1999 Freightliner XC Chassis front air spring replacement

[Pez Vela]

Originally Posted by mhowie969

Greetings All

I know that this thread is old, but just in case that there are still RV'rs still needing front air springs for the older XC chassis. I recently replaced the front air springs on my 1999 Winnebago Adventurer 34V. The OEM part number for the original air front air spring was W01-358-9586. Average price for the OEM bag is $300 per air spring.

With the OEM replacement air springs being so expensive compared to other comparable sized air springs. I decided to do some research, I found that the OEM air springs required about 95 psi to support the weight on the front axle. While this is within the capability of the air spring it is very much on the high end of the bags capability. I up-sized my replacement air springs to Firestone W01-358-8204. These springs are slightly larger, still have the internal bumper stop. The price is $150 a pair, which is half the cost of one OEM air spring. The calculated air pressure to support the front end is now 75 psi. This is right in the middle of the design range for an air spring

These new air springs ride so much better then the OEMs that I replaced. Much smoother going over road expansion joints and small pavement defects, I live in Michigan so there is no shortage of road defects.
Any Questions feel free to IM me.
Mike

Mike
I plan on replacing my front air springs on my 1999/2000 Coachmen 370 Santara DP.
Can you tell me where you purchased yours and any part number for them. I see the OEM #, just wondering what the aftermarket# was.
Thanks, Bill Kirkbride

[mhowie969]

Greetings all
The attached url is for a Goodyear PDF for sizing and designing air spring systems.

www.lhtech.com › pdf › automation › pneumatic › Goodyear-Air-Spring-Data.pdf

The first step is relatively simple static pressure required to maintain ride height. That is basically weight in Lb supported by the spring divided by the surface area of the air spring piston in inches.

Most air bags have a maximum static working pressure of 100 psi It takes a lot of digging to to find actual spec sheets. From experience, (40 years of working on trucks and RVs. If we can start out in the 60-80 psi static pressure at proper ride height we would be doing great.

When you are driving and hit a bump the pressure goes up exponentially so if we start off on the high side the ride will be harder. This the main purpose of installing a "ping tank" it adds volume to the system so the air in the spring can compress into the ping tank so that the pressure in the spring is reduced and the ride will smooth out for air springs that started out a little hard.

The air spring that comes with the Freightliner chassis are most likely optimally designed for one air spring to function for all the XC chassis sold to different RV manufactures, one size fits all kind of deal.


The air springs were made by Torque TR 8204. I did get them from Ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/11430425251...IAAOSwGZlhUioX

Mike

[geomoto]

Mike,
Thank you for posting this information!
Did you also replace the rear air springs and if so did you up size those as well!

[OCM]

On a 2000 XC chassis, are all the air bags the same, or are the rear ones a different number than the front 8204? I would like to change all 4 of mine, and need the part number for the rear if different.

[Journey cat]

Following ! I should have ordered last year as prices have gone up .
Looking to replace all 4 on my 05 , 34H Journey . With a Freightliner XC

[mhowie969]

Greetings

The rear air springs are very different from the front.
The air springs for my 1999 XC diesel pusher is W01-358-9587. Freightliner is very helpful giving you the installed chassis part numbers.
Mike

[00Weasel]

Just bringing this one back up. I just finished installing the 8204 bags on my 2000 Tradewinds. The ride is actually noticeably nicer. Have not tested handling just yet. I ended up purchasing the bags from a local Napa auto parts store:


https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/TWDAGA8204


They were $129 each, but there was a 20% off sale at the time, so I got them for a little over $100 each. I would rather deal with my local Napa store for returns if they don't work/fit rather than eBay. Just my personal preference.



I didn't use the EXACT air fitting that Mike had used, I was able to source a 1/4 mnpt to 1/2 compression elbow fitting at my local Ace hardware store. Its brass, and basically the same thing, but instead of "push to connect" its a threaded compression fitting.



I also did not drop the front axle, I was able to make a tool just like this member did:



https://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/hou...ml#post5707289


Basically I cut a 1 1/8" socket down to 7/8" long and welded it to a piece of steel. Cutting the socket was quite the ordeal, even with a port-a-band bandsaw. Fortunately, the nuts were not in too bad shape, because if I would have had to put a bunch of torque on it to break it loose, I probably would have bent the tool or my terrible welds would have broken...



Also, for some reason, the studs on the bottom of the replacement airbags were shorter than I expected, and I was not able to comfortably fit a washer on there, and still get enough threads. I ended up using some grade 8 1/2-13 flange nuts, also sourced from Ace. The flange was the same diameter as the mating surface of the 3/4" nuts that I removed, so I feel comfortable with this choice. Here is a link to one at Lowes, though, its a grade 5:


https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hillman-1-2...ge-Nut/3012054


All in all, it was actually easier than I expected. It took me almost as long to make the stinking wrench as it did to actually replace the bags..



Once again, Mike, big thanks to you for putting this information together. I hope that many other members can save several hundred dollars and get some added comfort when they do this same swap.

[usmcgrover]

Hello,

I see this thread is quite old.

I'm looking at replacing all four air springs on my 1999 Bounder 36S diesel pusher. My local Freightliner service shop couldn't get the air springs, but I got the part numbers.

Front HLD 90557249
Rear HLD 90557248

I see that the Torque TR8204 mentioned above for the front axle is still available on eBay. Around $200 for a pair or air springs. Or, I can get the Spring Pro 7249 on ebay for $300 each.

Has anyone located a suitable replacement for the rear axle? The best I can find is the Spring Pro 7248 for $300 each on eBay. I messaged the eBay supplier for Torque, but they do not have a replacement for OEM.

Also wondering if anyone had issues with the 1/4" air fitting on the Torque bags. The stock ones have a 1/2" air fitting. Seems like reducing to 1/4" would create a restriction to air flow. Just wondering if anyone experienced hard ride or anything like that.

Just curious if anyone has been through this replacement process recently and what bags you used. No need to repeat anything that was mentioned above.

Thanks!
Jeff

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by usmcgrover

My local Freightliner service shop couldn't get the air springs, but I got the part numbers.

Front HLD 90557249
Rear HLD 90557248
Jeff

Jeff ; do you have build date info and GVWR for your chassis ?
When I was still on DTNA Connect and had access to my chassis P/Ns

I wrote down .
Front NEW 90557221
Rear NEW 90557219
Newway being the suspension parts supplier.
My Freightliner XC chassis was built in Feb 1999 and has a 27,910 # GVWR

[RichKimball]

Originally Posted by Skip426

When I was still on DTNA Connect and had access to my chassis P/Ns

Skip, you still have access to chassis p/n's just a different method of getting there. Use this URL: Excelerator Parts

You can login using your existing DTNA credentials. From there you can input your VIN in the search box and find corresponding parts.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by RichKimball

Skip, you still have access to chassis p/n's just a different method of getting there. Use this URL: Excelerator Parts

You can login using your existing DTNA credentials. From there you can input your VIN in the search box and find corresponding parts.

Thanks Rich ; I'd heard there had been changes lately , but wasn't up to speed on them . About four years back I got the boot for not checking in often enough . I'll give the new entry method a try.

EDIT: I get " Account Disabled " message .

[usmcgrover]

My GVWR is 24,850#, which probably explains the different part numbers. Build date is February of 1999. Thanks for the info though. I'm going to see if Torque can supply replacements for your rear part #s.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by usmcgrover

Also wondering if anyone had issues with the 1/4" air fitting on the Torque bags. The stock ones have a 1/2" air fitting. Seems like reducing to 1/4" would create a restriction to air flow. Just wondering if anyone experienced hard ride or anything like that.
Jeff

The reduction in fitting size will slow the fill and dump , but that's about all .
If the bags are correct for mounting and weight , I'd say you're good.

[RichKimball]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Thanks Rich ; I'd heard there had been changes lately , but wasn't up to speed on them . About four years back I got the boot for not checking in often enough . I'll give the new entry method a try.

EDIT: I get " Account Disabled " message .

Of course you would need an active DTNA account login. I set a reminder to login every 2 weeks.