Well back fixing the little things on my truck,first in line is this slow air leak down drivers side front & rear ,than the tanks slow leak down!! Trying to pin point the problem so check manifolds first than put the bags in the mix! Using a portable air tank with air gauge in place of a bag, can keep pressure on the manifold & open the fill side & see if the check valve is holding,leave over night see if the tank pressure drops,through shouldn't as no leaking seen!! Will do this with the rear manifold also!! With the front bag removed I see a 3'' tear at the bottom edge of the bag on the outer rubber covering will check for leakage ,but will replace both front bags at this time , 8 years old!
Glad you found the issue with the bag and it didn't blow out on 1 of your many road trip. I'd say for 8yrs you did good with the miles you have drove your truck. Any idea what might have torn the bag? Sharp edge or something f?
Litneon, front are Slam RE-6's, rear Firestone 9000 sleeve bags! This is what I found when I removed the front drivers side bag, tear is only the outside covering, pressurized & in a bucket of water no visible leaking ,but the in line gauge was dropping?? Ordering two new bags in the morning after calling Slam Specialties. They are 8 years old! Also found at the rear manifold air going right through the dump valve ,took it apart twice,cleaned & still happened ,will replace the valve!!
Are you running shocks up front? They look to be in great shape other than the tear. Mine look to be dry rotted on the outside where the most stretch takes place. But I also us shocks as a lower limit so that the bag can't over stretch and peel itself off of the bottom or top plates. I didn't alway have the shocks, and before I put them in, tore a couple bags. I'm sure that Slam Specialties will take care of you. I keep an extra pair of the RE-6's on the shelf for emergencies. I also use this for all threaded connections. Since I took the system apart and used it everywhere 3 or 4 years ago, I haven't had any leaks. Make sure it's the black stuff though....
Yes I run Doetch shocks at all 4 corners. I use this product on all thread air fittings, as it is what Slam calls for! I have both brass push to connect,all under the truck & AN on all the stainless lines in the bed. Also run check valves at all 4 manifolds in front of the fill valves & at the tanks inlet after the pumps & out let in front of the water traps!
Oh.... I haven't had much luck with that product, which was why I switched. The bag shouldn't care what you use. You do have a lot of connections, and in my line of work, the more connections, the more chance of a leak. I've thought of putting in check valves, but never got to it. I have a 1/2" line from the tank to my manifolds via compression connectors, then Grrip on all threaded connections, followed by the compression connectors for the 1/2" airline to the bag which has Grrip on it too. Hopefully the new bags sort it out.
Got the new front bags ,just waiting on a new valve. The rear manifold has a bad dump valve,cleaned all the parts more than once still stays open! Can't get the rebuild kits for these Asco valves any more, & seems only one supplier still has some so two new ones are on the way! I will remove the rear bags do do a good visual on them. When I talked with the Slam tech he said they have seen bags go 12 years than show bad checking like tires, said should change out around 5 years, all mine are at 8 years!
