HOW TO DEPREASUREISE THE AIR SUSPENSION

[IRA51]

I need to replace the rear airsprings and the vidio I found (utube) say you must first depreasurise the system B4 unhooking the air line,but they don't say how to depreasurise the system . anyone know the proper way ? last time I punctured the old air spring with a knife ,I would prefer to save the old airspring this time .

[IRA51]

well I just puncured the air springs and installed the new ones,24 min start to finish (I have a lift ). problem solved . GM part # 15938306

[Easy Ed]

oops, to late......


IRA51, I got your mail and just checked the service manual to find that it says to use the scan tool and "follow the instructions". Cannot even try to use the air supply in the back to drain the air out cause it says the truck has to be on to use it which just means the compressor will run :-(

My suggestion, Jack the truck up in the rear as high as you can on jack stands, Support rear axle at the diff with hyd jack, remove sway bar bolts, lower jack and let the air bags stretch as much as possible. Then if you can get them to "un-clip" at the top see if you can pull them down to get to the air line fitting and remove it and see it that helps. With everything supported with jack stands and hyd jack I'd think there shouldn't be a problem disconnecting the air line.

PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL if you attempt to go this route.

Good luck, Ed

P.S. HUMTECH may have a better idea to go about it.

[IRA51]

thanks but too late ,stabed them and installed the new ones . thanks anyway .

[HUMTECH]

Too late i know but next time you could try this, never tried it and not sure if it would work. Use the ride height control button and extend the suspension to full height. Support the rear of the body at the hitch with a tall jackstand. Once supported hit the ride height button again, in theory it should keep dumping air trying to obtain the proper ride height, again its just a theory.

[IRA51]

Thanks going to try that next time . It is amazeing how seldom the compressor comes on now since the new airsprings ,should have done this last year . I got the local chevy dealer (Courtesy Chevrolet) I deal with to give me a much cheaper price on the airsprings than the Hummer dealer and I have a wholesale account with both of them . now I can take the H2 elk hunting without worring about a air spring blowing out and leaveing me stranded .

[HUMTECH]

It is nice to have a spare one though, never know when that evil stick pokin out the side of the trail finds an airbag

[HUMTECH]

Mind you ya could cut a log of similar diameter and length and put in place of the airbag, use a ratchet strap to hold the body side to the axle so it wont pop out and drive it out rather than being stranded. Hell ive seen a friend use a log in place of a wheel and tire before, got him to the road. used it as a ski and we towed him out

[IRA51]

If I had the girl in your avitar ,I wouldn't care if i ever got out . man what I could do with that .