With respect to ride height there is a lot of confusion it's measurement. The service manual states no mention of actual load only the rating of the axle. This will be in the motorhome (mine is on closet door 4880lb front axle).When measuring the front you measure the distance between the upper control arm and the base of where the control arm bumper sits (iron to iron) ignore the rubber bumper. It must also be measured with the max psi from manual (mine is 50psi). Many have said to measure from the top of the bumper to the upper control arm. This is incorrect. It must also be perpendicular to the upper control arm when measuring.Once measured that measurement is attained use it to compare in the service alignment graph to decide which degree setting is used when aligning the front.Do not go over the recommended max psi for the front axle rating.

p-30 IN COIL AIR BAGS ARE not MEANT to increase front ride height. They are meant to INCREASE the front axle weight rating. There is a set pressure you install and I believe it is either 80 or 90 lbs of pressure. It has been 30 years since I have had to work on and look at P-30 front chassis air bags. Doug

1993 owner's manual says for MH shows inflation chart bases as udidwht states. Does nots how a 3880 pound front end but has a 5000 POUND min 40 psi and 60 psi and 100 psi max.proper method of inflation is to inflate to max based on axle rating. after loading vehicle, decrease the pressure as needed to level the vehicle.I did away with airways many years ago in favor to variable weight coil springs.super steer

dougrainer wrote:p-30 IN COIL AIR BAGS ARE not MEANT to increase front ride height. They are meant to INCREASE the front axle weight rating. There is a set pressure you install and I believe it is either 80 or 90 lbs of pressure. It has been 30 years since I have had to work on and look at P-30 front chassis air bags. DougYes and no. If doing an alignment the height must be checked prior to an alignment anytime. That is in the service manual. Once the height is confirmed the amount is then used to set the degree for alignment adjustment using the chart. After the alignment is set you do not however use the air bag to increase the height of the front.As for psi amounts it differs between the GVWR of the RV front axle rating.

udidwht wrote:dougrainer wrote:p-30 IN COIL AIR BAGS ARE not MEANT to increase front ride height. They are meant to INCREASE the front axle weight rating. There is a set pressure you install and I believe it is either 80 or 90 lbs of pressure. It has been 30 years since I have had to work on and look at P-30 front chassis air bags. DougYes and no. If doing an alignment the height must be checked prior to an alignment anytime. That is in the service manual. Once the height is confirmed the amount is then used to set the degree for alignment adjustment using the chart. After the alignment is set you do not however use the air bag to increase the height of the front.MAs for psi amounts it differs between the GVWR of the RV front axle rating.y point was, a LOT of P-30 owners think the air bags are ride comfort like rear air bags and they are NOT. Doug

dougrainer wrote:y point was, a LOT of P-30 owners think the air bags are ride comfort like rear air bags and they are NOT. DougCORRECT. The front air bags are an integral part of the P30 front suspension and are critical for wheel alignment.Set too far from recommended PSI to achieve correct height dimension between A arms and particularly if the bags don't hold air can lead to very rapid tire wear and handling issues.

P-30 series air bag info | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

wolfe10
Explorer
Aug 09, 2023
dougrainer wrote:

y point was, a LOT of P-30 owners think the air bags are ride comfort like rear air bags and they are NOT. Doug

CORRECT. The front air bags are an integral part of the P30 front suspension and are critical for wheel alignment.

Set too far from recommended PSI to achieve correct height dimension between A arms and particularly if the bags don't hold air can lead to very rapid tire wear and handling issues.
dougrainer
Nomad
Aug 09, 2023
udidwht wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
p-30 IN COIL AIR BAGS ARE not MEANT to increase front ride height. They are meant to INCREASE the front axle weight rating. There is a set pressure you install and I believe it is either 80 or 90 lbs of pressure. It has been 30 years since I have had to work on and look at P-30 front chassis air bags. Doug

Yes and no.

If doing an alignment the height must be checked prior to an alignment anytime. That is in the service manual. Once the height is confirmed the amount is then used to set the degree for alignment adjustment using the chart. After the alignment is set you do not however use the air bag to increase the height of the front.

M

As for psi amounts it differs between the GVWR of the RV front axle rating.

y point was, a LOT of P-30 owners think the air bags are ride comfort like rear air bags and they are NOT. Doug
udidwht
Explorer
Aug 08, 2023
dougrainer wrote:
p-30 IN COIL AIR BAGS ARE not MEANT to increase front ride height. They are meant to INCREASE the front axle weight rating. There is a set pressure you install and I believe it is either 80 or 90 lbs of pressure. It has been 30 years since I have had to work on and look at P-30 front chassis air bags. Doug

Yes and no.

If doing an alignment the height must be checked prior to an alignment anytime. That is in the service manual. Once the height is confirmed the amount is then used to set the degree for alignment adjustment using the chart. After the alignment is set you do not however use the air bag to increase the height of the front.

As for psi amounts it differs between the GVWR of the RV front axle rating.
enblethen
Nomad
Aug 07, 2023
1993 owner's manual says for MH shows inflation chart bases as udidwht states. Does nots how a 3880 pound front end but has a 5000 POUND min 40 psi and 60 psi and 100 psi max.
proper method of inflation is to inflate to max based on axle rating. after loading vehicle, decrease the pressure as needed to level the vehicle.
I did away with airways many years ago in favor to variable weight coil springs.
super steer
dougrainer
Nomad
Aug 07, 2023
p-30 IN COIL AIR BAGS ARE not MEANT to increase front ride height. They are meant to INCREASE the front axle weight rating. There is a set pressure you install and I believe it is either 80 or 90 lbs of pressure. It has been 30 years since I have had to work on and look at P-30 front chassis air bags. Doug

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P-30 series air bag info

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