Ridetech 81214001, Solution Manual

FRAME

BRAKE LINE

EXISTING

BRAKE LINE

CLIP

FRAME

BRAKE

LINE

EXISTING

BRAKE LINE

CLIP

UPPER

BRACKET

HEX

BOLT

NUT

PLATE

BRAKE LINE

RELOCATION

BRACKET

BRAKE CLIP RELOCATION

(FORD VEHICLE ONLY)

WHEEL

AIR LINE

PUSH-TO-CONNECT

INFLATION VALVE

FLAT WASHER

HEX NUT

VALVE CAP

BODY OF

VEHICLE

Figure "B"

Figure "E"

S

TEP

 1 - P

REPARE THE VEHICLE

First, measure the distance between the

tire  and  frame.  If  there  is  less  than  6"  of

clearance,

do not proceed

. There should be

no extra weight in the bed of the truck so that

the initial ride height of your air helper spring

kit will be correct.  With the vehicle on a

solid, level surface chock the front wheels.

Raise the vehicle by the axle and remove the

rear wheels.  After the removal of the wheels,

lower  the  vehicle  so  the  axle  rests  on  jack

stands rated for your vehicles weight. Remove

the negative battery cable.

THE “X” DIMENSION.

 Throughout this manual we refer to an “X”

dimension. This is the initial, un-inflated over-

all height of the air spring.  Both right and left

sides should be installed at the same height.

The “X” dimension on this air spring is 7"to

9".

The air spring may require some stretching to achieve this dimension.

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TEP

 2 - P

RE

-

ASSEMBLE THE KIT

Select one air helper spring from your kit.  Install the upper bracket

by aligning the three holes on the air spring with the holes on the upper

bracket. Fasten the upper bracket to the air spring using the 3/8" x 3/4"

hex bolts as shown in 

Figure “A”

.  Install the air fitting as shown in

Figure “A”

.

 Tighten the air fitting to make contact with the Teflon ring

and then tighten an additional 1/2 turn.  No thread sealant is needed.

Insert  the  bail  clamp  into  the  lower  bracket.  Next,  attach  the  lower

bracket and disk to the air spring using the 3/8"x 3/4" hex bolt (

see

Figure “A”

)

.  Note:  Finger tighten the bolt securing the lower bracket

and disk allowing the air spring to move freely.    

This will be tightened

after alignment in Step 6

.

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TEP

 3 - A

TTACH LOWER BRACKET TO LEAF SPRING

Place the assembly on the left side on top of the leaf spring stack

forward of the axle 

(

see Figure “A” and “B”

)

.

Note the slight difference

in the lower bracket position on top of the leaf spring plate between  Ford

and GM. 

 Attach the lower bracket to the leaf stack using the bail clamp

(installed earlier), the bracket strap, and the flange lock nuts as shown in

Figure “A” and “B”

.  (Tighten to 15-20 ft. lbs.)

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4- (GM TRUCKS)

CAUTION:  The frame rails on some GM trucks have reinforcing ribs

used to strengthen to the frame rail.  

DO NOT

 drill through these ribs.  If

the holes in the upper bracket align with these ribs, choose another hole

which is not on the rib and let the upper bracket rest against the rib. You

must use 2 holes on each side of the upper bracket.

GM trucks with the

reinforcing ribs will require a flat washer between the upper bracket and

the frame to allow the upper bracket to rest squarely against the rib.

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  4– (FORD TRUCKS)

On FORD vehicles, unbolt the brake line bracket from the left frame rail.

Using the existing hardware, attach the brake line bracket onto the brake

line relocating bracket provided. This relocating bracket will be attached

to the inside of frame using the upper bracket mounting bolts.  Relocation

is necessary to prevent the original brake line bolt from rubbing the air

spring.

See Figures “A” & “C”

 for mounting.

AIR HOSE

INFLATION

VALVES

BUMPER

AIR

SPRINGS

Figure "C"

Figure "D"