bags loose air when tank is drained???

[stroker87]

I'll start off by saying this air ride is my first and I dont know much about it but i'll try to give you all the information I know

95 GMC Sierra
4 conititech bags 1/2 ports
engine driven york compressor
8 valve system (dont know the brand)
2 switches (1 front, 1 rear)

the other day I started to drain the tank to let any moisture out of it and the whole truck started to go down kind freaked me out but had me thinking if the truck every blew the feed line, hole in the tank or any thing this truck would just be slammed and not drivable

so the question is can that be changed and whats the best route to take if it can?

if the compressor should blowup or a bag can this thing be set up to hold pressure to get it home of even just on a trailer? the tank has a quick connect air fitting on so it can be aired by another source

if you can please be detailed in your response

thanks

[broey]

You can put a one way valve after your compressor incase it ever fails. But your bags shouldn't let air out unless you demand it. So I would inspect your valves. Bags blowing up is rare, and usually the result of improper install. So as long as they are not rubbing against something, twisting or over extending they should be ok. but if each bag has its own set of valves. the bag that fails should be the only one that looses air.

[Fizoust]

you need a check valve to be able to drain your tank without loosing air in your bags.

[stroker87]

the truck has a rear bag that's leaking so the truck has been slowly going down (all 4 corners) every time its parked takes about 15 hours or so but the tank is holding pressure? I dont understand how the leak is causing the whole truck to air out since there is 8 valves???


I will be replacing the two rear bags in the next few days I guess that will tell me if there is another leak some place? I talked to the guy I bought the bags from today he said to install a 4 check valves inline between the tank and valves i'm guessing thats the same as one way valves?

[droppedgmc]

the valves need air or preasure on the back side to keep them from opening. installing the check valve keeps the air from going back to the tank and keeps preasure on the up valve

[stroker87]

what brand of check valves should i go with?

[dv8customs]

Originally Posted by droppedgmc

the valves need air or preasure on the back side to keep them from opening. installing the check valve keeps the air from going back to the tank and keeps preasure on the up valve

x2

No air in the tank means no back pressure on the valves and they will leak back to the tank.

[BigCountryx]

So every setup out there not running check valves between the tank and bags would deflate if there was a leak in any line from the comp to the tank or tank to the valves if the comp can't keep up? That's good to know. Never heard that there had to be backpressure for valves to seat.
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[Fizoust]

I have one line going from my tank to valve manifold.

After installing the check valve at tank I can drain tank all the way to work on it.

[broey]

I hope you still support the truck with jack stands!