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Adjustable
Load Support for the 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500
Air Lift Air Springs for the 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 with the Z-71 Off-Road Package, adding the adjustable air suspension system to the Chevy is in order to compensate for a slightly lower rear after installing the ReadyLift leveling kit and a custom fiberglass canopy. We also want the adjustability of the Air Lift adjustable air suspension system to aid in keeping the truck level when towing or adding cargo to the bed.
After installing the ReadyLift Leveling Kit and when towing the boat, the Air Lift Air Springs are just what the Silverado needed to keep her running level. One of the advantages of the Adjustable Load Support of the Air Lift Air Springs is found when keeping the new HID headlights pointing down the road and not up into the eyes of oncoming traffic. I'm sure everyone we come across will appreciate the fact we installed these on our new Chevy Silverado. Read about the installation of the Air Lift Adjustable Air Springs below.
Air Suspension Parts & Kits
Choosing the Air Lift Air Suspension to complete the duties of controlling rear end sag, we now look at where to purchase these online. Shipping is a problem now that we are back in Alaska. We need to order this system along with the Bushwacker Extend-a-Fender flares but were running into the problem of companies that won't ship to Alaska. We ended up purchasing the Air Lift System from Auto Parts Warehouse but the Bushwacker Extend-a-Fenders were ordered from our local auto parts store.
Air
Lift Air Suspension
What's in the box: Everything needed for installing these units on the Chevy from brackets to air lines and fittings. We did need to pick up a 9/16 drill to relocate one hole in the frame.
Installation: Installation was pretty straight forward with just a couple of little hitches that needed to be overcome. First the holes in the frame where the brackets installed did not line up. These were relocated using a 9/16 inch bit and then the bed frame rails needed to be notched (1) to allow the brackets to be installed in the correct location. Finally, the air fittings were rubbing against the bottom of the bed (2) .
The air fittings were installed in the license plate frames to make the installation neat and clean.
To fix the problem with the clearances above the air fittings, a 1/2" plate shim was machined to lower the brackets and we changed out the air fittings with some stainless ones that were available from our local machinist for a custom paint ball gun he makes. Clearances were now acceptable but one of the airbags was loosing air when left overnight. Air pressure dropped from 31 psi the night before to 0 psi at around 9AM this morning; a period of 13 hours passed between readings.
A
little soapy water revealed a leak around the brass fitting where it is bonded
to the air bag itself.
As it is Sunday, August 28, 2011, and most all online business customer service departments are closed for the day, we will contact AirLift tomorrow and see about expediting a replacement bag to us here in the little town of Kenai Alaska. This should be a good test of their Lifetime Limited Warranty and a true test of their customer services as well.
Stop by and see how this turns out but my guess from what I read is the part will be in the mail by closing time tomorrow.
Update, August 29, 2011: A call to Air Lift resulted
in a new replacement bag being expedited to us here in Alaska. Customer service
seems pretty important to the folks ar AirLiftCompany.com making us very happy
with our choice in choosing this produce to make the journey across America
with us. I did request that the bag be sent via 2 day air and will pay for
that in order to keep on schedule. Air Lift was very willing to accomodate
my needs and their customer service and Lifetime Limited Warranty is proven
not to be just advertising hype. Rating: 
Update, November 14, 2011: With 6800
miles behind us, twice over the Alaska Highway, the air adjustable suspension
from Air Lift is preforming flawlessly. Heavy loads and pulling trailers is
no problem and keeping those ultra bright HID headlights out of the eyes of
uncoming traffic is as simple as flipping a switch. We consider the addition
of the Air Lift Suspention as one of the best options we have made to our hard
working Silverado. Rating:
Update, November 28, 2011: Weeks of testing in sub-zero temperatures and the Air Lift Air Suspension on our 2011 Chevy Silverado is performing flawlessly. We were really wondering what effects we would notice during the frigid Alaska winters but were here to say it's been as low as –15° this November and the Air Lift Air Suspension has been up to every task we have demanded of them.
Air Lift Company
2727 Snow Road
Lansing, MI 48917
(800) 248-0892
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Shipped To Your Door
Road Trip 2011: See
The USA in your Chevrolet.
Bob Jameson
46045 Spruce Place
Kenai, Alaska 99611