Replacing R & R air bags

[bluebird]

I use a sawsall with a 12" multipurpose blade. Makes short work on getting them out. I've watched videos on how to install them, but I don't have the strength in my hands any more to do this. Going to try a vacuum pump and a heat gun when the time comes.

[EldoradoBill]

I used a pan of hot water and a cheapo hand vacuum pump when installing mine. Removed the valve core and pushed the clear hose from the vacuum pump right over the end of the stem. Some silicone spray and it made an impossible job bearable.

[BrianB]

I read through this topic, and it looks like you are all referring to the front air bags.


Has anyone done a replacement on the rear airbags on a mid-80's P30 chassis? If so, what airbags did you use?


Did these units come stock with rear airbags or are these "add-on" units?

[Rickf1985]

It all depends on which suspension system you have. Jet Ride, Superide, add on bags to leaf springs.

[BrianB]

It all depends on which suspension system you have. Jet Ride, Superide, add on bags to leaf springs.

Mine are attached to the axle, inboard of the leaf springs and up to a bracket on the inside of the frame. They look like they might be add-ons. This P30 chassis is new to me so I'm trying to learn and understand so I can do all this work in 4-1/2 months.

Thanks!

[Rickf1985]

If you have full length leaf springs then the air bags are supplemental. Probably these.

https://www.airliftcompany.com/products/air-springs/loadlifter-5000/

[HamRad Mobile]

Good morning, Brian; 

     The add-on aftermarket air bag kit on the rear axle assembly of my 1987 P37 or P32-52 or "the P30 Motor Home" chassis is very much like the one seen in the link provided by Rick, although mine are of an earlier design.  It has been over 25 years now.  I think that the latest model air bag will still go onto the mounts bolted onto mine.  Then you adjust the air pressure to bring the ride height up to the specified measurement for each side of the rear axle assembly.  Officially, these will not alter the GVWR of your vehicle, even though they do increase the spring rate and weight carrying capacity of the vehicle.  The only good thing is that the maker of the motor home RV did offer these air bag suspension units as an extra cost regular production option (RPO), but I do not know if they also altered the specifications given on the GVWR label when that RPO was installed by them.  It would be interesting to see if that consideration would be persuasive in a courtroom. 

     I was surprised when I weighed each wheel assembly of the motor home, and found that my official tare weight beyond the normal fittings and a full gas tank, came to 740 pounds.  With two (2) people in it, that left 380 pounds.  If I filled the 54 gallon water tank, I was over-weight by 68 pounds right there.  Filling the propane tank with 16 gallons of propane added another 86 pounds or a total of 154 pounds over.  If I added clothes, food, and other things we would normally carry, it only got worse. 

     I think that this is why the previous owner had the AirLift 5000 air bags added to the rear axle, but I do not know if that was done as an RPO, or if they were installed after he had taken delivery, and then found how little weight carrying capacity he really had.  I do know that the motor home does have some Henderson Line-Up suspension system modifications underneath, so it is possible that this was part of an effort to make the motor home RV actually do the work that it was supposed to do. 

     To me it would seem to be logical that if you have increased the spring rates, and the other individual components in the axle assembly are not loaded more than what their manufacturer says they are good to carry, then it would seem to me that the vehicle has had its GVWR increased, even though the label has not changed. 

     I do remember a few years back when the organization I worked for then bought a new man lifting device equipped truck (a bucket truck), but before it could be delivered to us, it had to have the front springs changed by a local shop so that it would have a rated carrying weight higher than 10,.000 pounds, and that local shop did provide an extra GVWR label stating that now it was rated for 10,400 pounds.  It can be done, but I am not sure who can legally do that. 

     I love the way that so many of our laws are interpreted.  Having the ability to safely carry the weight does not seem to be enough.  There must also be someone who will certify that it can carry that weight, and that certificate must be posted and carried in the vehicle.  Otherwise you may face all sorts of consequences of being, officially, overloaded. 

          Enjoy; 

          Ralph 
          Latte Land, Washington