Returning home to Ga Monday, just crossed into Ga on I75. Heard loud explosion. I was sure it was a blowout. Got stopped , checked things out and seen the air bags on rear were Down. Limped to next exit about a mile, Luckly a truck stop with a repair shop. I crawled under and could hear air but couldn't find it. Shop took it right in and found it. Hole in left rear bag at the top. About 1 hr to remove. No air bag to be found so will be here Tuesday. I am going to replace the right side when I get home. I don't recall reading anything on airbag failures on this site, so I would like to here from you folks. Guys at shop say it is fairly common on tractors. Also another reason to try and avoid Sat. or Sun. travel if possible. Thanks

What chassis?How old?What caused the hole-- was it wear from a chassis component, cut by something or just fatigue ruptured?

At least he has this in his profile...02 American Eagle. Since I have eight airbags that are the same, guess it's time to carry a spare one.

didn't take long for the 20 question people respond

We changed all our air bags last year on our 2004 DP. They were not leaking but they were beginning to wear. Our chassis shop Tampa Spring replaced them.

My chassis shop looked at one of mine a few years back and wanted to replace it but we had to wait a month or more until Firestone did another production run of that type bag. So I now haul around that old bag as an emergency spare.

Rear air bag failure | Good Sam Community

Tom_Barb
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
rphdiesel wrote:
I always have a spare air bag. She rides in the co-pilot seat.

Can she be replaced in an hour?
wolfe10
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
Curious-- was ride height set correctly? If not, it can be very hard on the air bags.
rphdiesel
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
I always have a spare air bag. She rides in the co-pilot seat.
rwhitt
Explorer
Apr 14, 2015
Thanks for all the replys. 02 American Eagle. Spartan chassis,no chaffing or dry rot or over inflating. Failure was at the top edge where it starts to turn down. At the rim would be a good description. Another interesting thing was it was mfg by Firestone as someone else posted. I'm replacing the right side as a precaution an that will give me a spare. It still appears to be somewhat rare to have one rupture given the number in service. I have owned this coach for over 10 years, do all maint myself. This was my first breakdown in over 80k so I feel Somewhat fortunate. Thanks again
bogeygolfer
Explorer
Apr 14, 2015
ferndaleflyer wrote:
didn't take long for the 20 question people respond

Well, answers to these questions would surely help others learn from his experience and possibly avoid their own failure.
busyguy
Explorer
Apr 14, 2015
A few years ago we were entering the main gate at Maxwell AFB in Alabama. As we were going over the speed bump at the gate the left rear airbag blew. Managed to get to the fam camp and called a truck repair place in town. Got them on the base and they removed and replaced the bag in an hour. I think the price was around $300.00 including the bag. Wasn't a big job on the rear. Front looks harder.
All the other bags are fine. This was on a 4 bag Magnum chassis. My coach is now 15 years old and I don't plan on changing any of them unless they blow or leak.
Busyguy
ScottG
Nomad
Apr 14, 2015
Air bags generally last the life of a commercial vehicle. They do fail but it's rare.
I would not replace them unless they have dry-rot.
Oasisbob
Explorer
Apr 14, 2015
Yes they do fail. I went through several warranty replacements on our van. On most larger application I believe their trackrecord is very good unless over inflated or pinched.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Apr 14, 2015
Should air bags be changed on a time bases? ours are 15 years old and we've never had one fail.
More_To_See
Explorer
Apr 14, 2015
My chassis shop looked at one of mine a few years back and wanted to replace it but we had to wait a month or more until Firestone did another production run of that type bag. So I now haul around that old bag as an emergency spare.