If a suspension lift kit
offers the option of rear
leaf springs instead of
lift "blocks," go with the
springs as they provide
better side-load support
and lessen the chances of
wheel hop (axle wrap-up)
under power in muddy or
sandy conditions.
Air helper
springs and
bigger rear sway
bars, like these
from Hellwig
under a Dually,
provide excellent
suspension
control for
3/4- and 1-ton
pickups that
have mild-tomoderate lifts.
COMMON
MISCONCEPTION
According to Bruce Beck, marketing manager of PacBrake, a
Vancouver, BC, company (www.
pacbrake.com) that manufactures
air brake and air-suspension
systems worldwide, it is a common misconception that adding
a load-leveling suspension or
heavier-duty springs increases
a vehicle's carrying capacity
(GVWR).
"People put in air bags or
helper springs and think the
mod increases load-carrying
ability," says Beck, but it's the
vehicle manufacturer that
determines that based on the
axles, brakes, engine, and other
components. "Once that truck
leaves the factory, its GVWR can
never be legally changed," says
Beck.
"Although adding an air-bag
or air-spring suspension won't
legally allow your truck to carry
more weight," continues Beck,
"installing one will level out your
vehicle, so that it handles more
like it does with a lighter load."
The biggest difference between cheap
suspension lift kits and premium kits is
the way the upper and lower control arms
are addressed. Companies like Cognito and
BDS provide new upper control arms to
keep OE steering geometry maintained.
UNDERSTANDING
AIR SUPENSIONS
Several methods can improve
a pickup's ride, attitude and
handling. Using the lifting ability
of air via air-helper springs or an
air suspension is one method.
So what exactly is an air helper
spring or an air suspension?
Simply put, a heavy-duty rubber
"bag" that is inflated to maintain
a desired ride height.
The bag is constructed of a
multi-layered material similar to
that of a tire sidewall and usually
has steel cable rings around the
outside, for added strength and
stability, giving it a coil springlike appearance. Many air spring
suspension systems are installed
in place of the factory jounce
stopper that protects the suspension from bottoming on the
vehicle's frame.
Returning the truck back
to its level factory ride height
changes the weight balance
fore and aft. That, in turn,
helps lessen other handling
issues such as wallowing in the
turns, light front end steering,
bottoming out of suspension,
propickupmag.com PROPICKUP 91
ProPickup_2013BB_Suspension Lift Level.indd 91
SUSPENSION: LIFT & LEVELING KITS
inner fenders and don't seem
to be able to handle the extra
weight. I am thinking of doing
some suspension mods so my
trucks can handle the weight better. Adding air bags should give
them another 2,500 pounds of
payload capacity."
To learn more about vehicle
weight ratings visit www.propickupmag.com/understanding-vehicle-weight-ratings/.
When we mention the '05
F-250s in his fleet are only rated
to carry 3,000 pounds of payload
and an air-spring suspension or
a set of helper springs are only
intended to help level heavy
loads, he says, "Isn't that the same
thing as increasing the payload
capacity?"
"No, it isn't."
8/6/13 10:26 AM
