P-30 Rear Suspension

[alfalsetto]

I have been all over the forums looking for I parts book for My 1982 31ft. Classic Airstream rear suspension. I seen it one in a forum, but I can't find it again. I hope that soom one out there may help. I have been all over Andys store and I din't find a thing, maybe he can help me. I have been under my Airstream and it don't look good it has to have help bad. The rear suspension is springs with airbags

[Smartstream]

It is made by American Carrier Equipment in Fresno, Calif. They have the bushings and cross link and the bags and valve are common truck parts. I tried to copy a drawing here but the conn. in this park is terrible. You can google them for more info.

Good luck, Dan

[alfalsetto]

Thanks, I'll go on-line to them now!

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by alfalsetto

I have been all over the forums looking for I parts book for My 1982 31ft. Classic Airstream rear suspension. I seen it one in a forum, but I can't find it again. I hope that soom one out there may help. I have been all over Andys store and I din't find a thing, maybe he can help me. I have been under my Airstream and it don't look good it has to have help bad. The rear suspension is springs with airbags

What's the problem(s) ? Pics would help. I know waay more about that suspension than I should.

[dadstoy]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

What's the problem(s) ? Pics would help. I know waay more about that suspension than I should.

Mike, I'll remember that...I'm going to crawl under mine today!

[idroba]

A lthough it has been a while since I had my '83, 310, I did have to learn about the air bag suspension the hard way. No one when I got it in '93 knew much about it at all, so I had to learn it by myself. In fact, I think one of the reasons I got it for a good price was that no one could figure out the air system, and they unloaded it.

Once I understood it, and got it going right, it was a great system, airtight and reliable. So, like Mike Leary, who posted above, I may also be able to help you some (from memory). Without going into details, the real problem on mine turned out to be a hidden check valve which had stuck closed.

[Mike Leary]

So many possibilities of failure, does the compressor even come on?

[alfalsetto]

My compressor didn't come on one time,"fuse". Boy was that a hard ride!! All you good people out there have you got a name for the suspension under my 82? Or maybe a part list? Or maybe some photos

[Mike Leary]

I screwed around with that mess for years to no avail, replaced the compressor, bags, still a piece of junk. Some systems work, mine never did worth a damn. Depending on where you are, a spring shop that deals with ambulances is where I'd go. Even so, the 60-40 switch could be bad and not sending information to the leveling valves, in which case, the spring shop will need a schematic for the wiring to convert the old-time switch to a newer version. I don't have the schematic, but I believe it can be gotten from AS or maybe a forum member has one. Try to pump-up the accumulator tank with aux air to see if it puts the bags to proper level (8" to 10"). You could have a leak somewhere. I don't envy anyone having this problem. After blowing a couple of grand having rookies think they'd fixed the "problems", I finally had the whole system ripped out and replaced. At the same time you do the rear, have them check the (crappy) coil springs in the front, they have a stronger spring for the P-30 now, that does not need the air bags. Have it aligned, replace the shocks, and you should be good to go.http://haldex.com

[Smartstream]

Come on Mike You are just frustrated because they took your money and didn't fix it.

Here is a pic of the system.


The bushings on the cross link that aligns the lower cross member can wear. I think they sell the set for about $70. The bags can be bought from Truck Spring for about $90 and the valve is about $75. My figures may be a little off because I'm old but they should be in the ballpark.

A original compressor was marginal but a new bullet proof one can be had from Viair for about $300. Start with fresh wiring from the batteries through a relay and you have a great system.

I can find you part numbers if I get some time but I think they are all posted here if you look hard enough. If you can't find them yell.

Good luck, it's really a pretty simple system and is used on trucks everywhere.

Cheers, Dan

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Come on Mike You are just frustrated because they took your money and didn't fix it.

My own damn fault; if I'd known about the forum then, things would have worked much smoother (and cheaper!).

[alfalsetto]

Dan,
Thanks for the photo of the susp. That the thing I been looking for, Thanks again, Lit'l Al (alfalsetto)

[alfalsetto]

Your photo was to hazy/blurry to see, But I got a good Photo of the susp. from American Carrier Eq. today. But I can get it on the Thread.. "Can you tell Me how to do it" Its a good copy of the susp. & air syst. & Plumbing

[jhenry]

Hi to all! Just purchased a 1986 345 to add to the fleet! The rig has a few interesting problems one is the rear suspension works but on an on off switch that the po installed and it seems to me that there must be a shut off type switch or relay not working or needing replacement, Any suggestions Thanks Jonathan

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by alfalsetto

Your photo was to hazy/blurry to see, But I got a good Photo of the susp. from American Carrier Eq. today. But I can get it on the Thread.. "Can you tell Me how to do it" Its a good copy of the susp. & air syst. & Plumbing

If You have the picture on your computer hit reply to thread and scroll down and you will see a box "manage attachments". Click it and another box will appear and you can browse for the file and then upload it to your post.

I forgot where I got the pic but I am on the road so I don't have access to my files at home. If you study the pic and look closely at your suspension you can see how simple a system it really is.

Good luck, Dan

[Smartstream]

Originally Posted by jhenry

Hi to all! Just purchased a 1986 345 to add to the fleet! The rig has a few interesting problems one is the rear suspension works but on an on off switch that the po installed and it seems to me that there must be a shut off type switch or relay not working or needing replacement, Any suggestions Thanks Jonathan

I'm not sure how your 345 is set up with the tag axle but normally the compressor is controlled by a pressure switch that turns it on and off automatically at preset pressures. This would maintain a minimum air pressure in your storage tank to feed the leveling valve. A leveling valve will regulate the pressure in the air bags to keep the coach at the proper ride height. The entire system should be automatic. A dash switch would only be used to shut down the system to jack up the coach for service or tire chance or something similar.

Good Luck, Dan

[alfalsetto]

This is the frist time I send photos, I hope it work.





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[alfalsetto]

It worked

[cmadmaxman]

Here is a link for a DIY I did for another site. The photos do not work that I put there, and not able to fix, but all the info that I went through and part numbers are there. Good luck.

Ours works like a champ. Best thing for the compressor is to run you a big gage wire back to it with a relay. My small gage with the AS put in was getting hot, and when I went to the new system, compressor runs much faster!