I recently bought a Motorhome that has parabolic springs , shock absorbers and air bags . We have been away in it the last couple of months , everyone here will know how bad the roads are in Qld especially out west . Our problem started North of Gympie on our beautiful A1, when we hit a dip we would pogo down the road for 100 mtrs . first of I rang the previous owner to find out what to do , he told me to let the air bags down . Didn't make any change at all , so I rang the air bag man and he told me to measure between the plates top and bottom of bags. The front needs to be 4" and the back between 7 - 10" the distances equated to 60psi in the front and 80psi in the back , if anything worse. so I rang him back and told him this is not working , he said might be your shocks . OK put 2 new shocks on the front $600 ,yeah I know they got you by the short and curlys when your travelling , they didn't work and I probably didn't need them but they weren't going to tell me that. So on we went and I was putting more pressure in , letting pressure out , nothing was stopping the pogo effect. So when i got home rang around and have now got multi leaf springs front and back , alleluya no more pogo effect . They also wanted to take the airbags off , I said no leave them on ,so we are running 10psi in front and back , max 100psi min 5psi . What a difference the new springs have made. Never will I go down the road of airbags again.
My question is should I take airbags off or leave on and at what pressure. my motorhome has a GVM 8.7t and I am at 7.7t fully loaded.
No need for air bags if springs and shock absorbers are designed to weight of vehicle IE 8.7 GVM, just more to go wrong - Speak to a suspension specialist such as Pedders.
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I'd be looking at turning the air bags into a leveling system, when camped, as on some of the new vans.
They have independant suspension, so maybe more effective than lesf springs.
Run min pressure when on the road.
Cheers Pete
I would say wrong shocks if they still work on leaf spring . Depending on vehicle ? Peddars dont do air bag on trucks ! Get similar with coil spring with shocks designed for leaf .
I recently bought a Motorhome that has parabolic springs , shock absorbers and air bags . We have been away in it the last couple of months , everyone here will know how bad the roads are in Qld especially out west . Our problem started North of Gympie on our beautiful A1, when we hit a dip we would pogo down the road for 100 mtrs . first of I rang the previous owner to find out what to do , he told me to let the air bags down . Didn't make any change at all , so I rang the air bag man and he told me to measure between the plates top and bottom of bags. The front needs to be 4" and the back between 7 - 10" the distances equated to 60psi in the front and 80psi in the back , if anything worse. so I rang him back and told him this is not working , he said might be your shocks . OK put 2 new shocks on the front $600 ,yeah I know they got you by the short and curlys when your travelling , they didn't work and I probably didn't need them but they weren't going to tell me that. So on we went and I was putting more pressure in , letting pressure out , nothing was stopping the pogo effect. So when i got home rang around and have now got multi leaf springs front and back , alleluya no more pogo effect . They also wanted to take the airbags off , I said no leave them on ,so we are running 10psi in front and back , max 100psi min 5psi . What a difference the new springs have made. Never will I go down the road of airbags again.
My question is should I take airbags off or leave on and at what pressure. my motorhome has a GVM 8.7t and I am at 7.7t fully loaded.
Cheers
Hi Goldcoaster, I don't have any degrees in mechanical science but just a bit of worldly experience and a rule "I don't listen to sales people". Its very hard to give real advice over a forum page but do feel the air bags have some advantages as you travel along our beaut roads.
The airbags are there, leave them there, run somewhere between 10 and 15 psi just to take some of the side ways rock n roll out of the motorhome, the bags are probably not there to lift or assist the springs, only to help stop some of the rock n rolling a tall vehicle gets.
Is it going up and down front to back ? Like a dolphin? ( spring and shock calibration ) Or side by side ? ( more sway bar issue ). Can be a cracked spring or faulty shock on one side ? I have the other side to you in having too strong leaf springs all 4 leaves the same length plus 5 or so shorter springs . On bumpy roads it can cause vibration harmonics through rear of motorhome . Winebago Explorer. Thinking of going to truck spring specialist ? Carrolls etc
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Tuesday 17th of September 2019 02:09:36 PM
Is it going up and down front to back ? Like a dolphin? ( spring and shock calibration ) Or side by side ? ( more sway bar issue ). Can be a cracked spring or faulty shock on one side ? I have the other side to you in having too strong leaf springs all 4 leaves the same length plus 5 or so shorter springs . On bumpy roads it can cause vibration harmonics through rear of motorhome . Winebago Explorer. Thinking of going to truck spring specialist ? Carrolls etc-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Tuesday 17th of September 2019 02:09:36 PM
As Graeme suggests,you will get fantastic service and results from Carroll Springs in Wacol.Contact is/was Doug Butler,and their service is exceptional.Prices are waaay lower than the competition,and there is no substitute for experience.Cheers
I have been to carroll springs that's who put the multi leaf springs in and have fixed the pogo effect , my query is what pressure do I run in airbags as carrolls said 10psi ,airbag man 60psi and Isuzu 40psi before the new springs all contradicting one another.
I probably should have explained that Isuzu put the front ones on at new , not sure if they still put them on in their later models , the back ones were put on by owner who was towing a 4t rated trailer.
I have bags on mine . 5 to 25 lb depending on water storage and road ? Helps on big bumps . Go by Carrolls . They did the last spring suspension upgrade .
I have been to carroll springs that's who put the multi leaf springs in and have fixed the pogo effect , my query is what pressure do I run in airbags as carrolls said 10psi ,airbag man 60psi and Isuzu 40psi before the new springs all contradicting one another. I probably should have explained that Isuzu put the front ones on at new , not sure if they still put them on in their later models , the back ones were put on by owner who was towing a 4t rated trailer.
I have Firestone (American) airbags 1psi of air pressure gives 40ibs of load. Min pressure is 5psi, I nominally use 8-12psi on tow
-- Edited by Baz421 on Wednesday 18th of September 2019 08:25:53 PM
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
Just to add a little info . Ive just fitted a mini compressor gauge, switch to set bag pressure . With suspension off the ground . Has stabilisers . The pressure was 5 lb . When I released the stabilisers . The bag pressure went up to 30lb with 3 bell 6 Firestone air bags . Dropped pressure easy with kit fitted down to 6lb . Checked pressure 24 hours latter ? Still on 6lb . Happy ., Kit came with restricter between each side to prevent roll .
