| III) HAZARDS and MAINTENANCE |
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| There are many
things that can go wrong with an air suspension. Most are simple and can be fixed
easily or avoided altogether, but others can leave you stranded with an undriveable
vehicle. Here are some things to look out for when installing and maintaining
your air suspension. HAZARDS: 1) PRESSURE LOSS: If you your vehicle is capable of "laying frame", in the event of a bag leak or blowout, you run the risk of laying that frame on the ground while driving. This can cause serious injury to yourself and others if precautions are not taken to prevent unwanted "railing". 2) COMPRESSOR FAILURE: In the event of a compressor failure, you may be left with a deflated vehicle that is undriveable. 3) SAFETY: While working on the suspension, realize that as the pressure is bled out of the system, the vehicle will drop, possibly binding suspension parts or even human body parts. NEVER pull an airline off an inflated airbag with your arm between the tire and fender!!! 4) FITTINGS: Make sure all of your fittings are AIR TIGHT before putting your project back together. Leak test the system overnight to prevent chasing that pesky leak. 5) AIRLINES: Use appropriate airlines for you application. I recommend DOT approved lines and fittings. Non-DOT fittings will work on lower pressure systems (below 150psi), but anything above that should be running DOT hardware. 6) CHARGING SYSTEM: The high current draw from electric compressors can tax a stock charging system. On luxury vehicles and SUVs with high amp alternators (120amp and up), the stock alternator should work fine. Try cross referencing a high output alternator from the same manufacturer if your vehicle does not come with one. i.e- If you are bagging a Cavalier, look for a Cadillac alternator that might work. 7) WIRING: Fuse all 12v leads and make sure grounds are solid. Use relays to control high amp loads. Run appropriate gauge wire to the compressors. I recommend 4 gauge supply with 8 or 10 gauge leads. |
| MAINTENANCE 1) Be sure to drain your tank at least once a month. Water build-up can clog the valves, esp. in freezing or below freezing conditions. Disconnect and drain the tank entirely once a year. 2) Use an air dryer and/or water separator to keep foreign material out of the system. You want to keep your valves CLEAN! 3) Pay attention to how long the compressors run. If they start taking longer to fill the tank, your compressors are going away. 4) Check your charging system after installation. Keep an eye on battery voltage and available 'reserve energy'. If you start noticing your lights getting dim, think about upgrading your alternator. 5) Leave the vehicle inflated overnight from time to time to see if leaks have developed. |
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