Time for new springs

esmith2039

esmith2039

Active member
The Alaska trip took its toll on the suspension. Don’t remember it being this close prior, it’s about 2 finger widths. Granted it seems to slowly worse over the years. Didn’t use to drag at all.

Going to the scale and stop by a spring shop next week. This is a Chevy Express 3500 chassis but has the Silverado axle and suspension though. Wonder what price tag will be? If they’ll even want to. Tempted to do airbags or extra leafs but those seem to just be band aids.
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leaf springs are fairly cheap, especially if you go to some place where that is their specialty and they might even build them their self in the shop..

nothing wrong with air springs as long as you understand the expense as well as the fact they won't last more than about ten years before they have issues and you have an onboard compressor to handle the inevitable leaks.

there is also another option available, called Timbrens.. I have Timbrens on my truck... which is a rubber bag that supplements that leafs without needing a pneumatic system. https://timbren.com/?utm_term=timbr...ddj7ztfrhGwrUgqwwN2v2BeD6xkAokyxoCQ_kQAvD_BwE
 
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Wayne said:
It seems your leaf springs have weakened. For what it's worth, I really like the air bags, as they take some weight off the springs and decrease the spring rate, which yields a better ride. They would also probably help reduce the fatigue on the springs over time.

https://rvthe.us/community/threads/...using-for-a-year-and-15-000-miles-towing.183/
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I thought about air bags just for the extra height in a out of driveways. It is actually nice since take very little to level it. The air pump would be nice but don't know if I want to do all the extra work air bags entails.
 
MSCH said:
leaf springs are fairly cheap, especially if you go to some place where that is their specialty and they might even build them their self in the shop..

nothing wrong with air springs as long as you understand the expense as well as the fact they won't last more than about ten years before they have issues and you have an onboard compressor to handle the inevitable leaks.

there is also another option available, called Timbrens.. I have Timbrens on my truck... which is a rubber bag that supplements that leafs without needing a pneumatic system. https://timbren.com/?utm_term=timbr...ddj7ztfrhGwrUgqwwN2v2BeD6xkAokyxoCQ_kQAvD_BwE
Click to expand...
Yeah there's a spring shop close to work I'm going to check out. They might not even need to replace the spring pack, although I but their shot. Alot of options. It does ride pretty good so hate to change that.
 
Stopped by the spring place today.. what a joke they are. I have words and thoughts but nothing nice. They clearly didn't want to even though would of been a fairly easy job. Thinking I'll just go with air bags so I can air it up and down as needed. The air compressor might come in handy. Airlift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate. If big buses have airbags and only airbags should be ok.
 
Wayne said:
This is the same kit I have with the WirelessOne compressor kit. I can't say enough good about it and highly recommend Airlift.
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Did you setup a external fill port.. say to fill tires etc? Not sure how much I'd ever use that though.
 
Don’t have high hopes on these lasting long. Think they’ll be carrying too much weight. This is with 60 lbs. Quite the chore getting those squeezed in there.
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How much pressure do you lose daily? Just setting in the driveway loses about 5lbs a day. Wonder how much it’ll lose on the road.
Checked foe leaks didn’t find any. About 2 inches higher but mostly on the inner jounces so see how that goes.
 
esmith2039 said:
How much pressure do you lose daily? Just setting in the driveway loses about 5lbs a day. Wonder how much it’ll lose on the road.
Checked foe leaks didn’t find any. About 2 inches higher but mostly on the inner jounces so see how that goes.
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it will probably lose 5 psi a day if it is just a simple system... as the rate of loss in closed system should be fairly static unless it has a ride height control valve, which is going to add or exhaust air as the load changes..

really small air leaks can only be found with a sonic tester.. soap and water work OK on less than minute leaks but the really small leaks are almost impossible to find without special sonic testers which hardly anyone has on hand..

do those kind of air spring setups have a leveling valve along with a reservoir so it can maintains ride height over a long period of time or do you just add air when you think you need it?
 
MSCH said:
it will probably lose 5 psi a day if it is just a simple system... as the rate of loss in closed system should be fairly static unless it has a ride height control valve, which is going to add or exhaust air as the load changes..

really small air leaks can only be found with a sonic tester.. soap and water work OK on less than minute leaks but the really small leaks are almost impossible to find without special sonic testers which hardly anyone has on hand..

do those kind of air spring setups have a leveling valve along with a reservoir so it can maintains ride height over a long period of time or do you just add air when you think you need it?
Click to expand...
Just add air when it needs it.. Probably should of got a air pump. I’ll do that during the winter.
 
Just a update after the last trip and it’s not good. The airbags are coming off. The ride is so horrible it beats you to death almost. Even at 10psi.. there’s just no suspension travel since its setting on the internal jounces. Going to look at a place in Wichita for new springs. The extra couple inches of height came in handy but not worth it.
 
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