P32 Front Air Bag Replacement: Firestone or Air Lift?

[dktool]

My front bags on my P32 are blown, what say the crowd on replacements ?
Is there any difference in quality between Firestone and Air Lift ?

 

[Kirk]

I have used the Firestone bags but not the Air Lift. Are Air Lift cheaper?

 

[Isaac-1]

Either way you go, expect to need to replace them again in under 20,000 miles

 

[John From Detroit]

I have used the Firestone bags but not the Air Lift. Are Air Lift cheaper?

You would have to check but I think they were.

But then I am somewhat biased toward them as well.. As a Michigan firm they help to pay for my toys.
(State of Mich Retiree)

 

[dktool]

Price wise it's apples and apples.
Re: replacing again, my unit is a '93 with 68k on the clock, I have had it for about 12 years and logged maybe 20k

 

[mnmnutswer]

I had Firestone in mine for over 50,000 miles and never a problem. Gave us a great ride. Had them installed with two separate air valves.,

 

[BillyThib]

My front bags on my P32 are blown, what say the crowd on replacements ?
Is there any difference in quality between Firestone and Air Lift ?

Just scrap the bags altogether and be done with that. Replace them with the correct coil springs from Super Steer.

Call them and they will tell you what to do to get the proper rate springs ( weigh your coach axles)

They are easy to install and you will never have to worry about it again.

 

[Brad Buchanan]

Just scrap the bags altogether and be done with that. Replace them with the correct coil springs from Super Steer.

Call them and they will tell you what to do to get the proper rate springs ( weigh your coach axles)

They are easy to install and you will never have to worry about it again.

Interesting.. Though I cant imagine why you would want to delete air suspension.

Much better ride than steel springs and also has self-leveling and ride height control.

 

[Isaac-1]

This is not air suspension, this is helper airbags inside the coil on the front springs on P32 chassis, I have the SuperSteer springs that are a step up in ride over the helper airbags, but not a BIG step

 

[BillyThib]

This is not air suspension, this is helper airbags inside the coil on the front springs on P32 chassis, I have the SuperSteer springs that are a step up in ride over the helper airbags, but not a BIG step

Precisely

 

[Larry N.]

Interesting.. Though I cant imagine why you would want to delete air suspension.

Much better ride than steel springs and also has self-leveling and ride height control.

Just keep in mind that DPs aren't the only air bags around- many gassers without air brakes have the supplemental air bags on their coil spring suspension. And they don't have self leveling nor ride height control.

 

[RayIN]

Either way you go, expect to need to replace them again in under 20,000 miles

That would be highly unusual. My original air springs still look new @ 57K miles and 26 yrs of age.
DKTOOL,
BTW; air bags are what is used inside coil springs to assist the springs Nearly all. diesel pushers and most semi's ride on air springs.

https://www.firestoneairide.com/content/dam/fsip/pdfs/airide/airide-aftermarket/commercial-air-spring-catalog-us.pdf.pdf

 

[Isaac-1]

Precisely

Billy, I just wanted to welcome you to the RV Forum, we met a few years ago (pre-covid) at your booth at the Houston RV show

 

[dktool]

Old bags out, 45 minutes total.
All tools used in picture.
Whatever durometer number this rubber was when new it's about a thousand points higher now !!

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Replace them with the correct coil springs from Super Steer.

The PO of my P32 installed these and they ended up cracking the control arms. Months and thousands in parts later, it's back to stock with airbags. It's telling that in the SuperSteer documentation they are not responsible for component damage. The first trip out after the repair DW and I both agreed that stock rode better than with the SuperSteer springs. I believe the bags are a bandaid by GM to make up for an overloaded front end. Whatever the reason they're not optional. Run them at 90psi per the manual and you get what you get. There's no making a P32 ride like a prevost so no point in trying.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[RV_Lee122]

I just watched a video of a guy replacing these "air bags" in the front springs. He used hose clamps to shrink down the bags so they would fit into the spring. If you are going to replace you'll want to watch

 

[dktool]

I received the new bags and I will used a vacuum pump and hose clamps as my first go to.
The new ones are thick and very stiff, the cap end is the real trouble point.

 

[dktool]

Install complete, all in all to too miserable of a job, done many that were much worse.
Didn't even loose any blood or bang my head which for me is rare.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

No crud fell into your eyes? Interesing gauge setup- is that part of an on-board compressor deal? I'm surprised with the lack of rust on the visible parts in the photos.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[dktool]

Nothing in my eyes which is another thing I usually get along with the blood and banged head.
This is a lifetime SoCal unit and had a good undercoat job done on key areas either pre-house build or soon after.
Most of the accumulated rust is from my time with it beach camping and I keep that in check with Rustoleum BBQ Black rattle cans.

Yes the gauge / valve set up is part of my homebrew on board air system.
Pump in the front and a 3 gallon reservoir tank mid chassis with a few quick connect sockets spread around.

If I ever do one of these bag jobs again I will try a piston ring compressor.
Didn't have my collection of them where I did this job.