Suspension lean solved...what I learned

[fwernlein]

Good logical observation....i'll file this useful info for when I
have this issue come up!

Thanks!

Frank W.
Woodbridge, VA.
85FC33


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman"
<sforman@r...> wrote:
>
> Thought I would share my findings with the group regarding the
> leaning air suspension I have talked about here lately.
>
> I got the coach back yesterday after having a rough-looking airbag
> replaced on the left front (for review-the front axle was listing
to
> the left while the rear was properly level). The old bag that was
> replaced appeared to still be holding air (no audible leaking
noise
> and no bubbling when soaped), but did have a large tear in the
outer
> bladder that had exposed the inner bladder to the environment.
> Holding air or not, I figured its days were numbered, so I opted
to
> replace.
>
> The suspension now operates correctly. Since the only thing that
has
> changed is the replaced bag, I have developed a theory on what was
> causing my lean:
>
> I suspect that the torn bag was seeping air even though I could
find
> no evidence of it. As a result of this, I believe that when the
> suspension was airing up from a dump position and the front
leveling
> valve was calling for air to lift the front axle, air would fill
the
> right side bags faster than the left side, casuing the lean. The
> front leveling valve only knows up and down, not side to side, so
it
> just keeps pumping until a height is reached. If it lifts
unevenly,
> it doesn't care, it just wants to reach a height. So the right
side
> was getting over-inflated before the left could catch up.
>
> Meanwhile, on the rear axle, the rear valves that control side-to-
> side were oblivious to what was happening. The lean was
pronounced
> in the front, but 30 feet back at the rear axle, the lean was much
> less dramatic, so the rear valves, though functioning correctly,
> weren't adjusting enough to correct it.
>
> So that's my theory based on what I have learned. My escapades
> chasing gremlins in the air suspension have given me a lot of
respect
> for the complexity and engineering that went into the system.
It's a
> living thing...it breathes, it consumes, and when you can't find
the
> problem, it seems like it hates. Many different things that all
have
> to work together or the whole thing fritzes out.
>
> Scott Forman
> 'Tiger Pride'
> 82 FC35RB
> Memphis
>