Need some help old air bags/springs issue

Question

I got the airbag out of the right side in a couple of minutes, it was quite dry rotted. Not much to it. On the left side there was no bag in there. As looked up in the hole I discovered a plastic or hard rubber ring around the bottom of the spring. It will not come out with a little prying and pulling. That sucker is in there and feels like its partially under the spring. Also, it looks like the spring still has a little black paint on it. Is there such a thing as a plastic buffer or something that rides under a spring or is this part of the old air bag that has worked it's self under the spring? Also, I looked up into the spring and noticed that there doesn't appear to be enough room to put the ring shaped tops and bottoms for the air bags in there. Is that a critical part? I was well on my way to getting this job knocked out now, it will be tomorrow at best. Not till after the Christmas trip is probably what we're looking at.

enblethen · Answer

Those are cushions to prevent the bags from scraping on the spring mount. Yes, it is possible that it could be under the spring. Try lifting front of rig to allow spring to stretch as much as possible. Then use a pry bar to try to raise the spring slightly. Tow person job
Yes, those hard neoprene washers are important.

tropical36 · Answer

falconbrother wrote:I got the airbag out of the right side in a couple of minutes, it was quite dry rotted.  Not much to it.  On the left side there was no bag in there.  As looked up in the hole I discovered a plastic or hard rubber ring around the bottom of the spring.  It will not come out with a little prying and pulling.  That sucker is in there and feels like its partially under the spring.  Also, it looks like the spring still has a little black paint on it.  Is there such a thing as a plastic buffer or something that rides under a spring or is this part of the old air bag that has worked it's self under the spring?  Also, I looked up into the spring and noticed that there doesn't appear to be enough room to put the ring shaped tops and bottoms for the air bags in there.  Is that a critical part?  I was well on my way to getting this job knocked out now, it will be tomorrow at best.  Not till after the Christmas trip is probably what we're looking at.Why not consider replacing the coils themselves with Henderson Super Steers and be done with the bags forever. Especially if you don't have the proper ground clearance now, cuz those bags aren't really gonna raise the rig, by much and you can't even align the thing, if it's not within specs., which I believe to be between 1 3/4" - 2 1/2" between the stops.

coyote74 · Answer

sometimes they forget to put top ring in before bag goes in, then try to squeeze in after and can't get it over the nipple on to
top of bag. since its not centered right, it shifts and wedges in the side or frame or control arm area good luck
.

mci7 · Answer

I replaced all 8 airbags on my coach at the 13 yr age limit.  Now feel secure.Dave M

tropical36 · Answer

mci7 wrote:I replaced all 8 airbags on my coach at the 13 yr age limit.  Now feel secure.Dave MJust so you know, apples and oranges here.

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Need some help old air bags/springs issue

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