Your Right, Chuck! And here it is!
from 7-98 GMCMM
Emergency Air Bag
Replacement Spring
By Donald Locke
Hartselle AL
My wife and I didn't like the idea of using a solid block of wood or a
metal bar as an emergency replacement unit for a weak or blown air bag.
They make the ride too stiff.
Our air bag (see drawing above) had what appeared to be flaws in the rubber
on one end. We also found two tiny leaks on the other end under the support
cuff. To replace this faulty air bag while we either repaired it or waited
for a new one to be shipped to us, we began looking for alternatives.
After some research and checking different coil springs, I selected
the front spring from a 1996 Chevrolet motorhome chassis. (Sorry, the # of
the spring wasn't available. However, there are 8 coils in the spring. The
steel in the spring is 7/8' in diameter, and the spring is a total of 13"
in length.)
Following a little experimentation, the resulting dimensions were
found to be correct for our 1974 GMC Canyon Lands motorhome.
Materials Needed:
Front spring from a 1996 Chevrolet motorhome chassis
1 1/4' thick hardwood or aluminum scrap
(Depending upon the GMC model you own, you may need to change the
thickness of the blocks to attain the correct ride height.)
1. Cut two of the wood blocks to fit inside the spiraled ends of the spring
snugly.
2. Cut the other three to match the diameter of the ends of the air bag.
3. Drill a 1/2' hole through the center of each wooden block.
4. Glue the blocks together as seen in the photograph below.
5. Insert a lag bolt through the two glued blocks from the smaller end.
6. Push each of the small ends of the blocks into the side of the spring it
was designed for.
7. Remove the faulty air bag, and then bolt the "emergency air bag
replacement spring" into place. With this "replacement spring" in place, we
were able to repair our air bag with a tire patch. It is holding very well.
The ride is a little stiffer than an air bag with this set up; but, we are
convinced it is much softer than what might be had with a solid block of
wood or a metal bar.
>Paul
>
>IIRC, there's an article complete with picture of just such a coil spring
>application in one of the GMCMM issues. I can check for the specific issue
>if no one else chimes in before I have an opportunity to review my issues.
>
>Chuck
>77 Kingsley
>North Idaho
>
>
>From: Paul Cormier
>
>Has any one ever considered an A-frame
>spring to replace the air bag?. I am sure that some of you know the weight
>rating of that bag; and, therefore could establish a guide for spring
>replacement. Is this another crazy idea or does it have merit?
>
>
>
