Install the Rear Air Ride Suspension

• 1). Jack up the truck and support the frame with jack stands. Use the lug wrench to remove the truck's wheels from both the front and rear of the vehicle.
  
  
• 2). Begin the installation of the air suspension kit on the rear axle of the truck. Support the rear axle with a pair of jack stands, then study the way the rear leaf springs are attached to the truck's frame. Each leaf spring is bolted to the axle using two shackles, then to the frame with hangers. Unbolt the shackles first to release the leaf spring from the axle, then use the socket wrench to unbolt the two hangers at the front and rear of the leaf spring, then lower the spring to the ground.
  
  
• 3). Install the replacement lowering leaf spring in the stock leaf spring's place by first bolting the ends of the leaf spring to the hangers, then installing the shackles over the axle and bolting them in place.
  
  
• 4). Install the air spring between the frame and the leaf spring. The air spring has a mounting bracket at both ends. Align the holes in the mounting bracket with the holes on the frame and then use the socket wrench and the bolts supplied with the air suspension kit to secure the air spring in place. The bottom of the air spring which bolts to the leaf spring is held in place using a shackle and bolts similar to the shackles securing the axle to the leaf spring. Install the air spring onto the leaf spring by securing the shackles around the leaf spring and then bolting them in place.
  
  
• 5). Route the air line from the fitting on the air spring to the position of the air compressor and the air tank unit, which will be installed later. Reinstall the rear tire onto the truck. The installation of the air spring onto the rear of the truck is the same on both the driver and passenger side.
  
  

Install the Front Air Ride Suspension

• 1). Study the front suspension setup of the truck while sitting facing the engine compartment. Directly in front of you is the disc brake, and rear of the truck is the brake caliper. At the 12 o'clock position is the upper ball joint bolt, and at 6 o'clock is the lower ball joint bolt. To your front of the truck, you will see the tie rod where it bolts to the steering arm of the spindle. Below the lower ball joint you will find the lower control arm, where the spring/shock absorber are mounted through the upper control arm through the top of the wheel well to the shock tower which can be seen in the engine compartment.
  
  
• 2). Support the lower control arm with the jack and apply slight upward pressure to compress the spring, but do not lift the truck's frame off of the jack stands. Install the spring compressor onto the truck's spring, tightening down the bolts to secure the spring in place. At the base of the spring on the lower control arm you will find the spring retention clips. They can be removed by loosening the bolts with the socket wrench.
  
  
• 3). Unbolt the shock absorber from underneath the lower control arm using the socket wrench, then unbolt the shock absorber from the shock tower by removing the shock tower bolts located inside the engine compartment of the truck. Remove the spring retainers located at the top of the spring.
  
  
• 4). Gently lower the jack to free the spring and shock absorber from the shock tower and the upper control arm. Compress the spring with your hands so that it will be easier to remove, then lift the spring and shock up through the upper control arm.
  
  
• 5). Decompress the spring gently. Under tension, automotive springs can be very dangerous. The air ride shock/spring unit consists of three parts: the air spring itself, and the upper and lower shock mounts. The upper shock mounts consist of four bolts which insert through the bolt holes located in the top of the shock tower. Bolt these in place first, then raise the lower control arm and bolt the lower shock mount onto the lower control arm. Insert the air line into the fitting of the air suspension and route the air line through the frame to the bed of the truck.
  
  

Install the Air Ride Hardware

• 1). Install the air tank and compressor in the bed of the truck, bolting them to the floor with the provided hardware and route their air lines according to the kit instructions. Four air lines will run to the four corners of the truck, and a single air line will be routed from the compressor to the air tank.
  
  
• 2). Route the electrical line for the switches provided with the air suspension kit under the cab of the truck, then up through the engine bay and into the truck through the firewall. Install the switch box according to the kit instructions. Route the air compressor power in the same manner and install it into the fuse box of the truck according to the kit instructions. No two air suspension kits are wired alike.
  
  
• 3). Inflate the air suspension, then reinstall the wheels onto the truck. Remove the jack stands and test the ride height of the truck by completely deflating the air bags using the switch box installed in the cab of the truck.