Cab air bag springs install on International.

[biscuits and gravy]

I Had an air bag on the sleeper cab that developed a bad leak while pulling a load. I noticed as I was driving the pop off valve and compressor was running nearly constant and popping a lot sooner then it normally did. I started checking things over and found a fast and loud rushing air leak on a cab air bag. I decided to replace both right then since they were both the same age.

I called a dealer near me and requested replacement bags and delivery. They provided everything with the normal highway robbery prices as we all know and delivered to the parking lot I made it to.

They passed the phone to a service guy while I was ordering to gather some insight about what I was up against and he made a quick description of remove and replace to help me out.

He said if the service department did it they would have to charge me $694 to do the job. He said the muffler, air tanks, under frame crossmember and drive shaft was in the way and they may have to remove some of those things. Then went on to say the air bags are located in a housing carriage that has to be unbolted from the sleeper and frame. Once the whole assembly is removed then they can remove the air bags from the assembly and replace with the new ones.

I stared at it awhile and worried that the replacement air springs they sent me were wrong. My old ones were short and fat balloon style bags. The new ones were tall and skinny.

I got after it and figured out if I jack up the sleeper instead of just blocking it up for safety I would be able to reach around everything and access everything and never have to remove anything the service guy described.

I used a small 2 ton bottle jack and raised the sleeper up after disconnecting the load valve leveler arm and dumping the air.

I then had access to reach up and unplug the air hoses from the top fittings. I then took a pry bar and hammer banged on the top side to get the rusted parts to let go of each other. I then unscrewed the bottom of the air bags from the assembly.

I placed the new airbags in their respective spots and spun them in, the attached the screw in air fittings to the top of the air springs. Then plugged in the air hoses and lowered the mini bottle jack to level the sleeper to the frame and reattached the load valve leveler arm.

Then cranked the truck and aired everything up and lower the mini jack some more and pulled it out. All is well now at half the price.

The message in this whole deal I want to pass on to an owner operator is buy a mini bottle jack. It has turned out to be usable for several different small repairs around the truck, holding small stuff in place and etc. You can get them at Walmart if you don't have a good tool house near you.

I know photos help so I'll try and post a couple below.