If you’ve ever spent any time in traffic staring at the back-end of an 18-wheeler looming large in your windshield, then no doubt the block letters proudly spelling “air-ride equipped” has been indelibly emblazoned into your memory; nothing provides more button-busting pleasure within long-haul truckers’ circles than to boast that their crates of lead-laden plastic toys from China making their way across the United States are well cradled in soft cushions of an air-ride suspension. Now you can best any trucker out there, but we’re willing to bet what you’re hauling is a lot better than plastic toys from China.
Although some trucks were built to handle the rocks and trails and provide a pleasant trip back to your driveway (and maybe even to work on Monday), there are some off-road vehicles that weren’t. The Department of Motor Vehicles, not to mention the men with the pointy badges looking to raise revenue for their county, frown on you pushing the envelopes of what they call “street legal” when it comes to crossing the line where the dirt meets the pavement. That being said, loading a 3,000-pound CJ7 onto a 1,500-pound trailer (don’t forget to include several hundred pounds of gear for a weekend out), will increase the tongue weight of your tow vehicle outside that comfy 10- to-15-percent range. The result is an uneven ride, with the front end of the tow vehicle pointing toward the sky; and this could mean reduced front tire footprint and some tricky steering.
SoCal SuperTrucks in San Bernardino, California, is a one-stop shop for all specialized truck needs, from lift kits, tires, wheels, and accessories, to custom fabrication and performance upgrades and modifications.
Depending on your needs, your...
Depending on your needs, your kit will actually arrive on your doorstep in several boxes and be a collection of a variety of kits. However, this represents the best of the best, from the air springs, the ECU, the wireless controller, right down to the last washer and nut. Additionally, they offer spacer kits especially for lifted trucks, but the basic kit includes only the bags, mounting hardware, and the red airlines (BYO air).
The Ride-Rite air helper springs kit from Firestone Industrial is an easy-to-install kit that mounts between the frame and the suspension to provide needed lift to level out the truck (not only from front to rear but also side to side). It is designed to maximize the carrying capacity of your truck, while providing increased stabilization, a consistent ride height, increased control, and a softer ride. The installation is easy to do with tools found in any moderately-equipped garage, but will take up the better part of a day. We took our 2004 F-150 to SoCal SuperTrucks in San Bernardino, California, to watch as Bill Brunner and Nate Rock showed us the right way to install the kit.
After disconnecting the negative...
After disconnecting the negative battery cable (we’ll deal with that end later), raise the truck by the rear axle on a level surface. Though it isn’t necessary, we removed the tire to better see the installation. Rest the axles on a pair of jack stands so the truck’s weight is even on both sides.
Remove the bumpstop from the...
Remove the bumpstop from the frame and install the upper bracket with the 30mm flat-head Allen bolt where the bumpstop was removed.
The air spring will fit into...
The air spring will fit into the upper bracket, with the threaded portion going through the innermost hole of the bracket, and the alignment pin on the air spring’s bead plate will fit the outermost hole. Failure to do so will not only cause an air leak (as the pin gets pushed into the bead plate puncturing the bag) but it will also void any warranty.
On Fords, the exhaust system...
On Fords, the exhaust system runs near where the passenger side air spring is to be installed, so a heat shield is required (and included in the kit, along with the hose clamps to attach it). Depending on your truck’s setup, make sure to mount the shield away from any moving parts (i.e. axle, air spring, etc.).
After securing the air spring...
After securing the air spring to the top plate with the 5/8-inch jam nut, tighten the brass air fitting. It comes with thread sealant already applied.
The location of the ECU and...
The location of the ECU and compressor is an important decision. They need to be not only out of the way but in a location where they will be better protected from the elements and any damage caused by the road or errant debris. We placed ours on the inside of the driver’s side frame rail just in front of the gas tank. Pre-drill the mounting holes and position the unit so the air fittings are pointed toward the rear tires.
Attach the supplied check...
Attach the supplied check valve and male air fitting onto the output port on the compressor’s head. Don’t over tighten the check valve (use approximately 25 lb-ft at most). The compressor is oil-less, which means that it can be mounted almost anywhere and in any direction. However, it needs to be relatively near the ECU, in a position that it’s wiring harness can reach the battery and fuse box of the truck and in a place that gets plenty of cool air but is free from potential damage.
The compressor is water resistant...
The compressor is water resistant but not water proof, so leave your stream fording to what you’re towing. To help protect the compressor from flying debris, Bill and Nate fashioned a custom 1/4-inch steel platform and gusset and welded it to the frame. This, of course, is an option and not entirely necessary (but still pretty cool).
The black ground wire needs...
The black ground wire needs to be attached to an appropriate grounding point, and the newly minted compressor shelf fit the bill nicely. The four holes needed to mount the compressor to the shelf are 7/32 inches in diameter.
The positive red wire from...
The positive red wire from the compressor was attached to the red spade wire on the supplied wiring harness.
There is a sealed relay that...
There is a sealed relay that comes as part of the wiring harness that needs to be mounted to the frame. We chose a spot just behind the compressor in a location that will keep the harness from binding. No drilling was necessary.
The four-pin connector attaches...
The four-pin connector attaches to the ECU and the rest of the wiring harness can be routed toward the engine bay.
There is a host of supplied zip-ties that will secure the harness to the frame. It is important to keep the wiring away from any sharp edges or sources of heat.