Community Forums

Lindenberg · 06-09-2012, 01:59 PM

If an airbag splits causing a major air leak can the air compressor keep up with the leak or will I loose all my air causing the parking break to activate?

Algoma · 06-09-2012, 02:19 PM

When my airbag sprung a leak recently the compressor kept up with the loss. I have an hydraulic release on my parking brake so that would not have been an issue for me but losing the suspension would have been a problem. I was able to drive 100 miles to Cummins Coach Care and got the bag replaced. I think it is unlikely the bag will get a major rip unless you take a knife to it but it is more likely to get a hole that will leak air slowly. If your bags are showing wear along the top and bottom edges you may want to replace them, they are not that expensive.

Old Trucker · 06-09-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lindenberg

If an airbag splits causing a major air leak can the air compressor keep up with the leak or will I loose all my air causing the parking break to activate?

Hi Lindenberg,

Algoma told you right...I also have a 99 Alpine like Algoma's.

I do not think WRV made any models with air brakes. If this is true, your brakes are hydralic and loss of air pressure has no effect, however if you do loose all your air pressure, it will ride terrible. As Algoma said,, the bags are not that terrible expensive.

I am a retired cross country trucker. Most air bags run from $100 to $135. each. If you have one that is leaking,,,I would change all of them. They are all the same age. Miles are not a factor. I have seen them severly weather checked and still carry the load. Usually they just develop a pin hole, but they can blow all at once, but it is rare I have had air bags on trucks run well over a million miles. Nearly all the bags are made by Firestone. Some Goodyear You should have Neway suspension. Most any truck dealer should have these bags. On a truck they are easy to change, but not as easily access on a MH. Hope I have been of help..Old trucker

Algoma · 06-09-2012, 03:39 PM

Old Trucker, just for clarification. Although the Alpine never had air brakes as such they did change from hydraulic release to air release on the parking brake around 2000.

Old Scout · 06-09-2012, 04:34 PM

Interesting question--think you still have air in the storage tank after dumping the bags so there must be a check valve between the tank and the bags. Also think you have about 3 or 4 times that you can release the air parking brake from the storage tank. All this suggests that your bags and your air parking brake are isolated. However, when being towed, they do disconnect the driveline--not sure if its a tranny thing or a parking brake thing?????

bluepill · 06-09-2012, 04:52 PM

When the air bag deflates, the ride height valve will open to try and inflate it. If you disconnect the linkage to the valve, you can fool it into thinking that the coach is level and it will not try to supply air.

EngineerMike · 06-09-2012, 04:55 PM

Driveline disconnect is an automatic tranny thing.

Check your upcoming ACA newsletter for my thoughts on air bag PM. Nothing earth shattering, just food for thought.

Ditto on if your bags are checked/cracked- replace them all. Driving on a deflated air bag is not going to get you anywhere very fast, very far or very comfortably. Our bags have a rubber bumper inside to land on when we dump air, but its still a banging session if the air bag won't hold air. New bags should be ~$125 ea, and a crafty DIY'er w/jack stands should be able to replace his own (if you can fit under the coach). Fronts easier than rears, but both doable.