Hello from Soldotna Alaska

Well, life has been good but there has been no time for Ms Kingsley. Long story related to a pandemic and trying to build a house at the worst time in history. So I have turned it over to a shop for help. I have faith in the running gear and brakes but now dealing with the air leakage in the suspension. I soapy water tested everything and found no leaks including the bags. He is suggesting eliminating the compressor and hoses and all the other stuff and just going with a valve at the bags that I will inflate/deflate the bags as needed. I know it's not ideal but at least it will function and usable while i move forward with other fixes. I need some direction on that option and maybe a suggestion on where to look for leaks if it's not the bag or in the compartment where the compressor sits. I have done a search on the forum but can't seem to find anything and I prolly need a lesson in searching the site.
 
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With building a new house house I can imagine your budget is tight, but the Micro-Level system from fellow GMCer Keith Vasilakes is a great way to go. If not now, but in the future.

It replaces the 40+ year old system with just one air line to each side and simplifies height setting and control. It even self-levels the coach at the camp site!

 
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Get a couple shrader valves from the hardware / auto parts store. Bush out to 1/4"npt. With the coach blocked up beneath the bogie blocks, remove the airlines and install. Easy peasy. Air up to get it off the blocks, adjust to desired height.
 
RF_Burns said:
With building a new house house I can imagine your budget is tight, but the Micro-Level system from fellow GMCer Keith Vasilakes is a great way to go. If not now, but in the future.

It replaces the 40+ year old system with just one air line to each side and simplifies height setting and control. It even self-levels the coach at the camp site!

Click to expand...
Yes, money is tight and I think I'll file this for an upgrade down the road. Looks like a quality yet simpler system.
 
bdub said:
Get a couple shrader valves from the hardware / auto parts store. Bush out to 1/4"npt. With the coach blocked up beneath the bogie blocks, remove the airlines and install. Easy peasy. Air up to get it off the blocks, adjust to desired height.
Click to expand...
Ok, this is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you for this!
 
Frostbitten,

Billy's plan will work for the short term or if you don't go far and if you have a heavy coach. I was forced to try this will my very light 23 and the 300+# from full to empty caused some handling issues on wet pavement.

The system isn't that hard to repair. With an EL1, the problem is likely in the valve matrix.

Matt
 
My setup had quarter-turn ball valves on the line that feeds the bags (quad bag setup). It also had a shrader valve. I filled up the bags until the coach "looked right", then drove it 1250 miles and never thought about it again. Perhaps I had too much else to distract me.

I've got a '75 with a power-level setup. My control valves had been replaced with a kit, but one of those valves needed replaced. Rather than spend the big bucks, I found identical valves from other sources. I eliminated all the leaks in my "hold" circuit. I still have leaks in my "travel" circuit, but they're slow enough to get me by for now. You can see some of the info in my build thread:
https://www.gmcmotorhome.org/threads/the-ferrigno-familys-1975-gmc-glenbrook.342/post-9222
https://www.gmcmotorhome.org/threads/the-ferrigno-familys-1975-gmc-glenbrook.342/post-8899

The valve I replaced was a WHITEY B-43ZF2 5-WAY BALL VALVE from ebay. I found one for <$70. They're bulletproof. The only reason I needed to replace one, was the original installation involved an overly agressive thread sealant/locker combined with weak fittings I was not able to successfully extract. They work great as an upgrade to the original and troublesome control valves (if that's what you have).
 
Matt Colie said:
Frostbitten,

Billy's plan will work for the short term or if you don't go far and if you have a heavy coach. I was forced to try this will my very light 23 and the 300+# from full to empty caused some handling issues on wet pavement.

The system isn't that hard to repair. With an EL1, the problem is likely in the valve matrix.

Matt
Click to expand...
Sorry, EL1 is ??
 
GMCMI Spring 2026 Rally
Applied GMC

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