mic 7 air bags

[challenger440]

Well it looks like I'll be needing at least pass. side rear air bags.  Haven't pulled the wheels off yet but the bags are well cracked.  Enough so that I'll feel better with new ones.

   Is there a good place to buy the bags?   Should I buy the air beam replacement system and just install that?  Not sure on prices but is the rolling lobe setup cheaper?  I think the air beams are ok but not certain.

  How about used bags?  Is there such a thing?

Thanks, John M.

[challenger440]

Make that an MCI MC7.

[moose]

Hello
i have a mci7 and got all my stuff from Luke at US coach
if your beam is good and has no leaks use it
if it has leaks by the plates system and change them
trevor

[Chopper Scott]

Don't waste your time with used bags. I eliminated my originals and went with the rolling bag kits from Mohawk as I had a beam leaking.
If you stay with the original type make sure and get the bolt kit also. You will more than likely ruin the originals.

[scanzel]

My advice would be to replace them all, especially if you have cracking showing up. Best to do it once than to have to do others later on, especially if on the road. It happened to me while waiting in line at an rv camp ground. Right front air bag blew out and scared the hell out of everyone standing in line. Happened on a Friday afternoon, went the weekend with not finding any help. Left the bus at a truck dealer on Monday to get all 8 bags changed and went back a week later to bring it home. The bags turned out to be the originals from 1989. Having one blow while driving can even be an experience.

[moose]

Hello
On my 1970 MCI 7 i just changed all the air bags but seriouslly considered the mohawk system ,but i was worried about the cost of extra work on hooking up th air to the plate .the tag axle still goes thru the aired frame or am I WRONG , i would like to see a picture of the airlines after the plating is done or instructions how they do it
Do you have to do anything with your leveling system or will it just work
trevor

[bevans6]

I bought bags and the special nuts and bolts from Luke.  Price was as good as anywhere and service was great as always.  don't even think about reusing the fasteners, buy new.  If you have any doubts about your air beams leaking now or soon, switch to plates and rolling lobe bags.  My last choice would be to blank off the stock double convoluted bags as the ride would get pretty stiff.

Brian

[papatony]

    Luke has the best price I have found

[lostagain]

You can block off the convoluted bags. There is no noticeable difference in ride quality between using the air beam or blocking it off. That system is not used anymore. A rolling lobe bag would be better with a block off plate. My 5C has blocked off rear convoluted bags and I couln't tell if I didn't know. It rides nice and smooth. 

JC

[challenger440]

Thanks everyone.  The drivers side bags look to be fairly new.  No cracks etc.  Passenger side on the other hand look like they might be from 1973. 

I"ll check with Luke.



P.S a dd3 from mci is 956 smackers.

[Chopper Scott]

The rear tag is seperate from the airbeams. Going with the block off plates and eliminating the beams is really simple as far as rehooking up the lines to the other 8 bags. To each his own but it's not the easiest job to change the bags and I only wanted to do it once. Jacking up the bus, securing it and removing the wheels could be out of many folks abilities. I think the kit and rolling lobe bags were somewhere around $1600 and it still retained it's nice ride.

[Tenor]

Challenger, I'll second the suggestion that if your beams are good, just replace the bags and save the money on plating the beams.  I did that with my MCI 7 and it never drops.  Mohawk sells the bags with the rings and bolts as a package.  Just confirm it with them on the phone.  I have found that they are a were a little cheaper than Luke, but he is such a helpful person I don't mind spending the extra few bucks.  Good luck!

Glenn

[Oonrahnjay]

My advice would be to replace them all, especially if you have cracking showing up.(snip)

If you don't replace them all, *very* carefully inspect the others.  They tend to wear and get thin in places you can't see them; if they're like the bags that I'm used to, the steps from "pretty much bad and ready to blow" to "cracked and ready to blow" is a pretty thin line.  I see in a subsequent post that the OP has looked at the other bags but I'd re-emphasize the "carefully" part.

[challenger440]

New bags on the way from Luke.  Any tips on easy removal of the old bags...   I'm guessing that they are seated pretty firmly in their old homes. j

[robertglines1]

You prob know this but block shell up as high as you can and then you can let down on drive axle and make more room to  fit new ones in. Anything to break rust seal from top chisel between mount and old air bag. good time to check shocks out also. If you change one on drive axle change them all. Around $40 each. Good luck and be careful Bob