Step and tips outlined below are general guidelines. Always familiarize yourself with the suspension on which you are performing the repair by reviewing the manufacturer’s service guide.
Air springs will typically last seven years with most applications. However, air springs will fail quickly when rubbed, punctured, or when critical items such as shock are worn or broken. Take time to determine the cause of a premature failure, to avoid a costly repeat of the problem.
When replace an air spring, follow these general steps:
- Exhaust all air from the suspension system by opening the valve on the air tank to remove supply air pressure.
- Block tires. Raise and support the vehicle or trailer in a safe manner.
- Disconnect air-supply lines and exhaust all air from the air spring by moving the valve arm down.
Check for bent or broken linkage and replace if necessary Check for wear or damage of the frame hangers, trailing arms, and air spring mounts
- Remove fittings and unbolt the air spring. Compress the air spring and remove it from the suspension. Determine cause of failure.Check for to ensue there are not any obstacles or sharp edges that could damage the new spring. Check for broken or worn shocks. If they have more than 200,000 replace the shocks.
- Replace the air spring. Before installing, clean air spring mounting plates to ensure proper attachment Ensure air spring is aligned properly on mounts
- Bolt the air spring in place. Always use new attaching bolts for installation. Old bolts should never be reused since thy may fail. Follow torque specification. This can usually be found on the air spring bead plate label.
- Connect the fitting and air inlet line to the top of the air spring using a thread sealant.
- Lower the vehicle / trailer to the ground
- Close the valve on the air tank and begin pressurizing the system
- Supply air to the suspension system. Use a soap solution to check the entire system for leaks. Verify leveling arm for proper operation and set at the correct ride height Under load, the leveling valve should move from neutral potion up to intake position. When the load is removed, the arm should move down to exhaust potion, allowing air to escape until the arm returns to neutral. Refer to the manufacturer’s OEM specifications for the correct ride height.