-
BLOWN TAG AXLE AIRBAG
I haven’t seen the old airbag yet, but I was told by mobile mechanic that the 2 bottom studs had ripped out of the bag. Mechanic capped air line to tag bag and brake as I can’t get tag wheels completely off the ground. I’m limping into Denver tomorrow for 1 new bag. All rear bags are 4 years old with 50,000 miles.
BTW, for those of you who know I tow, I have virtually no tongue weight with my setup.
Has anybody experienced this type of failure?
Is there a later model upgraded bag? I realize I would have to change 6 if changing the type of bag.
1999 XLV
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
6 Replies
-
There are a lot of things going on here, some related, some have nothing to do with each other. What was the first thing you noticed that started this issue?
-
Bang while parked
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440-
To make sure i understand you were parked, the parking brake was set, engine was off and you heard a bang?
-
-
yes
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
Eureka! When I changed the airbags, I found several of the nuts holding the lower studs missing. I installed nuts and split lock washers. The two lower nuts on this tag airbag had vibrated off. I believe At some point in time when I dumped left rear air, the airbag retracted pulling the lower studs from the mounting plate. When I reinflated airbag, the studs did not go back into the holes in the mounting plate and the pressure bent the two lower studs over causing eventual failure.
The moral of this story is that it would be prudent to check that lower mounting studs on your airbags are secured with stop nuts.
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
I don’t think what you are saying is even remotely possible without some other events occurring.
Log in to reply.