm

Thanks Jeff- getting these parts was not hard as they are standard truck parts. My question is whether they should be added to a regular schedule of replacement/ maintenance so we don't have a failure on the road. Example- maybe change them every 10 years/ 100,000 miles- assuming that air system maintenance has been done. If the air system has not been maintained then all bets are off.

Cya down the road....................

Ted.....to your question about addition to regular maintenance YES..!!! I have a video of my repair @ an emergency pull-out, police and all assisting, but I can't post it (to large)..fortunately I carried a spare and did the repair myself...

Not fun having a break-down.....

H

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #4 – October 30, 2019, 06:17:54 pm

Has anyone tried the 59.80 one on Ebay?

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #5 – October 30, 2019, 07:12:26 pm

I am glad you and Karen are safe. I have three new ones, sooner than later all three will get replaced.

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #6 – October 30, 2019, 07:42:12 pm

When our front ride height valve failed in Canada, we removed vertical control rod, rotated valve to center off and taped it so it would stay in off position. Then manually raised front with HWH to approximate good driving height position, then drove off. We drove for a week or so with this jury-rig until we could find a replacement valve.

Do Not get towed for this condition as towing can cause more problems.

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #7 – October 30, 2019, 07:52:40 pm

After the Hans/Pittsburgh event, last week I had all ride height valves replaced as part of my annual PM+. I kept the originals as back up. 89k mi on the coach and I don't want to do what I saw Hans doing in the side of the interstate. Sorry you had the trouble Ted. Glad it worked out. Got mine at Find-It-Parts for about $103 each. They were the Haldex valves.

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #8 – October 30, 2019, 08:13:06 pm

Quote from: John44 – October 30, 2019, 06:17:54 pm

Has anyone tried the 59.80 one on Ebay?

What about this one?

MPParts | Wabco 464-002-443-0 Leveling Valve | 4640024430

Chinese knock-off?

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #9 – October 30, 2019, 09:03:28 pm

Anyone have a P/N for the non Chinese model?

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #10 – October 30, 2019, 09:31:54 pm

90555105 by HALDEX
90555105 by HALDEX - EGP VALVE 1/4 NPT

Or a cheaper one ... Haldex style ...
Amazon.com: One Haldex Syle Leveling Valve 90555105 for Trucks Trailers 1/4"...
The review is irrelevant.

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #11 – October 30, 2019, 10:20:06 pm

Roger
How hard is it to replace if one weretogo bad while on the road? What tools?
How do you raise the coach while working on it? How do you adjust height?
How many are required?
Going on a long trip to Mexico
Another thing to worry about?

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #12 – October 31, 2019, 01:37:48 am

I replaced mine on my 91 a few days ago. I bought this one. I just used the valve out of the kit. Seems to work fine. I have not driven coach yet but it raises up and down.

Height Leveling Control Air Valve Kit For Haldex KN27000 Freightliner...

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #13 – October 31, 2019, 07:32:55 am

Glenn, I have not done mine yet, there are three, two in the back and one in the front. The rear ones are pretty easy to get at, just in front of the wheels. The front one is in the middle underneath. You would have to raise the coach and block it for this one and probably the rear pair as well. But they are in my spare parts bin just in case.

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #14 – October 31, 2019, 10:54:02 am

The truck repair place got the KN27000 valve as that is what was on the coach- Fleetrite I think. I did not keep the old one since it was bad. I am going to have the other 2 replaced and keep as spares. No guarantees, but the originals held up on our 2001 and I have 167000 miles on our rig now, I guess they held up pretty well.

Hans- yes I read about your on road repair and saw part of the video from your videographer Marjet. Glad you were able to replace it yourself. Watching the tech do the front I realized it was not something I want to try, especially in emergency situation like that. He was a tall skinny guy, got under the coach on his creeper, did work and adjustments without any safety stands. Not me!!

Barry- thanks for the idea about how to jury rig it until getting fixed. You are 100% right about no tow- that is the last thing I want to have done.

Cya down the road......................

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #15 – October 31, 2019, 11:17:30 am

There are quite a few different suppliers and prices mentioned here. How do you determine which to use? How do I find the original part number? $27 to $100......big spread. Roger, there were two linkage kits as extra on the site you provided. Which is the one you would need? I want to get these before our trip into Mexico. Thanks

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #16 – October 31, 2019, 11:21:13 am

Glenn- that was my issue also, too many different numbers. That is why they took the original off and got the same thing, the Haldex. There are probably some of the others that would work, but I would hate to be out in the boonies and find the part I have doesn't work. Best of luck finding the right ones for your coach.

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #17 – October 31, 2019, 11:25:13 am

Hans mentioned before, and I saw when mine were replaced, the Haldex valves have a fitting on the top that allows one to position the 90 degree elbow in the air line to its natural location. I would be looking for that little attribute in my new valve. Maybe it is something that can be transferred?

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #18 – October 31, 2019, 11:36:25 am

Quote from: GleamB – October 31, 2019, 11:17:30 am

There are quite a few different suppliers and prices mentioned here. How do you determine which to use? How do I find the original part number? $27 to $100......big spread. Roger, there were two linkage kits as extra on the site you provided. Which is the one you would need? I want to get these before our trip into Mexico. Thanks

Roger gave you the part number, go back and read the reply. It is not likely that all 3 would go bad at the same time, so 1 spare should be enough. It is a rather simple remove and replace if you are able to get to the valve. Remove the air lines, unfasten the control rod on the valve and remove, then remove the 2 bolts that hold it in place. From experience it is possible to get the rotating part of the valve 180 degrees from where it should be and the valve does not raise the coach to ride height. Good luck on your trip to Mexico. Edit: It could be 90 degrees on the valve.

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #19 – October 31, 2019, 11:59:36 am

Roger.
Thanks for the part #. Just ordered one for a spare and hopefully a 95 U280 uses the same one ?

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #20 – October 31, 2019, 12:18:34 pm

Doug W has replaced his also,think he used the Haldex,any part numbers Doug,thanks.

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #21 – October 31, 2019, 12:31:37 pm

This is interesting- I notice some of the parts are plastic and some are metal- the one that came off my coach was metal and that was what they installed. I have no idea what the difference would be other than cost of manufacturing, longevity, etc......
Thoughts about which one is better or if one is better than the other?

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #22 – October 31, 2019, 12:37:27 pm

This valve worked for my 1992 U280. Ordered by Decarolis Heavy Duty Truck parts: HD90554241. This is probably a Fleet Pride number. Metal and identical to Haldex that was replaced.

jk

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #23 – October 31, 2019, 01:25:43 pm

Quote from: John44 – October 31, 2019, 12:18:34 pm

Doug W has replaced his also,think he used the Haldex,any part numbers Doug,thanks.

Replaced my three valves with a Haldex immediate response from Finditparts.com
3 original ones after 20 plus years failed internally in the same manner.

90555105 by HALDEX - EGP VALVE 1/4 NPT

Re: Ride height valve failure

Reply #24 – October 31, 2019, 04:40:37 pm

Quote from: stump – October 31, 2019, 01:37:48 am

I replaced mine on my 91 a few days ago. I bought this one. I just used the valve out of the kit. Seems to work fine. I have not driven coach yet but it raises up and down.

Height Leveling Control Air Valve Kit For Haldex KN27000 Freightliner...

That kit looks like it includes the valve and linkage.................good find Stump.
I remember a while back some were concerned about the Contitech air bags having a plastic nest on the bottom vs Firestone with
metal. I have the Contitech and no problems yet with the plastic.

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