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Air Springs Install

Improving load conditions and control

An air spring suspension on a chassis can serve a wide variety of purposes, depending on the type of system. Some of the first air spring suspensions were developed about 50 years ago as an insert for a car's factory coil springs. These units later appeared on a large number of NASCAR racing cars, and also on motorhomes, ambulances and street rods. For this particular article, we'll show the applications for pickup trucks and SUVs.

Advantages

What's the advantage of using air springs? First off, don't expect them to replace a lift kit. Even though an air spring system does provide an inch or two of lift, especially on a vehicle with worn springs, it serves an entirely different purpose. The major benefit of air springs is that you can adjust air pressure to compensate for your load condition. This ensures that your load is balanced and level for better comfort and ride. As your load increases, you just add more air.

Air springs also provide smoother control of your pickup, auto, van, or RV. Adding or subtracting air pressure, right from your dashboard via the optional controller kit, can quickly correct handling problems caused by heavy or uneven loads. For instance, if a load pulls down the back of a vehicle too much, steering will be difficult, and you will likely experience excessive sway and/or body roll. Or if the hitch alignment is uneven, you'll likely encounter problems with both steering and braking. Another potential difficulty of an overloaded vehicle is bottoming out the suspension on bumpy roads. An air spring system is designed to minimize if not eliminate these problems.

Note, however, that adding air springs will not change the weight ratings (GAWR, GCWR, GVWR) of a vehicle. Exceeding these limits is dangerous and may void your air springs' warranty. Air spring manufacturers usually offer different types of systems designed for various load levels. The Air Lift line of air springs ranges from a 1,000-pound rating for a coil-over suspension up to a 5,000-pound unit for a leaf-spring setup.

Installation

How long does it take to install a system? Assuming you know your way around a suspension and this isn't the first time you've had a wrench in your hand, it will probably take about two hours to install a typical Air Lift kit. Adding the company's compressor is optional, but does make operating the system more convenient since you can adjust it right from the driver's seat, rather than filling the lines from outside of the vehicle. If you have access to a hoist, jackstands and air tools, the job can go faster. You'll also need to have a drill, tappers, a ratchet set, and wire crimpers. Installing an Air Lift kit isn't extremely difficult, but if you're not a relatively experienced mechanic, you may want to have a trained technician install the kit.

Whether you do it yourself or not, an air spring system can really be helpful the next time you load up your truck or plan to tow a trailer. You'll find your vehicle handles better and rides a lot smoother.

Resource

Air Lift Company, P.O. Box 80167, Lansing, MI 48908-0167, 800-248-0892, ext. 1, www.airliftcompany.com