| Author | Message | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 333 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 4.88.107.57  Rating: |
OK, this one is kind of odd-ball but I have my bus up on jackstands and all the brake components stripped off so it may be time to look at the suspension system. My bus weighed 19K pounds when I started stripping it. It was designed to carry 99 persons so at a guesstimated weight of 150 pounds per person, that's a payload of 14,850 pounds or a total weight of about 34,000 pounds. I will soon get a total weight of my bus in stipped out condition but I'm going to guess that (before I start putting in plumbing, electrical, and furniture) I may be down in the 17,500 pound range. So, the suspension (BIG semi-elliptical steel leaf springs) is designed for about twice the weight that I'm actually running. As you can imagine, ride is what can only be described as rough. Has anyone converted a bus with steel leaf springs to an air bag suspension system? I'm under no illusions about the technical issues involved but with quality components available and some thought as to ride-height sensors and control of height, it seems "do-able". Any info gratefully appreciated. BH, NC USA | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 120 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.10  Rating: N/A |
Hello go to( hendrickson-intl.com )then click on products then click medim duty/bus/motorhome. they have front and rear complete air suspension kits and litterature that should help you a bit! Dave L | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 618 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.82.9.75 Rating: N/A |
The Skoolies take a modest solution. They lift the existing coach with air bags a couple of inches with low air pressure. This gives a far less harsh ride at low cost. IF your steel springs are shot , get the coach weighed fully loaded , and have the spring guy get springs MATCHED to the load. Blue Bird did this for years (springs matched to actual load) and had a fine ride with almost no maint.. FF | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 334 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 4.153.53.199 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for both replies. I'll follow up on the Hendrickson website (I've had a quick look) in detail. And, Fred, I've been told that there's a good spring guy in Charlotte and it will probably work out best to just "tune" the existing suspension but I was thinking at as long as I was going to the trouble, I might as well explore the idea of air bags. Thanks again for the info. | ||
| Jim Shepherd (Rv_safetyman)
Registered Member Username: Rv_safetyman Post Number: 273 Registered: 1-2004 Posted From: 67.142.130.43 Rating: |
I have done a couple of these conversions. One on a truck and one on my 56 Chevy. On the truck (International S1600 I converted to a motorhome), I used a kit. I don't think it was worth the money. On the front, I built my own by making long shackles with milled slots (so the spring could go up and down and then added air bags between the frame and spring. The major issue with air springs can be the need for a panhard rod (track bar) to keep the rear end located in the frame. One way to avoid the panhard rod is to leave the steel springs in place, remove several leaves and then add the air spring between the spring and frame. That way, the spring acts to locate the rear end, but does not contribute much to weight carrying. Adding a leveling valve is not a big deal. On my Chevy, I level (and adjust the height) manually and it works pretty good. Jim Shepherd Evergreen CO '85 Eagle 10 bus project page at: http://www.rvsafetysystems.com/busproject.htm | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 335 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 4.88.108.246 Rating: N/A |
Jim, that goes back to my issue of the empty bus running at about half it's "gross weight". I think that the plan to remove spring leaves is probably a very good one. I'd also looked at the Hendrickson kits and it looks as if they're designed to fit a specific chassic. I don't have a "specific" chassis! I'm sure that they're good but they look overkill and I'm sure that it would be as much work (read "$$$") to fit to my bus as making from scratch -- or doing a mixed system with small leaf springs and overload bags. I appreciate the comments. | ||
| Mel La Plante (Mel_4104)
Registered Member Username: Mel_4104 Post Number: 108 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.180.196.23 Rating: N/A |
Bruce you are going to need a very good metal fabricator and a good mill wright if you tackel this job. as advised above look into using an air bag aux along with the steel springs, it will keep the alianment of the drive shaft in place which is a mojor issue as if you get out even a little bit it will whine and shake the buse and in the end will take out your tranny and rear end. this will happen when you are away from your shop and become expensive to fix. if you deside to go the only air bag thing rember all the different rods and brakets that are under a air ride bus you will need to put under yours which will be a VERY $$$$ job. but enjoy what ever you deside to do. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 795 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 206.40.238.36 Rating: N/A |
Stay away from total air bags!! I tried to find a 3751 because it is such a neat bus and has no air bags, but ended up with a 4104. The 4104 is a great bus but the air bags are the pits. I'm tired of working on them and I have at least one more to do. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1272 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.110.9 Rating: N/A |
Gus, once they are done right. you're done. Springs can get cracked leaves over time as they work harden.Spring bushings wear out. My Brill had leaves; six above and six below the axle, which rode between them. It rode pretty decent, but would never go back. That double decker may start giving you stability problems if you don't have a good shock package to go along with the bags. I mean the swaying stability issues. It'll improve the ride somewhat, but will it be worth the effort and expense? You could have the springs redone at more realistic capacity and have teflon shims installed between the leaves to improve the ride. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1476 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 65.78.187.137  Rating: N/A |
Gus- Perhaps, if you think air suspension is so bad, then maybe you`d be interested in a beautifully converted Flx Vistaliner with new torsilastics all around??? I know of one that`s available. . .  | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 796 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 206.40.238.98 Rating: N/A |
RJ, I love the bus, just don't like the air bags!! | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 121 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.10 Rating: N/A |
Hi Bruce not to keep on about the site I told you about, but did you look at their HAS series. they state it is available in rateings from 12000 to 24000 Lb's. You are rite that your coach is not common but it looks like it bolts on like spring hangers would, you may have to add spacers where it bolts to the frame or modify the stamped steel cross brace to narrow it but it would give you a suspension that replacement parts are available across Canada and the U.S and not made up of a hodge podge of pieces. I realise it could be expensive but at what cost is you or your family worth. Dave L P.S. what is the out side width of your frame rails? 31 to 34 inches is a common width. |
