If you want something done right...do it yourself.

[Jmooney]

Can't believe CW installer who ran the plastic air line for my airbags, right against the exhaust pipe.

Any wonder why it doesn't hold air.

The hose fitting is a once and done push in type.

Looking at the system, I'm surprised to find plastic hose. Anyone else have a braided hose, or upgraded the connections.

[DMRGMC]

I have the Firestone Ride Rites and actually had the left side bag replaced under warranty last season, the leak was at the top where rubber met steel. At the same time the installer upgraded the fittings at the bag inlet because the lines tend to leak over time and I noticed it on the gauge.
My system has a heat deflector to keep the line away from the exhaust. I put a short section of plastic water supply tubing around the line by slitting it, at that point in case there was any contact or friction from the heat deflector.

[Jmooney]

That's a good idea. Thanks

[clutch]

We have Firestone bags with plastic lines. No problems of any kind. They were installed at a small local shop.

[Jmooney]

Yea, everything I see online looks like plastic lines, so I guess I'm ok now.

[mcfarmall]

Originally Posted by Jmooney

Can't believe CW installer who ran the plastic air line for my airbags, right against the exhaust pipe.

Any wonder why it doesn't hold air.

The hose fitting is a once and done push in type.

Looking at the system, I'm surprised to find plastic hose. Anyone else have a braided hose, or upgraded the connections.

The hose fittings on my Firestone Ride-Rites are reusable push connects as are extremely common on industrial machinery. The easiest way to disconnect them if you have candy hands is to take a small adjustable wrench, close the jaws down so they slide over the tubing. With one hand slide the wrench up to the release ring and depress it. When fully depressed, pull the tubing out of the fitting with the other hand. Sometimes there will be a small groove where the ferrule bites into the OD of tubing and you have to overcome that. Simply take a sharp razor knife and trim the groove off leaving a nice square end and re-connect.

In your case, get some 1/4" OD polyureathane or nylon tubing, re-routing it away from heat or abrasion and re-connect it.

[Jmooney]

I pretty much butchered the existing fitting trying to get the hose out. Now I have removed the brass fitting from the top of the airbag and will head to the store to find a more friendly replacement.

Thinking I may just do both sides while I'm at it.

[Threebutchers]

Originally Posted by Jmooney

I pretty much butchered......

If you want something done right..... THREEBUTCHER it!!!!

[Stingray75]

Originally Posted by Jmooney

I pretty much butchered the existing fitting trying to get the hose out. Now I have removed the brass fitting from the top of the airbag and will head to the store to find a more friendly replacement.

Thinking I may just do both sides while I'm at it.

Head over to a truck stop and you'll find better nickel plated replacements

[Jmooney]

$4 for barbed brass fitting. Re routed hose up and over frame to avoid exhaust. Glad they left me some slack / service loop in the hose

It's holding air. Yea!

[Jmooney]

Part 2:

Doing ongoing work to the TV, getting it ready for the cross country run, so while checking , I find that the U bolts holding the airbag base to the axel are all barley tight, like just enough to position during install, but never torqued down after alignment.

I wonder what would have happened going over independence pass (12,000ft) had that blown apart.

Never going to allow CW to install anything again.

[Bob Landry]

CW stories are the reason I do all of my own installations and repairs. My job is always going to be better than the dealer's.

Wire loom is also a good anti-abrasion material. It slips easily over wire, plastic or copper tubing, it's cheap, and it just makes a professional looking installation.

[DMRGMC]

Originally Posted by Jmooney

Part 2:

Doing ongoing work to the TV, getting it ready for the cross country run, so while checking , I find that the U bolts holding the airbag base to the axel are all barley tight, like just enough to position during install, but never torqued down after alignment.

I wonder what would have happened going over independence pass (12,000ft) had that blown apart.

Never going to allow CW to install anything again.

Well, I had the same experience with the loose nuts on the u bolts. We were leaving Charleston last spring and the right rear calliper seized and overheated the rotor. Coincidently we found a Firestone Service shop for repairs and the mechanic found the nuts loose and tightened them. They were originally installed by a very reputable local Truck Service Company at home. Thanks for the reminder to check them again.