How to compress EMPTY air bags to remove

[Gary_]

Here we go again with a 2000 Harney Coach 37 foot Riata with Firestone Air Ride air bags. Now my son and myself have the air bag nuts off both the top and bottom. There is a 2 inch bolt sticking out the bottom and a 1 inch bolt sticking out the top. This type air bag has a large bell shape base that it sits on. We are having a heck of a time trying to compress this enough to get it out! He can push down on the top far enough to get the top bolt to clear, but then the bottom one is so long that we are unable to remove the bag from the position? Just asking if someone has a method that we have not thought of yet and can save us. We tried a 10 inch C clamp but looks like we need a 12 inch one. Once again any and all help really appreciated. TIA Gary

[Gary_]

OK we finally got back with it today, and the award goes to DrewE for his suggestion. I have the two frame rails connected together behind the back wheels by a very large U shaped piece of really heavy duty steel that hangs down horizontally to just 6 inches above the ground under normal conditions. After several discussions with my son about trying this he agreed to try it. After blocking the front wheels very good, I used the leveling jacks to raise the two back wheels off the ground and we stacked about 14 inches of 2 X 6's right underneath where that U would come down on top of them when I raised the jacks. Then guess what happened! BOTH AIR BAGS WERE REALLY LOOSE AND CAME RIGHT OUT! Then my son said to me "If I would have listened to you in the first place we could have had this done a week ago". Thanks again to everyone especially DrewE for all the suggestions.

[BurbMan]

I think you have the answer, but to recap this thread: if the bags are bad they won't hold vacuum, so just cut them out. The new bags will come pre-compressed and held by nylon straps. Install the bag first then cut the nylon keeper strap.

[RLS7201]

Vacuum.............Use an AC vacuum pump or run a small hose from the intake manifold of a gas engine.

Richard

[Gary_]

Still trying to work on this, but haven't had time to stay on it, so kicking it back in case somebody has more ideas. Thanks again to everybody.

[Gary_]

We are still mulling this operation over. We hate to cut them up to get them out because then we are wondering what we have to do to get the new ones in! If we had the situation where they were loose enough to just take out we would feel a lot more comfortable about installing the new ones. Does anybody know if the new ones are compressed more in order to make it easier to replace them? We may try DrewE's idea. But today is Sunday so we are not going to do anything but think about the situation. But thanks for all your ideas and if anyone else has any other ideas we would appreciate them also. Gary

[jjrbus]

I was trying to remember how I removed mine? Cut! I was thinking use vacuum, if bags are bad will not hold vacuum.

The new bags will have nylon straps, holding them compressed. Do not cut the straps before trying to install.

[bdpreece]

Cut them out, Your just going to throw them away anyway.

[Lt46]

Since mine were being replaced I simply used a sawsall and cut the rubber.

[MrWizard]

X2. Use bottle Jack's or RV hyd levelers
And place Jack stands , under the frame rails

Use chock blocks on the wheels so it doesn't too off the Jack stands

[DrewE]

Rather than compressing the air helper spring, what about extending the suspension by jacking up the frame (not the axle) somewhat? Doing so safely isn't exactly trivial, but it's also far from impossible; jacking and supporting on cribbing or suitable stands would be a good plan. If you have leveling jacks, they could be used to do the jacking (but I wouldn't trust them to do the holding when I'm underneath with my hands working in a pinch and crush zone).

[gbopp]

Did you check Youtube?