DUAL ELECTRIC AIR COMMAND
AIR CONTROL ACCESSORY KIT
N
I
NSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Congratulations on your purchase of a new Firestone Air
Control Accessory Kit. This kit was designed to provide
inflation control of your Firestone air helper springs. This kit
will be an asset to your vehicle, meeting most all of your air
supply needs.
Please take a few minutes to read through the instructions,
identify the components, and learn how to properly install your
Air Control Accessory Kit.
N
OTE
:
The Air Control Accessory kit can be used with all
Firestone air helper springs products. If you are installing a
Firestone suspension system do not install the air line tubing
into the air springs as stated in the suspension system instruction manual. If you are adding the Air Control Accessory kit
to an existing Firestone suspension system you will need to
deflate the air springs and remove the air line tubing.
OTE ON CONNECTING THE AIR LINE TUBING
connect the air line tubing to the fittings push the tubing
into the fittings as far as possible. If for any reason the
tubing must be removed the collar of the fitting can be
pushed toward the body of the fitting and the tubing can
be removed. Make sure the air helper springs are deflated. To reassemble make sure the tubing is cut squarely
and push back into the fitting.
T
OOLS REQUIRED
• 3/16" drill bit • 3/8" drill bit
• 1/4" drill bit • Hand drill
• Electrical pliers • Pliers
• Phillips screw driver • Sharp knife
• (2) 7/16" wrenches • Center punch
2178
60 90
600
400
120
PSI
800
1000
30
200
psi
kPa
0 150
Cut the air line tubing as squarely as possible. To
:
P
ARTS LIST
DUAL AIR CONTROL PANEL 1
COMPRESSOR 1
COMPRESSOR BRACKET 1
30 FT. AIR LINE TUBING 1
15 FT. 18 GAGE WIRE 1
10/32" X 1" MACHINE SCREW 2
10/32" LOCK NUT 2
1/4" X 1" HEX BOLT 2
1/4" HEX NUT 2
1/4" LOCK WASHER 2
24-8143 03-01 NCD-5965-1
1/8" NPT STRAIGHT FITTING 1
FUSE HOLDER 1
20 AMP. FUSE 1
FEMALE SPADE CONNECTOR 3
MALE SPADE CONNECTOR 1
WIRE CONNECTOR 2
RING TERMINAL 2
FOAM PAD 1
#10 FLAT WASHER 4
NYLON TIES 16
AIR LINE
Air Line & Wiring Diagram
ORANGE
(+)
ILLUMINATION
WIRES
RED
GROUND
BLACK
(+)
FUSE
GROUND BLACK
WHITE
Compressor Assembly & Attachment
1/8” STRAIGHT
FITTING
1/4” X 1” HEX BOLT
COMPRESSOR
BRACKET
AIR COMPRESSOR
CONTROL PANEL
30
psi
AIR LINE
60 90
400
200
kPa
PSI
0 150
600
120
800
1000
WHITE
AIR LINE
VEHICLE PANEL
FOAM PAD
LOCK WASHER
1/4” HEX NUT
GROUND WIRE
POSITIVE WIRE
ORANGE
BLACK
AIR SPRING
(sold separately)
Connectors:
Male spade connector
Ring Terminal
Inline fuse connector
AIR SPRING
(sold separately)
Femal spade connector
Wire connector
FIGURE “A”
S
TEP
1 L
OCATING A MOUNTING AREA FOR THE GAUGE
LOCK NUTS
WASHERS
CONTROL PANEL
BRACKET
WASHERS
MACHINE SREWS
Figure "B"
SIDE VIEW OF CONTROL PANEL
TO AIR SPRING
FROM AIR SOURCE
To inflate the air springs simply push the
paddle up until the desired air pressure is
reached.
Select a mounting surface under the dash of your vehicle or other
protected location. Mark a 3/16" diameter hole at each of the mounting
points, use the air control panel as a template for marking the holes. Drill
two 3/16" diameter holes at each of the marked areas, refer to Figure "B".
Do not attach the panel at this time.
S
TEP
2 P
REPARING THE COMPRESSOR
Take the compressor from the kit and install the 1/8" straight
fitting into the head of the compressor as shown in Figure "A". Using
your electrical pliers crimp the ring connector to the black wire and
crimp the male spade connector to the orange wire.
S
TEP
3 P
REPARING THE DUAL AIR CONTROL PANEL
There are two wires one red and one black attached to the gauge on the
back of the air control panel for illumination. Strip the black wire 1/4"
leaving the wire exposed. Crimp the ring connector to the black wire,
see Figure "A". (Completion of the red wire connection in step 10)
S
TEP
4 M
OUNTING THE COMPRESSOR
Select a convenient location for mounting the air compressor. This
location should provide ample air flow and be protected from airborne
debris. Apply the foam pad to the mounting surface by removing the
paper backing and applying to the mounting surface. Using the compressor
bracket straddle the foam pad and mark the two holes to be drilled with a
center punch, see Figure "A". Drill the two holes using a 1/4" drill bit.
Please be careful and look behind the hole locations to avoid any lines or
electrical wires. Mount the compressor using the 1/4" X 1" hex bolts, lock
washers and hex nuts, see Figure "A". Attach the black ground wire
to a ground source using the ring terminal attached in step 2.
S
TEP
5 C
HECK FOR AIR IN THE SYSTEM
To deflate the air springs push the paddle
down.
The illumination light should be attached
to a suitable dash panel circuit (consult
vehicle manufactureres electrical diagram).
Figure "C"
PLASTIC
CONNECTOR
CONNECTING WIRE
WIRE FROM
PANEL LIGHT
Figure "D"
If there is no air pressure in the air springs please proceed with step 6.
If there is air pressure in the air springs, both must be deflated. This is done
by taking the valve core out of the external inflation valve(s) or use a tire
gauge to remove the air from the air springs by depressing the valve stem.
S
TEP
6 R
OUTING THE AIR LINE TUBING TO THE GAUGE
Cut a piece of air line tubing that will reach from the air control panel
to the compressor. Before attaching the air line tubing to the air control
panel soak one end (approximately 1") of the air line tubing in warm water
for a few minutes. Do not use pliers to work the air line onto the barbed
fitting, doing so may damage the tubing. Install and route the air line
tubing from the barbed "T" fitting on the air control panel to the
compressor as shown in Figure "A"& "C". A hole may need to be drilled
in the fire wall to enable the air line to pass through the fire wall to the
compressor. Remember that 3 pieces of air line will pass through the hole
in the fire wall. Make sure the air line tubing is protected from sharp
edges. Do not fold or kink the air line tubing. The air control panel and
compressor should now be connected.
S
TEP
7 R
OUTE AIR LINE TO THE AIR SPRINGS
You will need two lengths of air line tubing, one for each air spring.
Cut the two lengths of air line tubing to reach from the control panel to the
air springs. Slide one section of air line previously cut onto the upper
barbed fitting on the paddle switch making sure the air line tubing
completely covers the barbed end of the fitting, see Figure "C".
Proceed with the second section of air line on the other side of the control panel. (Hint: The left paddle switch should
inflate the left air spring and the right paddle switch should control the right). Route one of the air line tubing sections
from the barbed fitting on the air control panel to the rear of the vehicle being careful not to fold or kink the air line tubing.
Cut the air line tubing as squarely as possible and insert the air line tubing into the push-to-connect fitting on the air
spring. Repeat the above step for the other side of the air control panel. Use the nylon ties included in the kit to secure
the air line to the vehicle. At this time the air control panel should be connected to both air springs.
Note: Avoid sharp edges, exhaust systems and other areas that may cause damage to the air line tubing.
S
TEP
8 A
TTACHING THE AIR CONTROL PANEL TO THE DASH
Place the air control panel on the dash where the holes were drilled in step 1. Using the machine screws and nuts provided
in the kit attach the air control panel to the dash or other appropriate surface, see Figure "B".
S
TEP
9 P
REPARING AND ROUTING THE ELECTRICAL WIRE
Enclosed in the air control kit is 15' of 18 gage multistrand wire. Determine the length of wire needed to reach the orange
wire on the compressor to either white wire on the paddle switch. Cut and strip both ends of the wire 1/4". Using electrical pliers
crimp one female spade connector to one end of the wire, then crimp another female spade connector to the other end of the
wire see Figure "A". After the connectors are attached to the wires, slide the male and female connectors together at the
compressor. Note: The wire can be attached to either spade connector on the back of the paddle switch. After the compressor
and gauge have been connected determine another length of wire to reach an ignition activated hot wire from the second white
wire on the back of the paddle switch. Cut and strip one end of the wire 1/4". Using your electrical pliers crimp one female
spade connector to the end of the wire just stripped, slide the male and female connectors on the air control panel together as
shown in Figure "A". Insert the inline fuse connector between the wire connector and the gauge as shown in Figure "A". Cut
the wire and insert each end into the fuse connector and crimp using your pliers. Insert the 20 amp. fuse. Connect the wire
to a minimum 20 amp positive ignition circuit using the wire connector provided, see Figure "A" & "D". Pliers may be
used to assist in closing the wire connector completely.
S
TEP
10 W
IRING THE AIR CONTROL PANEL FOR ILLUMINATION
Cut two pieces of wire, one should reach a suitable fused dash panel circuit for illumination (positive) the other should reach
a suitable ground source. Consult the vehicle manufacturers electrical diagram. See Figure "D" for wiring and connector
application.
NOTE: Should additional wire be necessary, use 18 gage multistrand wire.
Y
OU ARE NOW READY TO TEST THE SYSTEM
With the Ride-Rite air accessory kit and Firestone suspension products installed you are ready to test the system. Turn on
the ignition. Push the paddle switch up, air pressure should read on the gauge showing how much air pressure is in the air aprings.
Each of the air line tubing connections can be inspected with a soap and water solution applied to the fittings were the air line
enters the fitting. If a leak is detected the air line may not be pushed all the way in or cut squarely.
NOTE: The air control accessory kit is designed to monitor the air pressure in the air springs not the pressure between
the air compressor and the gauge. If no air is reaching the air springs, the air line tubing connections may be reversed.
Please review these connections.
S
YSTEM OPERATION
When the vehicle is loaded, the rear of the vehicle may drop several inches. The air control accessory kit allows the air springs
to be inflated from inside the vehicle. Push the paddle up to inflate the air springs and push the paddle down to deflate the air
springs.
FIRESTONE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS TELEPHONE: 317-818-8600
12650 HAMILTON CROSSING BOULEVARD 1-800-247-4337
CARMEL, IN 46032 FAX: 317-818-8645
R R
www.ride-rite.com
TM
Loading...