Airbag leak

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Airbag leak

November 04, 2021, 01:06:58 am

So I'm not so good at using the search function, so I have a question. Long story short, I have a very small leak in my driverside most aft airbag. I can lightly put my finger over it and it stops the airflow.
I have a 2004 U320 40'. I found the leak on Sunday after coming back from California to Mesa AZ, I came to this forum and read up on how to change out the airbag. I went to FinditParts.com ordered 2 airbags. They came today and about an hour into doing the swap, I came to the conclusion that it's a bigger job than I'm up for. So I called my local repair shop and found out that they can get me in sometime in the middle of December.

So my question is, can I use some Shoe Gue or some other adhesive to do a temporary patch? Or maybe even drill a small hole and do a plug like I've done on car tires many times, mostly in my youth?

The coach is operable, but an ounce of prevention is worth a lot of other heavy things....I don't really know that quote, but you probably get the Idea.

Thanks for any help.

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #1 – November 04, 2021, 04:41:08 am

If the shop is not too far I would try and get there on the slow roads and not worry about the pinhole,would also strongly advise
getting 6 more airbags and have all new ones,pay now or pay later,plus they are priced good.

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #2 – November 04, 2021, 07:03:32 am

Be careful driving coach uneven, windshield damage could happen. I have not personally used tire plugs, but people have in an emergency.
I agree with John, consider doing all the bags. Maybe not now, but something to consider soon.
Ours is a 97, although none leaked, and they looked really good, I did two at a time over two years. Peace of mind.

Chris

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #3 – November 04, 2021, 08:55:29 am

Quote from: David and Rita – November 04, 2021, 01:06:58 am

I have a very small leak in my driver side most aft airbag. I can lightly put my finger over it and it stops the airflow.
So my question is, can I use some Shoe Gue or some other adhesive to do a temporary patch? Or maybe even drill a small hole and do a plug like I've done on car tires many times, mostly in my youth?

Where is the hole (leak) located on the bag? Is it on the part that bends when the bag inflates and deflates (this is common)? Or is it on the straight side of the bag (this is less common)? The potential success of a temporary repair might depend on the placement of the leak.

There are anecdotal references on this Forum to members making temporary repairs on air bags. The construction of the bag is similar to the sidewall on a tire. It would seem possible (to me) that a tire plug repair might hold in the straight side of the bag. I would have much less confidence in a plug placed on the part of the bag that flexes when the bag pressure changes (like when you drive down the road).

Have you looked into the possibility of having a mobile mechanic do the job where the coach is parked?

Below are a couple references to making temp repairs on a bag:

Airbags on 03 U295

Driving with a deflated air bag?

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #4 – November 04, 2021, 09:03:00 am

Link below to a post with photos showing the air bag construction:

What did you do to your coach today VI

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #5 – November 04, 2021, 10:26:26 am

Just go down to your local autoparts store and by a tubeless tire repair kit. Raise the coach, block the frame so the bag stays up when you let out the air (lower the coach). If necessary, drill a hole where the leak is, use the round rasp tool, put the supplied glue on the rubber plug, push at least half of the long rubber plug into the hole, pull the tool back out, cut off the excess sticking out of the bag.

Pierce

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #6 – November 04, 2021, 11:01:51 am

I'd rather roll the dice with a random truck shop putting a new bag in than a tire patch kit. Waiting to have a qualified shop put all new bags in and upgrading your shocks at the same time, would be the best scenario.

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #7 – November 04, 2021, 11:16:18 am

Don't forget you have a unlimited supply of new filtered air to replace what you lost. Pin hole leak that is blowing or just bubbling? Definitely be aware of your leak and drop bags when you shut down to prevent excessive chassis loads. There is a possibility that the hole is between the plies and actually not a straight threw failure unless you know for sure there was external damage. They are all dated the same and personally i would replace them all at once, possibly over a month but the dates would be close.
Scott

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #8 – November 04, 2021, 11:18:44 am

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – November 04, 2021, 10:26:26 am

Just go down to your local autoparts store and by a tubeless tire repair kit. Raise the coach, block the frame so the bag stays up when you let out the air (lower the coach). If necessary, drill a hole where the leak is, use the round rasp tool, put the supplied glue on the rubber plug, push at least half of the long rubber plug into the hole, pull the tool back out, cut off the excess sticking out of the bag.

Pierce

Tire plugs when used on tires are much easier to install with a inflated tire and quite difficult on a flat tire. First hand knowledge.
Scott

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #9 – November 04, 2021, 12:47:13 pm

Thank you for all the replies. The coach is drivable, the air leak is such that it still takes a couple of hours to leak out most of the air. I'm driving down the road the compressor keeps the airbags full and cycles as normal. That being said, I know if I try to go to long the leak only get worse.
The leak is in the flexible part of the airbag, there is slight dry rotting in that area. I don't believe it's a good idea to put a plug in that part of the bag. I'm afraid making a whole larger could make it fall apart. So I'll have to think about this some more, I have a trip next weekend that would take the coach 200 miles there and back.

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #10 – November 26, 2021, 04:06:23 pm

For temporary fix I removed the airline on the leaking bag and put your slime into it. I ran the coach to push the slime into the leak. Then I shut down the coach and let it set. It sealed the hole till bag can be replaced
.

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #11 – November 26, 2021, 04:07:17 pm

I put tire slime into it. Reinstalled the air line.

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #12 – November 26, 2021, 04:41:17 pm

Can you take a picture

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #13 – November 26, 2021, 10:14:44 pm

Quote from: Tnalaskan – November 26, 2021, 04:07:17 pm

I put tire slime into it. Reinstalled the air line.

So when you drive down the road you have constant changes being made by ride height valve and air pressure changing to the air bag. If you get a small amount of tire sealer/vapor into the air system it will do it's job and attempt to seal what ever it can like it's supposed to. This will not be beneficial to six packs and cleaning it out of the lines will be a pain. Yes I may put tire plugs in to drive home, but understand without the slime you have a unlimited supply of replacement air and if the compressor can stay ahead of the loss I would prefer not to contaminate the system with a tire sealer. Proactively if the one bag leaking is the same age as the others and they are 20 years old I would change out the set. Will be good for another twenty years. That being said, DWMYH, it is your coach.
Scott

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #14 – November 26, 2021, 10:24:13 pm

I would not put slime in ANY part of the air system. I could elaborate but there should be no need for it.

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #15 – November 26, 2021, 11:10:16 pm

Quote from: dsd – November 04, 2021, 11:18:44 am

Tire plugs when used on tires are much easier to install with a inflated tire and quite difficult on a flat tire. First hand knowledge.
Scott

I've always let the air out, use a cord or cordless drill to make the hole the right size for the plug, used the supplied rasp, bent the plug in half, coated it with the supplied glue, inserted it with the tool, pulled the tool our and cut off the remaining rubber. They always work like a charm. I've done 2 in the last two or three months.

With a small nail, it's impossible to force the doubled plug and tool into where the hole was.

Slime seems like a terrible idea for a tire or air bag.

Pierce

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #16 – November 27, 2021, 09:53:39 am

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – November 26, 2021, 11:10:16 pm

Slime seems like a terrible idea for a tire or air bag.

Pierce

But nothing is better in tubes. Just purchased a set last week.
Amazon.com : Slime 30088 Bike Inner Tube Puncture Sealant, Extra Strong,...
Pierce don't be a hater, give it a try. Aired up tires for plug installation and tubes with slime. If you are suck in the middle of the desert with a new Discount tire and plug it, make sure to remove the plug before getting it repaired, they will not repair a plugged tire any more do to liability. And they make more money.
Scott

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Re: Airbag leak

Reply #17 – November 27, 2021, 10:14:03 am

Quote from: Dub – November 26, 2021, 10:24:13 pm

I would not put slime in ANY part of the air system. I could elaborate but there should be no need for it.

You don't know until you know though, so it's worth explaining.

That single airline going in to the bag is also how the bag exhausts air so any residual gunk can get blown back into the system as the bag is pushing air out. The outgoing air either exits through the manifold ("six pack") or via the manifold and through a ride height control valve. In both cases, they're mechanical parts moving to open/close the airway. Any residual gunk can jam those valves up or prevent them from sealing properly and then you have a bigger mess on your hands. I'd try to limp to a truck shop and get a new bag before committing to dealing with that.

I unknowingly drove over 1600 miles on three leaky bags when I first got my coach.

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #18 – November 27, 2021, 10:26:42 am

Yes, for tubes it's great but not many tubes these days except in aircraft, motorcycles, ATVs and wheel barrows. In a tubeless tire, the tire shops hate it as it takes forever to remove from the inside. I've left the tire on and just pushed the plug in on occasion but most of my leaks are the kind where you come out of the house and a tire looks low.

With a big truck or RV, most tire manufactures recommend the tire be replaced if it's gone flat and the weight of the coach/truck has been on it.

And what exactly is a "discount tire?" All tires wiil have DOT in the side of the tire and if you go to the NHTSA's site at Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment | NHTSA , you can see if there are recalls or complaints about the tire you are interested in. Anyone can make a complaint. And everyone should check their "Goodfire" tire for complaints before buying.

I would never dream about paying list price for a tire so I guess I'm one of those "discount tire" people. And I'm a big believer in the proverb, "a fool and his money are soon parted." Good definition here: a fool and his money are soon parted - Wiktionary. Advertising does bring them out of the woodwork.

Pierce

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #19 – November 27, 2021, 10:37:05 am

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – November 27, 2021, 10:26:42 am

And what exactly is a "discount tire?"

A "discount tire" is a tire you buy from Discount Tire.

Scott actually typed "Discount" with a capital "D". I assume he meant a tire he purchased from Discount Tire...which just happens to be my favorite (local) tire store.

Discount Tire | Tires and Wheels for Sale | Online & In-Person

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #20 – November 27, 2021, 10:48:49 am

Seeing that Slime is mentioned here, it is water soluble. I have had nothing but good luck using it. Later when I have time I remove the tire, rinse it out and put a patch on the inside.

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #21 – November 27, 2021, 10:55:51 am

Quote from: craneman – November 27, 2021, 10:48:49 am

Seeing that Slime is mentioned here, it is water soluble.

Which also means it is part water. I have used it in tubeless ridey mower tires, and later found the (cheap) steel wheels badly rusted (inside) when tire was eventually removed.

I now only use the Slime filled tubes to thorn proof my "tubeless" mower tires. Prevents the steel wheel rust problem

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #22 – November 27, 2021, 11:01:09 am

Slime in an airbag sounds real problematic to me. Great in tires

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #23 – November 27, 2021, 11:03:23 am

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – November 27, 2021, 10:37:05 am

A "discount tire" is a tire you buy from Discount Tire.

Scott actually typed "Discount" with a capital "D". I assume he meant a tire he purchased from Discount Tire...which just happens to be my favorite (local) tire store.

Discount Tire | Tires and Wheels for Sale | Online & In-Person

Yes mine too Discount tire has been outstanding and I'm a loyal customer. I was really surprised to hear they voided my warranty because the near new Firestone tire had been plugged. I laughed it off and drove home and pulled the 18' tire off the wheel and patched myself. Still runs down the interstate 10 times a week without issue. Ever changing world we live in.
Scott

Re: Airbag leak

Reply #24 – November 27, 2021, 12:36:11 pm

Quote from: Elliott – November 27, 2021, 10:14:03 am

You don't know until you know though, so it's worth explaining.

That single airline going in to the bag is also how the bag exhausts air so any residual gunk can get blown back into the system as the bag is pushing air out. The outgoing air either exits through the manifold ("six pack") or via the manifold and through a ride height control valve. In both cases, they're mechanical parts moving to open/close the airway. Any residual gunk can jam those valves up or prevent them from sealing properly and then you have a bigger mess on your hands. I'd try to limp to a truck shop and get a new bag before committing to dealing with that.

I unknowingly drove over 1600 miles on three leaky bags when I first got my coach.

You're right.

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