Bob Sternfels
GMC Airbag Protectors

Bob Sternfels
949-497-3534 -

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Extending your Air Bag's Life

Firestone has ceased production of our airbags. What ever an owner can do to preserve the Air Bags they have should be priority #1.

A couple of years ago I had a bag failure. It just blew out as I was parked at a RV park. I bought a new one but in looking at the outer covering of the old bag it was obvious the elements destroyed the outer surface. Damage due to debris thrown up from the tires also was present.

So the solution was two fold. Use deflectors at each end of the bag to prevent damage from rocks and such, AND PLACE THE FIRESTONE AIR BAG IN A PROTECTIVE OUTER SLEEVE. I spent many hours sewing elastic materials making outer bags but found problems until finally finding the right solution.

I engineered a SLEEVE using a heavy plastic and sealed the areas to form a glove fit with adequate material at each end for expansion of the air bag. The center of the GMC bag doesn't change much as the ends are designed to move in a horizontal direction. The movement isn't consistent but within a tolerance that allowed me to make plastic sleeves to handle any discrepancy they may have.

click photo for larger view

Reference the photo of a sleeve installed. After two years on my coach, the new air bag I bought before my development of the Outer Protective Sleeve still looks as new as the day I bought it. Covering the rubber outer layer of the Air Bag keeps it from deteriorating from the elements.

In contacting a couple of tire manufacturerss during my development of the sleeve, they informed me that anti oxidants are added to the rubber compound used in tires but we did not have any indication that it was put into the rubber formulation by Firestone in making the GMC Air Bag. Reason would indicate they did not spend money on such a low volume item so we can assume their Air Bag rubber compound is still a product of the 1960s. Tire manufacturers, almost universally will not replace tires that are more than 5 years old. The interior of the tire begins to deteriorate and blow outs occur.

Since the Air Bags should be protected, my development will preserve old bags as well as new ones. In installing the sleeves...you remove the bag. Look at the aluminum cones...smooth down any mold marks as they will cut into the bag. Next wash the bag with IVORY SOAP, NOT DETERGENT. DETERGENT IS MADE FROM OIL. THE IVORY SOAP WILL CLEAN THE BAG SO YOU CAN USE A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF A PRODUCT CALLED 303 AEROSPACE BLUE LABEL FROM CAMPING WORLD. BE SURE THE BAG IS FREE OF DEBRIS AND THE CONES ARE SMOOTH. Next, place Air Bag in plastic sleeve and reinstall. The open end needs a double sided adhesive tape enclosed and the cones go back in their usual place.

Some people use the Ragusa Debris Protectors and these can be installed normally with the plastic sleeves.

My kit is very reasonable. It's $29.00....This included postage in the US for the 2 Protector Sleeves, 2 samples of 303 space age Lube and Directions. It helps to extend the useful life of new and old GMC air bags. Plastic sleeves keeps the elements and road debris from destroyig the fragile air bag rubber coating which leads to air leaks, thus the need for replacement.

As of June 2012 the OEM air bags were selling for over $700 each!

Covering the ends by adding the rock or debris deflectors will extend the life of the plastic sleeve & bag. Obviously the plastic bags can be damaged with rocks but by adding the aluminum deflectors you have the best of two worlds. Debri Deflectors are available from Ragusa RV, 949-261-5898.