Tag axle

[Kreimer]

[Kreimer]

[Kreimer]

the new iPad update wouldn’t let me post more than one pic per message. Grrr.

[mehes]

You may want to check the routing of the brake wiring. It looks like it's going to rub on the links to the leveling valves. Or it might be fine but worth a check anyway.

[Kreimer]

That is a good idea. I will check that and put it in some plastic wrapped stuff to protect it as well.

[davejay]

Hey,
Your airbags look awful high. And the picture of the right airbag seems to have a bag they is cocked. Could be just the photo. Airbags should run in the middle of they re travel on the cone. If to low, the don't do there job. If to high, they lift the tag up to much, and when you hit a big bump, they can stretch the bag out to the breaking point. To check, run your coach over a single axle scale. See what the axles indigual weights are. The tag does need to be on the ground, it'll skid otherwise. You'll knock out the balance on the tires, and create flat spots. Inducing a whuup whuup noise going down the road. Looks cool though. It's always nice to fix something and see the results .

[bobmiller1]

I agree, I believe that the bags are overinflated, I would check the rest of the rear suspension for additional work that may have been missed, Regards, Bob

[Kreimer]

I went out and measured the bags and indeed they are over inflated. I believe I understand the theory of the adjustment but am second guessing myself. Should I be correct in thinking shortening the adjustment rods will bring the pressure in the bags down?

[davejay]

Hey,
Yah , if you shorten up the rods on leveling valves, that'll bring it down . You want the rear of the springs, the cut off ends, to be about 4 inches away from the frame . That'll put the bags about 3-3.5 inches off the bottom of the cone. You can run with the bags a little higher than 10.5 inches top of bag to bottom of cone. It's a personal preference. An inch higher isn't going to hurt anything. The coaches ride pretty close level, maybe a little higher in the rear. It takes about 5-7 seconds before the bags blowoff air. Just disconnect the level valve rod and let it come down. Then push on the rod, and raise it up to where you want it to bee . I used small him joint ends and threaded rod. Looks more proffesstionally done. It's pretty easy to do. Dj

[Hans 34.5]

I would set up the front air bags before you adjust the rear.

[Kreimer]

The airbags on the front were removed when the super steer springs were installed. They were both shot anyhow. The springs do bring the front up a bit more than stock. I may install aftermarket bags in drone eventually to stiffen it up a bit.

[Smartstream]

That nylock nut on the side of the valve arm is an adjustment. Loosen the nut and move it down in the slot in the arm to lower the ride height. Remember there is a several second delay after you move the arm before the valve reacts.

[Kreimer]

I’ll have a look at that one. I took it back and had them adjust it down all the way but it only went down about an inch. That nut adjustment might be the little extra room it needs to do the trick! Thanks!

[bobmiller1]

You may need to install a longer or shorter threaded rod to get the desired height you are trying to obtain, Regards, Bob

[davejay]

Hey,
I'm not sure if the super teen springs came out to make the front end stiffer, or to eliminate the need for the bags. Either way, I think it's a good upgrade. It certainly can't hurt anything. I put them on my coach. And scrapped the bags. All the bags really do is inhibit the coil from compressing so fast . You had to keep them pumped up to make them effective. I think the bags were an aftermarket JC Witney type of thing. All though, I did drive a brand new 3500 cub van that had them on. Maybe the owner put them in. Don't know. You can always add them later. Airing up the front bags won't effect the rear bags. They won't lift the coach enough to make any appreciable difference . DJ

[Kreimer]

Something I have been wondering. Why are there two air valves when they just go to a T and the airbags on the drive axle are not independently controlled. It seems to me they could possible just fight each other. Could one of the air valves be bypassed (adjustment rod removed) and the same function still be performed?

[mehes]

Originally Posted by Kreimer

Something I have been wondering. Why are there two air valves when they just go to a T and the airbags on the drive axle are not independently controlled. It seems to me they could possible just fight each other. Could one of the air valves be bypassed (adjustment rod removed) and the same function still be performed?

I've often wondered what the logic of 'teeing' the two side together as well. I believe earlier years had just one leveling valve in the center and sensed off the lower air bag frame. Has anyone tried separating the two sides? in other words the curbside valve controls the curbside air bag only and the same on the road side. I'd like to hear people's thoughts and experiences on this subject.

[Smartstream]

The problem with separating the bags is if not adjusted properly you force a constant twist in the frame.

The old GM buses that had total air ride, 4 bags in the front and 4 bags in the rear, used two valves in the rear and one in the front to eliminate twist.

Why Airstream used two valves and then joined them at a tee is "interesting." My 1982 28' uses a single valve while I understand earlier years had two valves, I don' know if they were joined at a tee.

[Kreimer]

Fun twist. Just had to take it back to the shop because I removed one of the adjustment rods and when it is pushed down nothing happens. When it is pushed up it releases air.... they are now trying to figure out the puzzle of which hoses are switched to make this happen. It does explain why the adjustment made no difference at least.......

[davejay]

Hey,
Nothing happened possibly because you were at the end of the valves travel. From your photos, it looked like the bags were pretty full.
My theory on why there are two valves is because of road crown. I think they set it up this way to insure the tag doesn't get overloaded. I often wondered why they didn't put the valves on the drive axle. Then the tag would just stay planted . That seems to make more sense than putting it on the rag, or having double valves. On semis, they have one valve per axle, to keep the ride height of each bag the same, air pressure per bag the same, and to keep the pinion angle per axle the correct angle. We don't have those issues. It's a weird setup. Disconnect both valves. One valve disconnected will not change anything. Do both, and let it settle down. Then set your height. I think my rod was 6 1/4 inches, and I used heim joints 1/4 inch threaded rod. That gives you an idea of how long the rods are, at least. Hope this helps DJ