Pac Brake Air Bags Loosing Air

[TBusclas]

How long should my bags hold air? I installed these last summer and they have never held their air over about a week. Doesn't matter if the truck sits parked or is used. Doesn't matter if they are pumped to forty or fifty pounds or the minimum of ten. I have spent half a day with soap bottle trying to find a leak somewhere soaping the entire bag and all lines and fittings, nothing. I haven't contacted Pac Brake yet but that will probably be my next step.

 

[JRBurton]

Replace the fittings they are not the best quality. I have replaced almost all mine already. I have worked with reairing and installation of air brakes, I was skeptical of the fittings when I installed my air bags, so I thought it was just me, turned out to be the fittings. Just replace them with a better quality and you should be just fine. Just my $. 02 worth.



John

 

[Bill Stockard]

Replace the fittings they are not the best quality. I have replaced almost all mine already. I have worked with reairing and installation of air brakes, I was skeptical of the fittings when I installed my air bags, so I thought it was just me, turned out to be the fittings. Just replace them with a better quality and you should be just fine. Just my $. 02 worth. John

It sounds like the AirLift air bags I had on my truck... plastic push on to lock fittings. I was very careful to cut the plastic air lines square and with a razor sharp knife. I had slow leaking problems too. One side was worse than the other. I replaced the plastic fittings with brass truck air brake fittings on top of the bags and no more leaks.



Bill

 

[y22man]

oh, timely post. I need some bags, and if their system does not come with quality parts, I was leaning towards Pac as I might get the Pab Brake too. Now, Firestone is sounding better.

 

[Prairie Dog]

A lot of leaks with the small air lines are caused by poorly cut line and the use of the push connections. Make sure you use a fresh razor blade or box knife and cut the line very square and sharp.

 

[EricBu12]

How are the firestone airbag system. . seems like they have a brass connectors

 

[TomBrady]

I went with PacBrake because their bags are heavier duty than the Firestone. Have had zero problems. No matter which one you buy, you have to be very careful during installation.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I don't think you can go wrong with any airbags. All the companies seem to put out a good product. When I bought mine there were very few choices. I got the Firestones because we used them on vibe tables at work where they had the equiv. of many millions of miles of abuse and never had a failure.

 

[Regcabguy]

oh, timely post. I need some bags, and if their system does not come with quality parts, I was leaning towards Pac as I might get the Pab Brake too. Now, Firestone is sounding better.

I had one set of Firestone's that were perfect,one that had a leak from day one. I soaped the fittings,used mirrors and could never figure it out. I wonder if one of the bags had a leak?



Lucked out with the Carli LT's. No leaks in four yrs. Same push fittings I believe.

 

[wcjp]

Your type of soap is wrong for leak locating. Not all soap bubbles the same. It's probably a slow leak at the fitting.

 

[SWithrow]

How are the firestone airbag system. . seems like they have a brass connectors

I have had Firestones on my truck since 2004 and they are great, although at the time all the shop had was the manual fill, they still do the job.

 

[HBarlow]

I've read too many leaking air bags stories to ever want a set. I used Timbrens on my '06 dually and tolerated the awful ride because it was a working truck.

C&Cs don't require suspension assists. They are equipped with real springs by Ram when built.

 

[MLee]

I had the same issue with the fitting, on here it was suggested to go to the hardware store and get tubing type fittings. You don't need the swivel type they come with. You may have to re-engineer the fitting. I used a 1/4" adapter, with a 90* fitting and a ferrule and tube that goes inside the airline. Pretty much takes care of the problem. Now I have to come up with a way to fix the valve stem end from leaking, and get totaly away from the slip on connector.

 

[Regcabguy]

Your type of soap is wrong for leak locating. Not all soap bubbles the same. It's probably a slow leak at the fitting.

What's the correct soap?

 

[TBusclas]

Thanks for all the replies, used a leak detector solution that I use on propane connections and other gas work, the bags themselves have metal fittings coming out of them, the bags are teed together with metal fitting purchased from my local truck shop, still possible I damaged something on assembly, did use new razor, will probably go back on a warm day and start all over again with new fittings and line when I add a compressor, tank and in cab controls, at least it will be easier to just hit the switch in the cab to bring pressure back up.

 

[HBarlow]

What's the correct soap?

Leftist bubble bath?

 

[wcjp]

Usually a light soap. I use a proprietary soap at work. Too thick, it won't bubble. If the leak is too big it will blow out the soap, no bubbles.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I use Windex, has worked on everything from gas to air.

 

[MLee]

Kids bubble blower soap at the dollar store, The one you dip and blow. Don't take much to get a bubble.

 

[LBARTLETT]

my timbrens have never leaked :-laf:-laf