Air Lift Performance 39010 User Manual
MN-525
m
by
(14604)
ECR 5656
Single rear wheel applications with a 3.5” axle require an additional spacer kit
*See Page 3 for Details.
Please read these instructions completely
before proceeding with installation
Failure to read these instructions can result in mis-installation
Introduction to the RoadTamer System
What You Need to Know About RoadTamer ...................... 2
V ehicle Requirements ....................................................... 3
RoadT amer W arranty and Return Policy ........................... 3
Installing the RoadTamer System
Getting Started .................................................................. 4
Inspecting Axle Spring Perch Uniformity ........................... 5
Attaching the Axle Beams ................................................. 5
Attaching the Frame Brackets ........................................... 6
Attaching and Adjusting the Panhard Rod......................... 7
Hardware List .................................................................... 9
*Kit Installation Diagram ................................................... 10
Installing the Rolling Lobe Air Sleeves ............................. 11
Installing the Air Lines ...................................................... 12
Final Adjustments............................................................. 13
.
F250-F350 Kit No. 39010
www.airliftcompany.co
Checking Driveline Angles
Checking Driveline Angles ............................................... 14
Checking Angles in Various Conditions ............................ 14
Installation Checklist
Installation Checklist......................................................... 15
T r oubleshooting Guide
Troubleshooting Guide ..................................................... 16
Checking for Leaks........................................................... 17
Fixing Leaks ..................................................................... 17
Maintaining and Servicing the System
Maintenance Guidelines................................................... 17
Servicing the RoadT amer System.................................... 18
Technical Support
1-800-248-0892
Ext. 2
1
What You Need to Know About RoadTamer
About RoadTamer
The RoadTamer suspension system and your
vehicle’ s original equipment steel spring suspension
operate differently . RoadTamer allows your vehicle to
ride “on air.” It lowers air pressure for lighter loads,
meaning you will have a softer ride when you don’t
need the heavy factory springs.
RoadTamer lowers your vehicle to be approximately
level with the front suspension. The result is a vehicle
altitude very similar to that of a fully loaded vehicle.
The air management system then maintains that rear
suspension height regardless of the load you carry .
Ride Height
This will give you optimum ride performance,
regardless of the load. RoadTamer’s air management
system will maintain the vehicle’s ride height within
½”. You will enjoy a much more comfortable,
controllable and safer ride. The design of RoadT amer
is carefully considered to give you “The Ultimate
Suspension Upgrade. ”
V ehicle Leveling, Side-to-Side
V ehicles are not alwa ys lev el when they are deliv ered
from the factory . Installing RoadTamer on your vehicle
does not correct this non-level condition. Before you
install RoadTamer, measure for vehicle levelness on
a flat surface. After the factory springs have been
removed, use a level to verify that the axle spring
perches are level from side-to-side. If the perches are
not level, y ou will need to apply a wedge shim to one
side or the other to correct this condition. The wedge
shim is provided with each RoadTamer kit. More
information is provided later in the instruction manual.
Install your RoadTamer kit and make sure the axle is
level and square with the v ehicle frame. Snug, but DO
NOT TORQUE, all fasteners per the directions provided
in this installation manual. Check again to see if the
vehicle is lev el. If it is not close to as level as its f actory
levelness, re-read the installation man ual concerning
the use of the wedge shim. Y ou may also hav e to loosen
all beam connecting bolts, u-bolts, etc. Re-level the
axle to the frame before re-torquing all fasteners.
Driveline Angles
Driveline angles are factory-set to cancel vibrations
caused by the u-joints. RoadTamer takes this into
consideration when lowering the vehicle to a level
height. How ever , the factory does not set up all vehicles
to be identical. Many different axle, suspension, and
wheelbase combinations are possible. You will need
to measure the driveline angles and make a calculation
to verify that the driveline cancels correctly. See the
section toward the back of the installation manual that
covers this operation in detail.
Introduction to the RoadTamer System
Technical Support
1-800-248-0892
Ext. 2
2
V ehicle Requirements
Vehicle Type
Ford F-250 Ford F-350
NOTE: Single rear wheel applications with a 3.5”
axle require spacer kit #26024 to be purchased
separately . If you do not already have this kit, y ou
can purchase it by calling Air Lift’s Customer
Service Department at 800-248-0892 extension 1.
Vehicle Y ears
See the application guide for specific years.
5th Wheel Hitch
The installation of this RoadT amer kit will fit onto most
vehicles with a fifth wheel hitch. Some fifth wheel
hitches may require modifications to make the kit fit
properly.
See page 5 for further instructions.
Muffler Modifications
Modifications will need to be made to the muffler after
the completion of this kit.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
IMPORTANT: The installation of this kit does not
alter the GVWR or payload of the vehicle. Check
your vehicle owner’ s manual and do not e xceed the
maximum load listed for y our vehicle.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating - The maximum allowab le
weight of the fully loaded vehicle (including passengers
and cargo). This number - along with other weight limits ,
as well as tire, rim size and inflation pressure data - is
shown on the vehicle’ s Saf ety Compliance Certification
Label.
Payload - The combined, maximum allowable weight
of cargo and pasengers that the truck is designed to
carry . It is GVWR minus the Base Curb W eight.
Introduction to the RoadTamer System
Air Lift Company recommends taking your vehicle to
a muffler repair shop upon completion of the kit
installation.
RoadTamer Warranty and Return Polic y
Air Lift Company warranties its RoadT amer
product against quality and workmanship defects
to the original retail purchaser as follows; Main
Structural components defined as; beams,
brackets, and links for 24 months or 24,000 miles,
whichever occurs first. All other components for
12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs
first. Air Lift Company provides no warranty on
the vehicle’s original equipment or other
aftermarket products. This warranty does not
apply to products that have been improperly
applied, installed, used in racing applications or
maintained in accordance with installation
instructions furnished with the product. A $10.00
minimum shipping and handling charge will apply
to all warranty claims. Before returning any
defective product, you must call Air Lift Company
(800) 248-0892 ext 2 for an RGA (Returned
Goods Authorization) number. Product failures
resulting from abnormal use or misuse are
excluded from this warranty. The loss of use of the
product, loss of time, inconvenience, commercial
loss, or consequential damages is not covered. The
Air Lift Company reserves the right to change the
design of any product without assuming any
obligation to modify any product previously
manufactured. Dated proof of purchase is
required.
Technical Support
1-800-248-0892
Ext. 2
3
Getting Started
Driver-Side View
REMOVE Frame
Contact Overload
Upper Bracket
if Equipped.
REMOVE
Spare Tire.
Axle
REMOVE
Leaf Spring.
DANGER: Compressed air can cause injury and
damage to the vehicle and parts if it is not handled
properly. For your saf ety, do not try to inflate the air
springs until they have been properly secured to the
vehicle.
IMPORT ANT : Me asure and record the driveline angles
in the chassis as first received (Figure 19).
1. Elevate the rear of the vehicle and secure the frame
with jack stands or a frame-contact hoist. Support the
axle (Figure 1).
2. Remove the spare tire, both leaf springs, and the
rear frame contact ov erload brack ets, if equipped, from
the frame (Figure 2).
NOTE: It may be necessary to remove the trailer
hitch in order to remove the bolts fr om the spring
hanger.
NOTE: After removing the factory steel springs,
check the axle spring perches for side-to-side
angle uniformity. Refer to the Inspecting Axle
Spring Perc h Uniformity section for information
on installing the supplied 1° wedge shim.
No Load in Truck
Remove Wheel Remove Wheel
Support the axle with jack
stands and raise or lower
to Normal Ride Height
Figure 1
Installing the RoadTamer System
3. Cut off the tailpipe behind the muffler and remove.
4. Install the centering pin into the beam assembly.
Leave enough room on the muffler to install a
replacement pipe (Figure 3).
Install the pin so that the head is facing down and
the nut is at the top of the beam (Figure 4).
Passenger-Side Vie w
CUT OFF tailpipe behind
muffler. Leave enough
room to attach a
replacement pipe.
Axle
REMOVE
excess tailpipe.
Figure 2
Axle
Figure 3
Technical Support
1-800-248-0892
Ext. 2
Figure 4
4
Inspecting Axle Spring Per ch Unif ormity
1. After removing the factory steel springs, check the
axle spring perches for side-to-side angle
uniformity. Without disturbing the axle position,
place a magnetic angle protractor on one perch
and note the angle. Next, place the angle protractor
on the other perch and note the angle there as
well. A difference of less than 1° is normal and
does not require a shim. If the diff erence between
the two angles exceeds 1°, use the supplied 1°
wedge shim to correct the difference.
2. Place the 1° wedge shim on one axle spring perch
and re-measure the angles to verify that they equal
less than 1°. Use the centering pin to attach the
wedge to the correct beam and install the beams
as directed in the section titled
Beams
. DO NO T TIGHTEN F ASTENERS until you
Attaching the Axle
Attaching the Axle Beams
1. Install the driver-side beam assembly to the front spring
eye hanger using the pre viously removed stock bolt and
nut. Be sure to index the centering pin into the stock
spacer block (4x4 only) or spring perch (2WD) in order
to properly locate the axle and the beam. Leav e loose
at this time (Figure 5).
NOTE: The emergency brake cable should go over
the beam assembly .
have chec ked the driveline angles as instructed in the
section dealing with that topic toward the back of this
manual.
NOTE: You must check the driveline angles for
cancellation before completing the installation (see the
Driveline Angles section toward the back of the
manual). It ma y be necessary to reverse the shim and
place it on the opposite side to maintain correct
driveline angles.
3. Measure from the top of each frame rail (at the rear of
the frame) to the ground. The measurement must be
made at vehicle ride height with the vehicle on level
ground and with equal tire pressures. The vehicle
levelness is acceptab le if the two measurements from
side-to-side are within 3/8”. If the vehicle is not level
within 3/8”, check that the 1° shim is placed properly.
Grind out to
provide clearance
for centering pin.
Stock Spring Retainer
Installing the RoadTamer System
NOTE: If a block or spacer was used between the
stock spring and axle, it is necessary to replace the
block or spacer between the axle and the beam.
2. Drill or grind the spring retainer center hole out to
provide clearance for the centering pin nut on the
beam assembly (Figure 5).
NOTE: Draw the nuts down evenly on the retainer
by using a criss-cross tightening pattern.
NOTE: On models with a 3.50” axle, use spacer
kit #26024.
Technical Support
1-800-248-0892
Stock Bolt
Figure 5
Ext. 2
U-Bolt
& Mounting
Hardware
Replace the
stock spacer
DO NOT
TIGHTEN
Centering Pin
Emergency
Brake Cable
Axle
Axle Spacer for
3.50" Diameter Axles
(Not Included In This Kit)
*See Page 1 for Details
Centering
Pin Nut
5
Attaching the Frame Brackets
1. Install the driver-side frame brac ket. Line up the lower
set of holes in the side of the frame brack et with the
slotted holes that are angled in the side of the frame.
Insert two 1/2” bolts, four flat washers and two 1/2”
nylock nuts. Secure the nylock nuts until snug, but
do not overtighten at this time (Figure 6).
2. Line the top hole up with the existing hole in the frame.
NOTE: Do not use the hole that does not line up with
the existing hole in the frame.
Driver-Side Shown
Frame
3. Drill a 1/2” hole through the frame using the top hole in the
bracket as a template .
4. Drill two 1/2” holes in the bottom on the frame flange.
5. Insert the remaining 1/2” hardw are and tighten all bolts to
107 ft.lbs. (Figure 6).
6. The spare tire can be reinstalled at this time.
Upper
1/2" Bolts
Bracket
Installing the RoadTamer System
Existing Slots
in Frame
Drill out 1/2" holes
in the underside of
the frame rail using
the bracket as a template
Figure 6
Technical Support
1-800-248-0892
Ext. 2
6
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