Air Ride Pneumatic Line

[ledzilla]

So, set the way back machine for two years ago. My brother-in-law and I pulled the trans out for a rebuild, but we had to cut off the bolts for the crossmember with a torch since the heads were immediately rounded off by the impact wrench. What was not known for a while was that in the process we melted a section of the pneumatic line. I bought some new line and some straight quick-connect unions from Suncore, but the line just kept leaking where the original line connected with the unions. I ran out of sufficient sunlight and warm enough temperatures to continue trying, and shortly thereafter the trans blew up again, and my MM sat for quite a long time.

Now we come to today. I had ordered 20' of new line to run from front to back from Suncore. However, trying to trace the line in the rear, I found it to run out of sight and into an area I know not how to reach. I can feel the air lines coming out of each air bag, but I can't for the life of me find where they run together.

So, here are the options I see I have... 1) Try to cover the ends of the unions i some kind of goo that will help seal the original line to the unions. Or 2) Find a nice guide to the air suspension system that details how to reach where the line meets up with the rear components and replace it. I wasn't too successful researching this so far.

On a separate note, it looks like I might be wanting to put in new airbags soon. The originals aren't looking so great anymore.

[ledzilla]

No one knows where I can find some documentation on how to reach the rear end of the air line and disconnect it?

[Badass_forever]

its something you are going to have to jsut look, it must t-off some place

[fastblackmerc]

No one knows where I can find some documentation on how to reach the rear end of the air line and disconnect it?

Shop manual.

[ledzilla]

I found a shop manual of sorts that provided an illustration of the system. However it didn't detail a method for actually reaching the splitter.

So, has anyone actually disconnected/reconnected the line from this point? Possibly giving some pointers on the best way for reaching into there?

[GetMeMyStogie]

The 2003 shop manual unfortunately omits any description or pictures of the air lines. There's a short section on repairing leaks, and purging liquid from the lines, but that's about it.

The air line connectors are remarkably leak proof in my experience. Are you sure you followed the instructions for using the unions correctly? Are you sure you have the correct size union?

[ledzilla]

They're quick-connect straight unions, remarkably easy to use. I ordered them from Suncore. They fit snugly and securely on both the existing and new lines. But for whatever reason they just won't seal properly with the existing lines. I cut the old and new lines as squarely as possible, and I even tried sanding off any sharp or rough edges from the existing line. No matter what I've tried, the unions leak where they're connected to the existing line as though there was nothing to seal the connection at all.

I attached a picture of them. These two were the first I tried. I thought they were defective, so I had them send me replacements. The replacements leaked just as much. I kept forgetting to send these two back to Suncore. It's been nearly two years since this escapade began, so why bother returning them now. They've been sitting on my desk at work the whole time.

[ledzilla]

FIXED IT!!!!! :D:D:D:D

I decided to try this putty type stuff from JB Weld. I think it's called Steelstik. Cut off a chunk, mushed it up to start the chemical reaction, and then molded it like clay around the leaking ends of the straight unions. Sets in five minutes, completely cures in an hour, came back after three hours (got distracted playing World of Warcraft). Fired up the compressor (using the manual switch I installed), and... Nothing happened. Turns out when I decided to run through and completely replace the line, and realized I couldn't reach the end at the back of the car, I never reconnected the line to the compressor. So, connected it back up, and tried again. Didn't see the rear lifting yet, but I also wasn't hearing any leaks. Put my hands around the patches, didn't feel any leaks. Finally started seeing the rear raise up again.

Took a late night victory lap, enjoying, for the first time in two years, driving without riding on the chassis. It's so wonderful.