american suspension air ride install

Air springs

After the air spring assembly steps are completed, carefully check the installation of the bottom piston to confirm that it is correctly positioned and firmly connected to the structure with the mounting pins or clips. If this step is neglected, the bottom piston may be at risk of breaking, or even directly causing the air spring to move out of its intended installation position. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the air line is routed neatly and orderly to prevent it from being squeezed between the air spring and chassis components (such as the inner wheel arch of the vehicle), thereby affecting air circulation and hindering the exhaust function of the air spring.

Before inflating the air spring, the vehicle needs to be firmly supported to prevent uneven distribution of vehicle weight during inflation, which may cause abnormal bending of the air spring. In this case, the airbag will be under great pressure and there is a risk of it coming out of the crimping ring.

In addition, when replacing the air spring, the condition of the shock absorber should also be fully checked, because the shock absorber is the core component responsible for absorbing vibrations, not the air spring. If the shock absorber has insufficient damping efficiency, the air spring will be forced to bear additional impact loads, which is not its original design, and may also increase the risk of damage to the bottom piston, including cracking or even breaking.

Air struts

After assembling the air strut assembly, the first task is to review the installation of the bottom piston to ensure that it is properly positioned and securely connected by the mounting pin or snap. Ignoring this step may cause damage to the bottom piston or accidental detachment of the air strut. At the same time, ensure that the air line is routed in compliance and avoids it being sandwiched between the air strut and chassis components (such as the inner wheel arch) to ensure unobstructed air flow and facilitate the inflation and deflation of the air strut.

During the inflation operation, the vehicle needs to be supported firmly to avoid bending of the air strut due to uneven weight distribution, which will in turn apply extreme stress to the airbag and risk it being pulled out of the crimping ring.

In addition, when replacing the air strut assembly, the condition of the shock absorber should not be ignored because it is the main force of shock absorption, not the air strut. When the damping force of the shock absorber is insufficient, the air strut will be subjected to additional impact, which is not its original design intention and may accelerate the damage of the bottom piston.

For the installation of the air line of LUEN products, we strive to simplify the operation and avoid unnecessary joint disassembly. If it has been disassembled, the torque should be controlled within 2 Nm when tightening the Voss connector to prevent damage to the thread and leakage. After installation, verify that the wiring/plug position is correct to prevent the generation of fault codes. The tightening of the top bolt should follow the manufacturer's specifications and should be done manually to avoid the risk of over-tightening caused by pneumatic tools.

Air pump

As for the management of the air pump, its failures are mostly caused by indirect factors, so it is important to check the sealing of the air suspension system. Clues to identify whether the air pump is damaged due to overheating include burnt smell, discoloration of labels, and signs of melting of lines/connectors. When repairing, in addition to replacing the air pump, the source of the fault must be cured. At the same time, the synchronous update of the relay and the air filter element is also necessary to prevent the relay from sticking and causing the air pump to overheat due to continuous operation, and the filter element contamination affects the performance of the new pump.

Finally, check the integrity of the air inlet, air intake hose and wire insulation sleeve to prevent potential problems caused by hose aging and leakage, wire wear and breakage, and ensure the long-term stable operation of the air pump.