Ridewell down in the front.

[Gary Miller]

A fine example of the need to wrap the exhaust with header tape in
that area or some other type of heat shielding. There are other
critical items in there also such as the shifter cable, and throttle
cable.

It sounds as if you're describing the forward spring brake valve (the
one directly operated by the parking brake button - psssst). Been
there done that. I think it's supposed to also do some type of
proportioning of the air in the event of catastrophic air failure to
prevent an immediate lockup of the brakes, instead allowing a gradual
application. Failure modes (various leaks/various systems) of the
complex valve assembly are probably numerous when damaged by the heat.

Not sure it has much to do with the air suspension system however.
Other than the brakes need air first, then the accessories.

I've heard of some folks moving that valve to behind the airbags out
of danger and easier to work on. Not sure what science was applied
though since moving air valves and lines can disrupt the timing of
things in the brakes ever so slightly. It was easier for me to just
use heat shielding and header tape after changing the valve out. New
front airbags too (4).

Gary Miller
83 FC 33 - For Sale
Milwaukee area

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Harold Prescott"
wrote:
>
> I had a problem simular this. I had to replace the Bendix DC4
> valve. This valve is located on the drivers side inside frame rail
> just above the back-front air bag. It's inline with the air-
> compressor, located before the first air tank. The exhaust runs
> under the dc4 valve and over the front airbags.
> I had a leak in the flex pipe that caused extreme heat into the
area,
> destroying the *O* ring in the DC-4 valve. (also destroyed an air-
bag)
> This is a b*t*h to get to.
> With this valve malfuntioning, the front of the coach would'nt rise
> to the occasion. However the brakes aired up as did the rear air-
> bags.
>
> Hope this is of some help.
>
> Harold Prescott
> '85 FC35
> Norhtern California
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bluebird3208"
> wrote:
> >
> > I have had a long standing problem of the front air bags
deflating
> > soon after the bus is parked. The bags will not hold overnight
and
> > sometimes that is all I need before leaving the next day. The
> jacks
> > work great but it is just one more thing to do. I have been all
> over
> > the bus. I have bubbled and sniffed (ultrasonic leak detector)
every
> > air leak I could find, and I am talking a detail inspection. The
> two
> > dry tanks will hold air for 2 weeks but the wet bleeds off way to
> > soon.
> >
> > Here is proof that even I get lucky sometimes. I have been
working
> > on the genset quite a bit lately and I just hook up an air line
> from
> > the workshop to the schrader on the wet tank and keep it full to
> > operate the gen air ram. I was in a hurry today to go to lunch
> with
> > my wife and tried to whip the air hose of the shrader valve and
> > snapped it off the air tank fill. All the air in the wet tank
> > dumped rapidly as I left for lunch. When I got back the front of
> the
> > bus is still at ride height. The only thing that makes sense to
me
> > is that I am some how getting pressure to the front dump valve
when
> > there is available air pressure in the wet tank causing the front
> > bags to deflate.
> >
> > Anyone got an idea?
> >
> > Jim
> > 83 FCRB
> > Yorba Linda, ca
> >
>