Good job. I was an engineer for Firestone Industrial Products Airides Noblesville, IN from 1973 thru 1978. We called them airsprings. I suspect your rear suspension is a Neway. I'll bet that that airspring's Neway model number is a 1T15K1 or Firestone model number 1T15M4. The crimp plate stud and combo stud/air inlet are a specific part number. While I was attending Purdue I drove dump trucks with Neway pusher axles with these airsprings. I also helped my buddy that own the trucks to install the air axles on new single axle Chevy C65 trucks. When I interviewed Firestone I didn't know they made the Airsprings in Indiana. They were shocked I new what they were and knew about Neway, they're number one customer. Obviously I got the job. A couple of notes: there is a rubber jounce bumper inside that airspring to prevent metal to metal contact. The shocks hold the axle up when you hit a deep chuckhole. The shocks are 90/10. Plus we would burst test a 1T style airspring about once a year. They typically failed around 750 psi water. Never use air to test. Bad explosion. I have a diesel pusher tandem that has a 1T15 on the drive axle (20,000 lb) and a 1T14 on the tag (10,000 lb), the fronts are ZF's. The effective area of the 14 is half the 15. Some think there is a pressure regulator between the axles. Not true the leveling valves take care of that. Good luck
Great instructional video, as a retired Auto Shop teacher you did a wonderful job of talking your watchers through the process. One item to consider is not allow any small air leaks to continue very long because you could burn out your air compressor running it all the time trying to keep up with all the air leaks, and then you will get to change that as well as the airbag. If you think airbags are expensive, just wait till you start pricing air compressors.
You're welcome! Every rig is different but the principal is the same. Last year, one of our volunteers popped one of his air bags and they had it swapped out in less than an hour. That gave ME confidence! :)
Ours are inflated centrally with the same air system that power our brakes, etc. They will automatically inflate if you put the coach in gear or throw the switch on the dash.
Nice job! I was going to get an expensive mobile service truck out but now I'm confident to tackle this one on my own. I already have a spare air bag since my RV was last owned by an RV diesel mechanic.
Perfect! I was worried because I'm 145 miles from Freightliner fountain, CO headed today to pick up an airbag and drive back to install. I have confidence I can do the job now.
Thanks so much. I may attempt it myself. The only thing I would suggest in my opinion is if that plate is corroded it’s not in good shape. Smack it off of there. Sand it down and get new bolts is what I’m probably going to do. I’m no mechanic but I know Murphy’s Law lol
Thanks so much for posting this as my air bags are 20 years old and I know this project is on the one day list. By the way I swear I worked with Gill 30 years ago at FP&L in Homestead Florida, and if it is him it is so great to see a good dude like that still in the game. Take care
That is awesome! I will ask him if those details sync up! Happy holidays and thanks for the comment and watching this. Really wasn't bad at all to swap these out. I'm looking at the front ones now! :)
I never saw the part where you jacked it up to get access or how you got to that stage. I was going to buy a used diesel RV but it needs change to airbag
Apologies. I jacked up the coach on the levelers but only enough to take the pressure off of the airbags. If the levelers failed, I would have been fine based on the room in there. Blocking is definitely recommended.
One of these days they'll need them and I need to look and see the complexity with the placement of the mounts. When I do, you can bet we'll do a video to share our challenges!
Thanks for the video
You're welcome! Let us know if you have any questions.
Thank you so much. We are stuck at an RV park with a blown rear air bag. Thanks to your video, I can do this myself. Awesome job.
How did it go? Did you get it swapped out?
Yes I did. Thank God I had my 1/2" Milwaukee impact gun to get the top nut off. Thanks again for your video.
Good job. I was an engineer for Firestone Industrial Products Airides Noblesville, IN from 1973 thru 1978. We called them airsprings. I suspect your rear suspension is a Neway. I'll bet that that airspring's Neway model number is a 1T15K1 or Firestone model number 1T15M4. The crimp plate stud and combo stud/air inlet are a specific part number. While I was attending Purdue I drove dump trucks with Neway pusher axles with these airsprings. I also helped my buddy that own the trucks to install the air axles on new single axle Chevy C65 trucks. When I interviewed Firestone I didn't know they made the Airsprings in Indiana. They were shocked I new what they were and knew about Neway, they're number one customer. Obviously I got the job. A couple of notes: there is a rubber jounce bumper inside that airspring to prevent metal to metal contact. The shocks hold the axle up when you hit a deep chuckhole. The shocks are 90/10. Plus we would burst test a 1T style airspring about once a year. They typically failed around 750 psi water. Never use air to test. Bad explosion. I have a diesel pusher tandem that has a 1T15 on the drive axle (20,000 lb) and a 1T14 on the tag (10,000 lb), the fronts are ZF's. The effective area of the 14 is half the 15. Some think there is a pressure regulator between the axles. Not true the leveling valves take care of that. Good luck
Thanks so much for this. Super interesting.
I'm replacing a 1T15L2 and the air connection fitting into the bag leaks air. I tried Teflon tape. Is pipe dope a better choice?
Great instructional video, as a retired Auto Shop teacher you did a wonderful job of talking your watchers through the process. One item to consider is not allow any small air leaks to continue very long because you could burn out your air compressor running it all the time trying to keep up with all the air leaks, and then you will get to change that as well as the airbag. If you think airbags are expensive, just wait till you start pricing air compressors.
You just gave me confidence to do this if/when needed. Thank you!
You're welcome! Every rig is different but the principal is the same. Last year, one of our volunteers popped one of his air bags and they had it swapped out in less than an hour. That gave ME confidence! :)
I wish you would cover a video on how to inflate the airbags. I still liked the video!!!
Ours are inflated centrally with the same air system that power our brakes, etc. They will automatically inflate if you put the coach in gear or throw the switch on the dash.
Thank you so much we just bought a 06 Bounder diesel needs new air bags easy work 👏
That was fantastic what a great video thanks so much great camera work all so. I joined.🙏🏻
Hey thanks. We like to kick out vids like this to help fellow RVers while we’re on the road doing our thing. Safe travels!
Great job Captain.
Looking at the bags on the front now. 😁
Very nice sir!!! Great work, great instruction!!!
Nice job! I was going to get an expensive mobile service truck out but now I'm confident to tackle this one on my own. I already have a spare air bag since my RV was last owned by an RV diesel mechanic.
Excellent! Good luck!
Sweet! I've got the tools and now the skills. You are terrific!
Awesome! Thank you!
Perfect! I was worried because I'm 145 miles from Freightliner fountain, CO headed today to pick up an airbag and drive back to install. I have confidence I can do the job now.
Also awesome is mine is a 2005 Freighter XC-R so nearly identical. Alfa Seeya 05
Let us know how it goes!
Thanks so much. I may attempt it myself. The only thing I would suggest in my opinion is if that plate is corroded it’s not in good shape. Smack it off of there. Sand it down and get new bolts is what I’m probably going to do. I’m no mechanic but I know Murphy’s Law lol
That's a great suggestion and totally agree. Ours was in good shape but it's not hard to get it off.
Good afternoon, great video. Steve from N.B
Thanks Steve.
Thanks for the information we own the same rig and love it.
great video. thanks. you're a PRO
Thanks so much for posting this as my air bags are 20 years old and I know this project is on the one day list. By the way I swear I worked with Gill 30 years ago at FP&L in Homestead Florida, and if it is him it is so great to see a good dude like that still in the game. Take care
That is awesome! I will ask him if those details sync up! Happy holidays and thanks for the comment and watching this. Really wasn't bad at all to swap these out. I'm looking at the front ones now! :)
David - it's the same Gil! Small world!!
Nicely done Phil. Very easy to follow.
I’m watching and a subscriber. Great content. Thanks for the entertainment.
Awesome, thank you!
So either it's a pretty easy process or YOU just made it look easy. However what i noticed it seems to help to have a Freightliner XC chassis
do you have other videos on the Gulf Stream, like changing the front head lights?
What are you looking to do? I swapped out our headlamps with new highvis LEDs. AMAZING!
Nice work, if you only had cardboard. It's so much easier to slide around on underneath these rigs.Thanks again
that's something I have to do to my motorhome , thank you for this video,
Let us know if you have any questions or issues.
Thank you for the details.
Kevin, my pleasure - let me know if you have any other questions.
Awesome job sir
Well done.
Thank you! Really appreciate it. Had to take a few deep breaths before I dove in but it worked!
Good job 👏🏻
Thanks 😁
Awesome DIY!
Thank you! 😊
once the airbags are out what keeps the axle from collapsing if the Jack's gave out?
Now I can do this! Thank you. Mine are bad.
Totally doable. Let us know if you have any questions!
I never saw the part where you jacked it up to get access or how you got to that stage. I was going to buy a used diesel RV but it needs change to airbag
Apologies. I jacked up the coach on the levelers but only enough to take the pressure off of the airbags. If the levelers failed, I would have been fine based on the room in there. Blocking is definitely recommended.
i have a 1998 Allegro Bus. just give the serial on my chassis? they will cross
Gonna do the fronts?
One of these days they'll need them and I need to look and see the complexity with the placement of the mounts. When I do, you can bet we'll do a video to share our challenges!
Harbor freight 12 ton jackstands 150 bucks.
I'll need jackstands for the front for sure.
back ones are the easy ones... front ones are tough
May not be looking forward to that! 😳