rear axle air dump

[petrel-TC]

I was reading on another forum that coaches equipped with tag axles dump the suspension air before leveling to prevent the unit from shifting while leveling.

Both of our TCs rear axles are drive axles, but I've noticed some movement and occasional banging noise when disengaging the leveling system. Should I be dumping the air before leveling?

 

[porky69]

I always dump the air before starting the levelling process and still get lots of creaking, groaning and the occasional small bang(binding).

The issue is that the levelling jacks move straight up and down where as the suspension moves in an arc (pivot point is in front of the axles, air bags are behind) so unless your coach is parked on a surface where the coach is level before lowering the jacks (so the jacks only stabilize not adjust height) you will get some noises.

 

[petrel-TC]

Do you start the truck and allow it to re-pressurize the suspension before disengaging the leveling system?

 

[porky69]

I don't always start the truck(mine takes weeks to bleed down to 100psi or less) but do flip the switch for the suspension before retracting the jacks, however the air suspension does not self level as fast as the jacks retract

 

[porky69]

If you have some wheel chocks you can chock the front (steering) tires, start the coach, release the parking brake, activate the suspension and then retract the jacks. This should pretty much eliminate any binding.

 

[petrel-TC]

I will give that a try. Thanks!