2500 with rear air suspension first failure.

[NWatchel]

Went out with the wife shopping today and as we were leaving I noticed something hanging from my truck. Looks as though the plastic fitting for the air line to the LH airbag has failed. It was -37C here yesterday so I expect issues, but not this. I would have thought that the RAM engineers would have used brass fittings for the air suspension.

 

[HorseMan-AR]

Went out with the wife shopping today and as we were leaving I noticed something hanging from my truck. Looks as though the plastic fitting for the air line to the LH airbag has failed. It was -37C here yesterday so I expect issues, but not this. I would have thought that the RAM engineers would have used brass fittings for the air suspension.

Interesting. Did the bag deflate or act differently? Any CELs? Other than noticing the line hanging down, any indications of an issue?

 

[HorseMan-AR]

Wait, isn't that the rear diff vent line? It's usually connected to frame up above with a little metal clip? The end of that line looks just like the vent line for rear diff??

 

[NWatchel]

I tried to pull on it, if it is the vent line it is stuck or frozen into something. There are no warning lights on at all.

 

[mpaulson]

Looks like the vent tube. One would think that if it was a bag line your truck would be sitting on the bump stops and you would have bells and whistles going off.

 

[seafish]

X3 on it likley being the axle tube vent...pulling on the line won't tell you anything...finding the termination point will...use a mirror and a flashlight to find where it goes to.

 

[HorseMan-AR]

That vent tube is connected to axle, obviously, and I believe it's clamped on tight. Pulling on it won't do anything but stretch the hose. It has simply fallen out of its clip retainer up above on frame. Factory probably didn't snap it in fully.

 

[AH64ID]

As others have said it's the axle vent tube, and is there on any suspension truck.

Put it back in it's clamp and keep driving

 

[NWatchel]

It was the axle vent. Once I got under there properly it was easy to find the clip. I will be replacing the clip once it warms up, I'm going to use one of those rubber coated hose clamps as the Mopar one only holds the hose on 2 sides and when it gets cold the hose hardens up and just slips right out.

On another note I have a leaking axle seal. Inside of the tire and brake rotor are covered in slimy stinky gear oil. Good thing she's still under warranty.

 

[Cummins12V98]

It was the axle vent. Once I got under there properly it was easy to find the clip. I will be replacing the clip once it warms up, I'm going to use one of those rubber coated hose clamps as the Mopar one only holds the hose on 2 sides and when it gets cold the hose hardens up and just slips right out.

On another note I have a leaking axle seal. Inside of the tire and brake rotor are covered in slimy stinky gear oil. Good thing she's still under warranty.

View attachment 90185

I think you should look at your brake fluid level!

 

[JR]

I wonder if your tube got plugged up with snow or ice while it was hanging and caused the axle to pressure up?
Or it could just be a coincidence....

 

[JR]

I think you should look at your brake fluid level!

I thought of that as well, but he said it stinks like gear lube so I didn't mention it.

 

[HorseMan-AR]

Kinda strange that the vent tube would come loose, and now the leak. Good thought on the vent tube getting plugged up...

Keep us posted.

 

[NWatchel]

I wonder if your tube got plugged up with snow or ice while it was hanging and caused the axle to pressure up?
Or it could just be a coincidence....

Very likely scenario.

 

[HorseMan-AR]

OP - did you ever get squared away with the issues? Wondering how it came out...

 

[NWatchel]

She went to the dealer, axle seal was leaking, replaced under warranty. Could not do anything for the vent tube as there is nothing actually broken, just a poor design.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Looky what I found on my truck after reading this thread.............bad picture but yep, the axle vent tube has fallen out of its clip.

 

[mwilson]

It would appear that there is now a pattern......either not enough clips to stand ice and snow load OR clipped off too short to allow for suspension travel...

 

[seafish]

She went to the dealer, axle seal was leaking, replaced under warranty. Could not do anything for the vent tube as there is nothing actually broken, just a poor design.

Zip ties are your friends!!

 

[DonFitzwater]

It would appear that there is now a pattern......either not enough clips to stand ice and snow load OR clipped off too short to allow for suspension travel...

Yep. This truck has been driven in a little snow but nothing bad and has never been off road. It hasn't even experienced any really cold temps yet......only about 10 below zero.