05-04-2015, 12:20 PM
Richard: cool questions you do ask. I'm grateful for them.
Here is what I've noticed. With the shock disconnected and the air bags empty and the rear of the coach sitting on the down stops (vertical metal posts on the top of the rear axle below the main frame members, this limits how far the rear can drop). When I add air to the rear rear bags the right side rises starting at about 100psi and continues to rise until I shut off the air when the bags have risen as much as is prudent (fender well opening is several inches above the tires). The left side very slowly rises about 1/2-3/4 of an inch and then stops even as the air pressure rises to 110+psi. Yes, this puts twist in the coach. If I start from full down and use the HWH panel to raise the left side the front comes up and the rear acts as I just described.
When the gauge I've installed on the output of the left rear 6-pack shows 110psi (knowing the right only takes just over 100psi to fully rise), I shut the air off at the 6-pack, crawl under the coach and the left bags seem to have at least as much rigidity as the right side and probably more. If I then place a hydraulic jack under the frame at the front of the torque tubes on the left side and jack it up, it takes a fairly small effort on the 20 ton jack to raise the frame 3-4 inches. This is where it gets weird; when I then drop the jack the coach follows it back down, no air was added or released. I hear no noises while all this is going on. There is nothing holding up the frame from the axle except the air bags and any resistance in the ends of the torque arms. Given all this, it's as if the coach has gained several thousand pounds on the left rear corner, with that weight exceeding what the air bags can support, but only when parked. Going down the road during the time I've had this issue, the ride height is fine. I'm beginning to worry I've got early onset stupidity, that I'm missing something so obvious that the eventual solution will embarrass the heck out of me - duhh!
If you want me to try something specific just describe it and I'll tell you what results. I appreciate any help I can get.
Alie says: Hi y'all". I guess the time we spent in Memphis rubbed off on her.
Here is what I've noticed. With the shock disconnected and the air bags empty and the rear of the coach sitting on the down stops (vertical metal posts on the top of the rear axle below the main frame members, this limits how far the rear can drop). When I add air to the rear rear bags the right side rises starting at about 100psi and continues to rise until I shut off the air when the bags have risen as much as is prudent (fender well opening is several inches above the tires). The left side very slowly rises about 1/2-3/4 of an inch and then stops even as the air pressure rises to 110+psi. Yes, this puts twist in the coach. If I start from full down and use the HWH panel to raise the left side the front comes up and the rear acts as I just described.
When the gauge I've installed on the output of the left rear 6-pack shows 110psi (knowing the right only takes just over 100psi to fully rise), I shut the air off at the 6-pack, crawl under the coach and the left bags seem to have at least as much rigidity as the right side and probably more. If I then place a hydraulic jack under the frame at the front of the torque tubes on the left side and jack it up, it takes a fairly small effort on the 20 ton jack to raise the frame 3-4 inches. This is where it gets weird; when I then drop the jack the coach follows it back down, no air was added or released. I hear no noises while all this is going on. There is nothing holding up the frame from the axle except the air bags and any resistance in the ends of the torque arms. Given all this, it's as if the coach has gained several thousand pounds on the left rear corner, with that weight exceeding what the air bags can support, but only when parked. Going down the road during the time I've had this issue, the ride height is fine. I'm beginning to worry I've got early onset stupidity, that I'm missing something so obvious that the eventual solution will embarrass the heck out of me - duhh!
If you want me to try something specific just describe it and I'll tell you what results. I appreciate any help I can get.
Alie says: Hi y'all". I guess the time we spent in Memphis rubbed off on her.
Jon Kabbe
1993 coach 337 with Civic towed