Front airbag resealing

Stangman

Stangman

Project car a.d.d.
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I cant seem to find that thread that I saw a while back...

But I'm getting sick of my front bags deflating 20 minutes into driving...

How exactly would one "reseal" the front solenoids on the air bags?

Is it as simple as getting some clear RTV and pulling the solenoid out and running a bead of sealer around it? (because thats what I'm about to do tonight after I get home)

Or are there O-rings involved in this?

Help!
 
Perfect. Exactly what I was looking for... Thanks!

Guess it has to wait for O rings...


Is this where the airbags on Marks usually leak at?
 
It can be but not normally. If the bags are old, they will usually begin to crack in the fold and start a slow leak there. It could be one bag leaking and if it goes down, the other will also because of the weight support. One bag can't hold both sides up.
 
The o-rings don't usually leak unless they recently been disturbed.
So if you hadn't recently disturbed the solenoids prior to the leak, it's most likely the rubber bags that are failing you.
 
Nope, havent, but the funny part is, if the bags were ripped, wouldnt they NOT pump up at all?

My suspension will pump up, and it will hold for a while, but after driving it, they leak faster than they can pump up, and the compressor gives up.

When my car gets halfway done raising up, I hear air start to come out somehwere... and if I help lift the car up while the compressor is one, It will pump all the way up... wouldnt that be bad o-rings?

My front end is soooo wore out on the drivers side that the wheel moves back and forth... could that have caused a "solenoid disturbance" per say?
 
It's not that your bags are ripped, just that they are leaking.
The rubber is deteriorating and there are pin holes in the rubber. Sometimes they are sealed by the way the rubber has rolled over itself, other times, they are exposed.

A tired front end isn't enough to disturb the solenoid seal.

If you want to retain the air ride, you'll need to address the problem before you burn out the compressor. If you intend to go to coil springs anyway... the clock is ticking.
 
This may sound dumb, But can't we use FLAT FIX, in the air bags, as long as the goo is but directly in the bag and you wait till it sets, I don't think it will hurt the the leveling valves as long as its dry. Has any one tried it?
 
I wouldn't do that due to the fact that air goes in AND out of the solenoid... it would clog it up in no time...
 
Ya. While the solenoid is at the upper end of the bag, there is still risk of slosh being thrown up. The stuff does not harden unless expose to atmosphere or let to settle in a low pressure environ for a while.
 
fix it right, replace the bags, they are old and leaking, tires do the same thing over time, its rubber, its not gonna last for life. if you want it fixed correctly, your only choice is replace the struts with new ones, used ones that dont leak, or coil springs. anyway you do it, its gonna cost money. i'm not trying to make a sale, i could care less honestly, but i have been around for quite a long time, people here know me well and my ebay feedback speaks for itself, i have a pair of low mile, non leaking second gen front struts for sale right now on ebay. its a cheaper option than new struts, because they are quite expensive, i dont sell junk.
 
To the OP, You're leaking in the folds by every detail you described...turn your steering wheel all the way to the Right (to check passenger side) or Left (to check the driver side) and with the compressor still kickin' run out and reach into the wheel well...then, feel around the fold and wait for air to come out and if it does, ding ding ding, there you go...
 
CobraStar_LS8 said:
To the OP, You're leaking in the folds by every detail you described...turn your steering wheel all the way to the Right (to check passenger side) or Left (to check the driver side) and with the compressor still kickin' run out and reach into the wheel well...then, feel around the fold and wait for air to come out and if it does, ding ding ding, there you go...
Click to expand...

I'll try that
 
jamie97lsc said:
fix it right, replace the bags, they are old and leaking, tires do the same thing over time, its rubber, its not gonna last for life. if you want it fixed correctly, your only choice is replace the struts with new ones, used ones that dont leak, or coil springs. anyway you do it, its gonna cost money. i'm not trying to make a sale, i could care less honestly, but i have been around for quite a long time, people here know me well and my ebay feedback speaks for itself, i have a pair of low mile, non leaking second gen front struts for sale right now on ebay. its a cheaper option than new struts, because they are quite expensive, i dont sell junk.
Click to expand...

Jamie, I saw the 1 strut from the 2nd gen... but not the 2nd one... I know they are a tan color...
 
Well, sure enough I went out there, cranked the wheel and started it... and of course it wouldnt leak when I want to check it, so I had my dad bounce the front end while I put my hands all over the struts. Sure enough, they leak at the very very bottom of the rubber... Dang.. Guess I'll be buying struts...

Makes sense though, I have to replace EVERY other part on the front end of that thing.
 
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