Ezcat
Oregon
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Joined: 12/26/2011
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Has anyone replaced the front suspension air bags on a 1989 P-30? How hard can it be? LOL!
Every time I try to fix something it breaks worse! I searched this subject and found zero posts about it. Hopefully someone here knows...
Thanks!
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wildtoad
Blythewood, SC
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I've had them (I did not do the job myself) replaced in both a 1988 Superchief, and a 2000 Hurricane. It's easier to do in warm weather so now is the time as the bags are much more pliable and easier to twist up into the coil springs. On the Hurricane the old bags had adhered to the coils so it took the mechanic a long time to pick out the pieces from the coils before he could begin to put the new bags in.
If you are fairly competent with this kind of work, then by all means have at it.
Tom Wilds
Blythewood, SC
2000 Hurricane 30Q
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Weathertodd221
FL
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im sure a 1989 rid doesnt have coil spring fatigue.
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garry1p
Oklahoma
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Not as bad after you do the 1st one but still a real PITA. Kind of like putting a square peg in a very small round hole.
After replacing both front bags (failed with in 3 months of each other)I swore I would never do it again but 2 years later one of the bags would no longer hold air, shop wants $100 to replace so I changed out another and swore I wouldn't do it again.
There are a lot of post on replacing the bags might try doing a search.
Here is one from a search.
air bag
* This post was
edited 07/25/12 03:48pm by garry1p *
Garry1p
1990 Holiday Rambler Aluma Lite XL
454 on P-30 Chassis
1999 Jeep Cherokee sport
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bluegrsr
Southern Ontario
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The air bags were replaced twice on my 89 P30, once by mechanics, & by me the second time. Read the instructions that come with the bags, the mechanics didn't & it took them forever at my expense. The old bags are no good anyway, so cut them while they are in the coils and use vice grips to twist/pull them out. Remove the valve from the new bag and warm it up in hot water, don't get any water in the bag, then roll it up tightly to expell all the air you can then replace the valve and cap. Un-roll the bag and then tightly roll it again lengthways, using plastic wire ties to keep it rolled up. Again if its warmed up it will be easier. Make sure there are no rough edges in the hole, clean up with a rat tail file or emery paper if needed. Coat the bag with dishwashing soap and "screw" it in thru the hole, cutting off the wire ties just as they get to the hole. Before its all the way into the coil, insert the hard rubber top disc with needle nosed pliers. Use a plastic screwdriver handle to stuff the last bit of the bag in thru the hole, and you are done.
Sandy,& Penny
2004 Triple E Commander
2007 Ford Expedition
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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The more you replace, the easier it gets. If I had it to do over again, I'd replace the bags with the after market Henderson's Super Steer Coil Springs to match the weight of the axle. The bags were GMs way of supplementing their inadequate light weight springs. I'd rather do it the way GM should have in the first place!
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Ezcat
Oregon
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Thanks Much!
I'm thinking the hard part is getting the old ones out.
I'll start on that soon as it cools off... I'm in Gulfport, Ms. so that will be about 4AM.
The bags won't be here till Monday so I've got a few days, I guess I
Can't hurt anything pulling them out.
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Ezcat
Oregon
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wny_pat wrote:The more you replace, the easier it gets. If I had it to do over again, I'd replace the bags with the after market Henderson's Super Steer Coil Springs to match the weight of the axle. The bags were GMs way of supplementing their inadequate light weight springs. I'd rather do it the way GM should have in the first place!
I already bought the bags, but next time! Thanks for the link
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Ezcat
Oregon
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garry1p wrote:Not as bad after you do the 1st one but still a real PITA. Kind of like putting a square peg in a very small round hole.
After replacing both front bags (failed with in 3 months of each other)I swore I would never do it again but 2 years later one of the bags would no longer hold air, shop wants $100 to replace so I changed out another and swore I wouldn't do it again.
There are a lot of post on replacing the bags might try doing a search.
Here is one from a search.
air bag
I hope these last longer than 3 months! I found a guy who will replace the bags for $500 plus parts! Thats why I decided to do it
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Doc Eagle
South Carolina
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I did, well one side so far, on my 1993 Fleetwood Flair. I used the Air Lift brand but same concept. Cut the big hole in the bottom of old one but couldn't get it out until I took a saws all and cut slots in the old bag between the coils. Loosened up the bag and it pulled out pretty easy. Rain kindof put the other side on hold. Installing the new ones wasn't to awful but getting them compressed and keeping them that way was a bit of a challenge. I ended up using some plastic zip ties to hold them, used the soapy water spray of course and finally got them in place. The zip ties where either cut out of the way as they were not needed or simply slid out of the way as the bag was inserted.
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