Ok so last night I was gassing up the gasser and as I pulled into the station and went over the little rain imbankment I heard a loud SNAP..and my whole car abruptly fell to the left. I pulled up to the pump and I realized that my left rear bag was not inflated, or taking air(it was hissing). So after being lost in translation with the station attendent I finaly was able to get a flashlight to check the damage. Not Good!... The bag kicked off the lower support bracket and was dangling under the frame. I was able to raise the car just enough to get a jack(supplied by AAA) under the frame just in front of the support. After jacking up the car enough to properly survey the damage I was a bit surprised. The lower bolt was gone....but the weird part was the threads were PERFECT..not stripped at all, not even the first ones. WIERD. So after placing a 2x4 above the rear axle supported by the frame we were able to keep the car up just enough to load onto a flatbed and take it back to my place. Does anyone know or have any ideas how that could of happened?? The system was professionally installed so I really am not sure what to think. The only thing I could think of was there might not have ever been a bolt supporting it and it was just a matterof time before it popped off. What I am wondering is if there is anyone in the so-cal area, close to Long Beach that knows someone GOOD that makes house calls to repair Air Ride systems, and or good shop were I can get the bag itself??
Sounds like a not so "professional" job, if they forgot to put a bolt on or leave it loose. I'm not so sure I follow you on the dangling bracket thing, did it rip a weld or was it some sort of bolt on deal. Anyway, how come you don't take it back to those professionals and have them fix it. If not, then I don't think you should have a problem finding a shop in Southern California to fix Airbag suspensions. Long Beach?...I thought there would be a fabricator on every street corner by now, everyones a fabricator nowadays! If nothing else, I'd be glad to fix it for you, I'm only 10 hours North of you...
nevermind I get it now, the bag was dangling ,mount was okay, it does sound like they forgot to bolt the lower portion of the bag though.
yea the mount was fine, it was the bag that was dangling. Etherway if they dident put an FN bolt in its not so "pro"...haha I just removed the bag about 10 min ago, very easy process(3 bolts and an air line. I have called a few shops and it seems as the bags are all special order??? I assumed So-Cal would have a bit more in the way of air suspension supplies.
What kind of bag? What size? Most shops should have them in stock unless they're an oddball size. Change the fitting while you're at it and make a fresh cut on the end of the air line to make sure you have a proper seal. Otherwise you'll end up with a leak.
Chip, sucks to hear that happened to you. Guessing the part you need to replace is: tapered sleeve 1500# rating, Min. height 4.5", installed height 9" - 9.5", max height 12", diameter inflated 5" part # F9000, Air Ride Technologies. call them direct, 812-481-4787. The bolt should have been secured with a nut that you can put a cotter pin through. when you re-install the bag, make sure you do it that way otherwise you will run into this problem again. They also make a new airspring now called the F9100. ask them bout it. it's beefier, and more havy duty but costs double.
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