Ford F-150 Suspension Modifications - Thunder From Down Under

An air suspension relies on air. Go figure. So the LevelPRO setup includes a 5-gallon storage tank, two compressors, and a four-way air-valve assembly. It also includes a whole passel of DOT-approved air lines and various plug-and-play wiring harnesses that we haven't shown here.

Operation is overseen by the extruded-aluminum processor, or ECU, on the right, and driver interface takes the form of the control module on the left. The module has provisions for three programmable, one-touch ride heights, individual adjustment of each corner, and can be set to automatically go to driving height on startup. All in all, this is an impressive and capable system.

You gotta love a manufacturer with a sense of humor. In tongue-in-cheek recognition of the fact that we manly men often ignore them, Air Ride's thorough and well-illustrated instructions come in an envelope marked with a "Do Not Open!" warning.

This isn't a how-to article; it's just meant to show the highlights of the THUNDERTRUCK's new suspension hardware. In front, Air Ride's ShockWave spring/ damper units simply bolt in place of the stock F-150 coilovers shown here.

The coilover unbolts, top and bottom, and can be slid out after detaching the tie-rod end from the spindle, for clearance.

The ShockWave is installed. Note the adjustment knobs for both rebound and compression just above the lower mount point. There's a threaded port for an air-pressure fitting on the collar above the rubber bellows. Even with the unit bolted in place, this collar can be rotated to place the fitting in any convenient and accessible location.

Moving afT, the axle must be supported because the leaf springs are about to be unbolted from the frame and from their U-bolt perches on the housing. The factory shocks and rubber bumpstops come off as well.

The lower axle bridge is the first piece of Air Ride hardware to go on. This housing-spanning bar acts as an anchor point for many of the new suspension components. We kind of wish Air Ride had coated its components in a contrasting color instead of chassis black, so they would "pop" more in our photos.

The new lower control arms attach to the factory leaf-spring hanger at the front and to the lower axle bridge at the rear. Wherever possible, the AirBAR kit makes use of factory attachment points or holes, and no welding whatsoever is required to fit the kit.