[kaptain]

I bought the 2004-701 about 1 month ago, and I drove it directly to a repair shop because of big air leaks.
This 701 has been sitting at the repair shop for 3 weeks now. Today I sent 2nd email to check the status of the repair work.
The shop replied to me that the airbags look European made, they don't know where to source them from. So I called Newell and spoke with Morgan. Morgan says 701 is one of the early adoptions of ZF suspension system, and he has no record what is the maker or part number.
Could someone take a look at the photo below, and be able to identify the maker or part number?

Or, if you have a 2004 or 2005 coach with ZF suspension & steerable tag, please post several photos of your airbags (located between drive wheel axles and tag wheel) to show any printed letters or numbers. 

Letters and numbers from my coach were almost unreadable but would guess those letters were possibly being "Continental" or "Contitech", and it ends with 82N or R2N  

   

   

   

[arcticdude]

Joe,

Definitely Continental bags. I'm not finding any "R2N" designations on a Continental bag though.

Here's a decent site with a cross reference to Firestone and Goodyear:

https://www.mrostop.com/featured-product...over-chart

There's no R2N listed in the Continental column. There should be other numbers someplace. Hopefully having the Continental numbers off the cross-reference site will give you some extra info to get the right numbers off your bags.

[austinswalk]

Hi hopefully you have figured out which air bags and what the replacements are as i have  coach 707 and it has the same bags and will need to replace eventually. My understanding is there are 3 different sizes on the coach according to a Tech at Newell but i have no idea what the replacements are so would love to have the part numbers  for them if and when you get all that figured out. I am sure there are others that would love to know as well. Thanks so much Robert Austin

[kaptain]

Hi hopefully you have figured out which air bags and what the replacements are as i have  coach 707 and it has the same bags and will need to replace eventually. My understanding is there are 3 different sizes on the coach according to a Tech at Newell but i have no idea what the replacements are so would love to have the part numbers  for them if and when you get all that figured out. I am sure there are others that would love to know as well. Thanks so much Robert Austin

Yes, I was able to figure out what airbags (aka air springs) were on my coach 701.
Drive Axles:  4x Contitech 782N (782NP04, Contitech order# 74340)
Rear Tax Axles:  2x Contitech 661N
Front Axles: 2x Contitech 876N 

2 airbags on drive axles have to be replaced on my coach. I initially asked Morgan at Newell what part number I should order to replace 2 airbags. Morgan said he's not quite sure what airbags are on my coach, as 701 is one of the early adoptions/transition to ZF suspension. So I asked the repair shop to send me some photos, the prints on the rubber were faded so much it's hardly readable, but eventually, I was able to figure it its Contitech 782N. So I went back to Morgan, he says Newell no longer has 782N airbags, he said he can offer a substitute NC#708440 at $678.60/each + shipping. I asked him if this can be a direct replacement without having to make any mechanical modifications. He said the tech might have to drill the center hole on the chassis. Lacking any datasheets on NC#708440 to compare with 782N, I decided to contact Continental (the maker of Contitech air springs). Contitech salesperson says this 782N style is not sold in North America, only in Europe. Continental can get from their sister company in Europe, but the lead time would be 6-8 months. So I end up buying that in Germany myself and having the airbags shipped to me. I expect to receive the order tomorrow. Paid $195 EUR/each, plus $130 UPS shipping.
Later I found a supplier in Poland that sells it a little cheaper, like $130/each, and even cheaper from a Chinese supplier like $50/each but with minimum order 20pcs.
My coach 701 has been at the repair shop for 5 weeks now, waiting for these airbags.

Please note 782N (or equivalent) is available for eBay and other sites for like $30 - $40/each but these are rubber sleeves only, not a complete airbag assembly.
You probably have to buy the complete assembly (includes metal base plates, piston, etc), because that's what the repair shop told me.

For complete assembly, you need to order part number 782NP04, or Contitech order# 74340

   
   
   

   

[360]

I do have a suggestion for anyone that has the ear of Newell corporately. It just blows my mind that on something like all of these bags that WILL need to be replaced that notation is not made somewhere as to what the part number is. To me on every coach moving forward it should be in the operating manual. Seems to be a much more efficient option than the current "we have no clue, pull one of each of the bags off, look for some old worn out part number tag and get back to me". Sitting on the side of the road somewhere it would sure be nice to know in the amount of time it takes you to open your books up. Just a thought.

[austinswalk]

Wow, what an ordeal and Brad is right it really should be in our owner information especially when its this hard to get a replacement part. Thanks so much Joe for all the information and after i double check my coach bags I probably should order bags and have on hand with a wait times like this and lack of avaiability locally. Could you share the contact information where you ordered from Germany for Contiech as it would be greatly appreciated, Thanks again for sharing this with all of us it was definitely an eye opener for me, also are the tag axle and steer axle bags available from the same place? Your time and work in this fiasco are greatly appreciated what a nightmare it would be to be stuck on the side of the road and then have to pay 682.00 for one air bag that may cause extra labor as well. Thinking I may just need to go ahead and replace them all or at least have on hand. Currently do not have any leaks but its just a matter of when as i am reasonably sure they are original and 17 years old.

Robert Austin

[kaptain]

Wow, what an ordeal and Brad is right it really should be in our owner information especially when its this hard to get a replacement part. Thanks so much Joe for all the information and after i double check my coach bags I probably should order bags and have on hand with a wait times like this and lack of avaiability locally. Could you share the contact information for Contiech as it would be greatly appreciated, Thanks again for sharing this with all of us it was definitely an eye opener for me,

Contitech contact info: 

Tami Willard
Sales Manager – USA and Canada
Industry Solutions – Industrial
Business Unit Advanced Dynamics Solutions

ContiTech USA, Inc.
Division ContiTech of Continental

Mailing Address:
ContiTech USA, Inc.
6447 Tallwood Circle Canton Ohio 44718
Mobile Phone 330-814-7979
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.contitech.us
----------------------------------------------------
Walter Michl
Head of Sales – USA & Canada
Commercial Vehicles Independent After Market
Business Unit: Advanced Dynamics Solutions
317-845-0394 Office
201-675-7424 Mobile
317-845-5239 Fax
[email protected]

----------------------------------------------------
additional contact info (I started from here). 
https://www.continental-industry.com/
Contitech Main Distributor in the USA: Fleet Pride, www.fleetpride.com
Continental Industry Customer Support: 888-899-6354 Option 4 for air springs ->
No product info here, call Tech Support 855-902-6684 - nobody answers, phone line problem?
Brian Watson, direct number: 469-249-7764, left msg but never received a callback. 

[jdkskyking]

Does anyone know if the entire  “assembly” part number is stamped on the metal plates of the air springs?

We all need to start identifying the critical parts and share the info. I never thought we would find ourselves in a situation like this, the factory can’t provide basic information about these coaches. 

JK

[kaptain]

Does anyone know if the entire  “assembly” part number is stamped on the metal plates of the air springs?

We all need to start identifying the critical parts and share the info. I never thought we would find ourselves in a situation like this, the factory can’t provide basic information about these coaches.

JK

Yes, some numbers are stamped on the metal plates, but I don't know what these numbers are.
There are also white color paper labels affixed to the metal plates; these are the manufacturer part numbers.
And I guess these paper labels will fade over time due to heat, moisture, etc.

I recently received an order placed with Newell for front and rear, the date code on these airbags are 2019 and 2020, so I guess these parts have been sitting on the shelf for 3 or 2 years already. See the photos attached below.

I found there are some suppliers overseas that cost less than 1/2 Newell's price, but they don't have it in stock.

And, several months ago, I bought 4 pieces of 782NP04 (for drive axles) from Europe because Newell doesn't have them in stock. And that cost for a fraction of what Newell quoted me.

   
   

[jdkskyking]

Great information!

For a early ZF Suspension it looks like the entire air spring assembly should be ordered. As we gain knowledge we should know what serial numbers and year models used these air springs. 

Steer Axle 876 MB (ContiTech #73453) Two Required 

Drive Axel 782 N P04 (ContiTech #74340) Four Required 

Tag Axle 661 N P02 (ContiTech #60025) Two Required