Suspension Drop 101: Leafs VS. Links

(ANNOUNCER)>> HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? TODAY THE GUYS TAKE TWO POPULAR HALF TONS AND DROP THEM TO THE GROUND WITH SOME DO IT YOURSELF TECH

THAT CAN BE DONE IN A WEEKEND.

(LT)>> TODAY WE'RE TALKING SUSPENSION. LEAFS VERSUS LINKS, AND THE DIFFERENT MODIFICATIONS YOU CAN DO TO YOUR DAILY DRIVER TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF COOL FACTOR.

(JEREMY)>> YEAH WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THE STANCE OF BOTH OF THESE TRUCKS BY DROPPING THEM. OUR HEMI HAULER, A 2013 RAM, AND PROJECT WHITE NOISE, A 2010 SILVERADO. BOTH CAPABLE TOW RIGS WITH DECENT POWER, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO ADMIT KINDA BORING TO LOOK AT.

(LT)>> TELL YOU WHAT, WE'RE GONNA SLAM ONE AND PUT SOME DROPS IN THE OTHER.

(JEREMY)>> SINCE WE'RE SETTING UP OUR RAM TO BE A HAULER WE DON'T WANT TO GO TOO CRAZY WITH THE DROP, BUT WE DO WANT A MORE AGGRESSIVE STANCE. SO WE'RE GONNA DROP IT TWO INCHES IN THE FRONT AND FOUR IN THE REAR, AND ALSO INSTALL A SET OF HELPER SPRINGS SO WE CAN LEVEL OUT THE TRUCK WHEN WE'RE PULLING THAT TRAILER.

(LT)>> PROJECT WHITE NOISE IS A SPORT TRUCK AND WE'RE

GONNA GET A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH THE DROP. WE'RE GOING DOWN FOUR INCHES IN THE FRONT

AND SIX IN THE REAR. WE'LL ALSO ADD A HEAVY DUTY SWAY BAR THAT'LL HELP

THE TRUCK STICK TO THE GROUND IN THE CORNERS. BOTH HEMI HAULER AND WHITE NOISE HAVE SOLID REAR AXLES, BUT THE WAY THEY ATTACH TO THE TRUCK IS VERY DIFFERENT. THE SILVERADO HAS A SIMPLE BUT ANCIENT SUSPENSION

DESIGN IN THE REAR. IT USES LONG ARCHED SPRINGS TO DO MULTIPLE JOBS. FIRST OF ALL IT LOCATES THE AXLE BOTH SIDE TO SIDE AND FRONT TO BACK. SECONDLY IT HOLDS UP THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK AND PROVIDES THE SPRING. LEAF SPRINGS ARE SOLIDLY MOUNTED AT THE FRONT BUT IN THE BACK THEY ARE MOUNTED ON A SWING SHACKLE BECAUSE AS THE SPRING COMPRESSES IT ACTUALLY GETS LONGER.

(JEREMY)>> THE RAM COMES FROM THE FACTORY WITH A FOUR LINK. NOW THIS IS NONTRIANGULATED SETUP,

WHICH MEANS IT HAS PARALLEL BARS THAT LOCATE THE AXLE UNDER THE TRUCK AND ALLOW FOR TRAVEL. NOW THE PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF SETUP IS IT CAN ALLOW SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE PAN HARD BAR COMES INTO PLAY. IT MOUNTS AT THE FRAME AND ON THE REAR AXLE. NOW THIS PROVIDES LATERAL LOCATION, WHICH MEANS THE AXLE IS CENTERED AT ALL TIMES. NOW THIS APPLICATION IS VERY POPULAR IN OFF ROAD VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY AIR SUSPENSION.

(LT)>> TO LOWER THE RAM WE WENT TO SUMMIT RACING AND PICKED UP THIS TWOFOUR DROP FROM MEGOIS. UP FRONT THE SPINDLE HAS THE HUB LOCATION TWO

INCHES HIGHER THAN THE FACTORY SPINDLE THAT'LL ACHIEVE THE DROP. OUT BACK WE HAVE FOUR INCH DROP COILS AND TO CORRECT THE GEOMETRY IT COMES WITH SHORTER SWAY BAR END LINKS, A PAN HARD BAR RELOCATION BRACKET, SHORTER BUMP STOPS, AND OF COURSE ALL THE HARDWARE WE NEED TO COMPLETE THE INSTALLATION.

THIS IS WHY YOU NEED TO ROTATE YOUR TIRES MORE OFTEN.

(JEREMY)>> THE FIRST STEP IS GOING TO BE GETTING A COUPLE OF JACK STANDS UNDER THE AXLE AND REMOVING BOTH SHOCKS FROM THE REAR HOUSING. NOW REMOVE THE FACTORY SWAY BAR END LINKS. THEN UNBOLT THE PAN HARD BAR FROM THE FRAME. WITH THAT REMOVED NOW WE CAN LET PRESSURE OFF THE JACKS AND REMOVE THE FACTORY SPRINGS. WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE FACTORY BUMP STOPS BY CUTTING THE HOUSINGS OFF THE FRAME.

THEN CLEAN UP THE AREA WITH A GRINDER AND GIVE IT A FEW COATS OF PAINT TO PROTECT FROM CORROSION. NOW WE CAN START INSTALLATION OF OUR NEW FOUR INCH DROP COILS BUT SINCE IT WOULD BE EASIER, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND SLID IN OUR NEW AIR LIFT 1,000 HELPER SPRINGS WE PICKED UP FROM SUMMIT. THEY HAVE A 1,000 POUND LOAD LEVELING CAPACITY. THEY'LL MAKE FOR A COMFORTABLE RIDE AND THEY'LL ELIMINATE ANY SQUAT ISSUES WE MAY HAVE HAULING A TRAILER. AND FOR YOU GUYS THAT HAVE FACTORY TRUCKS YOU CAN INSTALL THESE WITHOUT REMOVING YOUR COILS BY JUST FOLDING THEM UP AND WELL, JAMMING THE IN THERE. AND WE'LL SHOW YOU OUR AIR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WE PICKED UP BY AIR LIFT A LITTLE LATER.

WE'LL START BY RUNNING THE AIR LINES IN A SAFE PLACE AWAY FROM ANY SHARP EDGES OR HEAT. ALRIGHT, GO UP WITH IT. THEN WE CAN PUT A LITTLE PRESSURE BACK ON THE JACKS

TO KEEP THE COILS IN PLACE WHILE WE REINSTALL THE SHOCKS.

INSTALL THE NEW BUMP STOPS ON THE AXLE WITH THE SUPPLIED BRACKETS. NEXT INSTALL THE NEW PAN HARD BAR DROP BRACKET AND INSTALL THE BOLTS BEING SURE NOT TO FORGET THE PROVIDED SPACER. THEN WE NEED TO DRILL ONE HOLD REQUIRED FOR THE THREEEIGHTHS BOLT.

NOW OUR AXLE MOVED OVER JUST A BIT DURING DISASSEMBLY BUT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT WITH A RATCHET STRAP... LITTLE BIT, LITTLE BIT, RIGHT THERE. ...AND MOVE IT BACK OVER. NOW REINSTALL THE PAN HARD BAR AND THE FINAL STEP IS INSTALLING THE SWAY BAR END LINKS. TIGHTEN UP ALL THE BOLTS, AND THE REAR'S COMPLETE. NOW WE CAN MOVE UP TO THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. WITH THE WHEELS REMOVED WE CAN START DISASSEMBLY BY REMOVING THE BRAKE CALIPER AND TYING IT UP OUT OF THE WAY, BEING SURE NOT TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE LINES. THEN REMOVE THE CALIPER MOUNTING BRACKET, REMOVE THE TIE ROD FROM THE SPINDLE. NOW LOOSEN THE UPPER AND LOWER SPINDLE NUTS JUST A FEW THREADS SO YOU CAN RELEASE THE SPINDLE FROM THE BALL JOINTS. SOMETIMES THIS MAY REQUIRE A FEW HITS WITH A HAMMER. ONCE LOOSE REMOVE THE SPINDLE.

YOU'LL DO THAT AGAIN.

NOW REMOVE THE THREE BOLTS HOLDING THE HUB TO THE SPINDLE. NOW IF WE WERE GONNA STAY WITH STOCK BRAKES WE COULD

GO AHEAD AND INSTALL THE HUB AND THE ROTOR ONTO OUR NEW SPINDLE, BUT SINCE WE'RE ALREADY IN HERE AND

THE TRUCK'S GOT A LITTLE OVER 60,000 MILES ON IT, GREAT TIME TO GO AHEAD AND DO A BRAKE UPGRADE.

(ANNOUNCER)>> AHEAD WE'LL GET THE DROP ON THIS SILVERADO, STAY TUNED.

(LT)>> TO BRING PROJECT HEMI HAULER TO A STOP WE WENT TO EBC BRAKES AND PICKED UP A SET OF THEIR GD DIMPLED AND SLOTTED ROTORS. THIS COOL GEOMET FINISH WILL HELP PROTECT AGAINST CORROSION AND KEEP THEM LOOKING GOOD. THE DIMPLED AND SLOTTED DESIGN ALSO HELPS THESE ROTORS RUN UP TO 200 DEGREES COOLER THAN THE STOCK PARTS. THEIR EXTRA DUTY BRAKE PADS WERE SPECIFICALLY FORMULATED FOR TRUCK, JEEP, AND SUV OWNERS. IN FACT THEY HAVE THE HIGHEST FRICTION RATING

OF ANY PAD ON THE MARKET. FOR PROJECT WHITE NOISE WE'RE GONNA BE USING THE SAME GD DIMPLED AND SLOTTED ROTORS, THIS TIME WITH A SET OF THEIR YELLOW STUFF PADS. THEY'RE A GREAT STREET PERFORMANCE PAD THAT'LL STOP REPEATEDLY WITHOUT FADING OFF. ALSO UNLIKE SOME OTHER HIGH PERFORMANCE BRAKE PADS, THEY'LL STOP JUST AS GOOD WHEN THEY'RE COLD AS WHEN THEY'RE WARMED UP. AND THE BEST PART IS YOU'LL GET LONGER ROTOR LIFE THAN YOU WOULD WITH YOUR STOCK PARTS.

(JEREMY)>> WITH DISASSEMBLY COMPLETE, WE CAN START PUTTING EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER IN THE ORDER IT CAME APART, STARTING WITH OUR NEW TWO INCH DROP SPINDLE. NEXT INSTALL THE HUB WITH THE DUST SHIELD. THEN THE TIE ROD. NOW WE CAN SLIDE THE NEW ROTOR INTO PLACE AND INSTALL THE CALIPER MOUNTING BRACKET. THEN IT'S TIME FOR THE PADS, BUT DON'T FORGET TO APPLY THE SUPPLIED LUBRICANT TO THE PAD RETAINER CLIPS.

REINSTALL THE CALIPER AND WE'RE ALL DONE UP FRONT.

TO GO MORE ALONG WITH OUR NEW LOOK, WE WENT BACK TO SUMMIT RACING BECAUSE THEY CARRY THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT WHEELS. AND AFTER SEARCHING THEIR SITE FOR QUITE A WHILE WE FINALLY RAN ACROSS WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD SUIT OUR HEMI HAULER. THIS IS A 22 BY NINE AND A HALF INCH WHEEL THAT'S AN ALUMINUM EIGHT SPOKE ONE PIECE DESIGN, AND THEY COME IN THIS REALLY NICE GLOSS BLACK FINISH. AND FOR TIRES WE WENT WITH GENERAL GRABBER ULTIMATE HIGH PERFORMANCE. THEY'RE A 305/40 22, AND WITH THAT AMOUNT OF SIDE WALL WE'LL STILL HAVE A REALLY COMFORTABLE RIDE. [ DRILL SPINNING ]

(LT)>> WELL READY TO SEE WHAT THIS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE?

(JEREMY)>> LET'S GET IT ON THE GROUND.

NO NEED FOR THOSE RUNNING BOARDS ANY MORE.

(LT)>> NOPE, I LIKE IT.

IT KINDA REMINDS ME OF THOSE SRT RAMS.

(JEREMY)>> IT DOES, IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD. I LIKE THE BLACK ON BLACK TOO.

LET'S GET IT OUT OF HERE. [ ENGINE STARTS ]

(JEREMY)>> GOOD, GOOD OVER THERE?

(LT)>> YEP, WELL LET'S GET NUMBER TWO KNOCKED OUT.

(JEREMY)>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS ONE LOOKS.

(LT)>> TO START LOWERING PROJECT WHITE NOISE REMOVE THE REAR TIRES AND PLACE A FEW STANDS UNDER THE AXLE TO HOLD IT UP WITH THE LEAF SPRINGS GONE. TAKE OFF THE UBOLTS, AND NEXT THE TRAILER HITCH HAS TO GO SO WE CAN REMOVE THE LOWER SHACKLE BOLTS. THE FRONT LEAF SPRING BOLTS COME OUT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE LEAF SPRING CAN BE MANEUVERED OUT AND SET ASIDE.

(JEREMY)>> YOU GOT IT?

(LT)>> YEP! WE'LL HAVE TO MOVE THE GAS TANK AWAY FROM THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO REMOVE THE FRONT BOLT. WE NEED TO CUT THE FACTORY STEEL BUMP STOP EXTENSIONS OFF THE FRAME SO THE AXLE HAS ROOM TO DROP. NEXT TO GO IN THE TRASH ARE THE REAR SHACKLE HANGERS.

(JEREMY)>> TO PUT WHITE NOISE ON THE GROUND WE'RE USING A BELLTECH KIT. NOW TO ACHIEVE OUR DROP UP FRONT WE'RE COMBINING A SET OF TWO INCH DROP SPINDLES WITH THESE ADJUSTABLE STRUTS.

DEPENDING ON HOW MANY RINGS YOU ADD, YOU CAN

ACTUALLY RAISE OR LOWER THE TRUCK TWO INCHES EITHER WAY. OUT BACK WE'RE USING A FLIP KIT AND A SET OF ADJUSTABLE HANGERS. NOW THIS WILL ALLOW US TO DROP THE TRUCK THREE OR

FOUR INCHES IN THE FRONT AND FIVE OR SIX IN THE REAR. BUT OF COURSE WE'RE GONNA DROP IT TO THE MAX. THIS KIT COMES WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO INSTALL.

YOU CAN PICK IT UP AT SUMMIT RACING.

(LT)>> THE NEW BELLTECH SHACKLE HANGER BOLTS RIGHT IN PLACE WITH GRADE EIGHT HARDWARE, AND WE HAVE SELECTED THE HOLES ON THE BRACKET FOR THE

LOWEST RIDE HEIGHT. THESE TABS UNDERNEATH THE OE SPRING PERCHES NEED TO GO. ALL THESE STEPS ARE LAID OUT IN THE INSTRUCTIONS. WE'LL DRILL AND TAP EACH SIDE FOR THREEEIGHTHS INCH BOLTS, PAINT THE BARE METAL, THEN THREAD THE NEW

SHORTER BUMP STOPS DIRECTLY TO THE FRAME. WE'LL RAISE THE AXLE A LITTLE HIGHER UP TO MAKE SOME ROOM. WE DID HAVE TO FIGHT WITH IT A LITTLE BIT. SO WE USED SOME RATCHET STRAPS TO HOLD THE AXLE TO THE FRONT WHERE WE NEEDED IT. THESE ARE A TOOL THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS KEEP ON HAND IN THE SHOP OR IN YOUR TOOL BOX. ALL THE WAY IN?

(JEREMY)>> IT'S ALL THE WAY IN.

(LT)>> THE LEAF SPRINGS ARE NEXT. WE WILL ATTACH THE FRONT OF THE SPRINGS JUST LIKE THEY CAME OFF, AND THE REAR WITH THE SHACKLE INVERTED. THE SPRING BOLTS WON'T GET TORQUED JUST YET, ONLY FINGER TIGHT. WITH THE SPRINGS UNDERNEATH THE AXLE YOU CAN SEE WHY IT'S CALLED A FLIP KIT. THE AXLE IS MOVED TO THE TOP SIDE OF THE SPRING. THIS IS WHAT LOWERS THE TRUCK. NOW WE WILL SLIDE THE SPRING SADDLE UNDERNEATH THE PERCHES AND LOWER THE AXLE UNTIL THE CENTER PINS LINE UP. THEN BOLT IT ALL TOGETHER WITH THE STOCK UBOLTS. BELLTECH ENGINEERED THESE SADDLES TO CORRECT

THE PINION ANGLE. THESE SHORTER SHOCKS HAVE TO GO IN TO FIT WITH A SIX INCH DROP.

WE LEFT THE SPRING BOLTS LOOSE AND WITH THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK ON THEM, THEY CAN BE TIGHTENED TO SPEC.

(ANNOUNCER)>> NEXT A SIMPLE STRUT AND SPINDLE UPGRADE THAT WILL DROP YOUR TRUCK FOUR INCHES.

(LT)>> WE ARE WELL UNDERWAY WITH THE LOWERING OF PROJECT WHITE NOISE, OUR 2010 SILVERADO HALF TON. WE JUST COMPLETED THE SIX INCH DROP IN THE REAR AND

NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE FRONT FOR NEW STRUTS AND A BRAKE UPGRADE. WITH THE CALIPER AND PADS OUT OF THE WAY, I'LL

REMOVE THE CALIPER BRACKET, FOLLOWED BY THE OLD ROTOR. NEXT THE TIE ROD COMES OFF WITH A QUICK POP OF THE HAMMER. THE BALL JOINTS ARE NEXT.

I'LL WHACK THE SPINDLE A FEW TIMES WITH A HAMMER

TO BREAK THE TAPER. THEN REMOVE THE NUTS AND THE SPINDLE HUB ASSEMBLY. THEN WE CAN TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE STRUTS. THIS SILVERADO HAS THE COIL AND SHOCK ASSEMBLED TOGETHER SO THERE'S NO SPRING PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL ARM TO WORRY ABOUT. THE STRUT IS ATTACHED ON TOP WITH THREE 18 MILLIMETER BOLTS AND TWO 15 MILLIMETER ON THE BOTTOM. BY PUSHING THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DOWN WE ARE ABLE TO REMOVE THE STRUT FROM THE TRUCK.

(JEREMY)>> HEY LOOK AT THAT, I DIDN'T DROP IT.

(LT)>> GOOD JOB! OVER AT THE SPRING COMPRESSOR WE HAVE RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON THE COIL SPRINGS SO WE CAN SAFELY REMOVED THE OLD SHOCK. ONCE THE FINGERS ARE LINED UP ON THE COIL, A FEW CRANKS ON THE HANDLE IS ALL IT TAKES. AN IMPACT GUN SPINS THE SHAFT WITH SHOCK WITH A NUT. SO SOME VICE GRIPS ARE NEEDED TO HOLD IT

STATIONARY WHILE WE SPIN THE NUT OFF. JUST DON'T USE VICE GRIPS ON THE NEW STRUT. YOU MIGHT DAMAGE THE SHAFT. WELL WE'VE GOT OUR OLD STRUT OUT OF THE SPRING AND THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT HAS TO TRANSFER OVER. JUST THIS THIN PLASTIC ISOLATOR THAT GOES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING. AND ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS, TO GET OUR LOWEST POSSIBLE RIDE HEIGHT, WE HAVE TO REMOVE EVERY SINGLE RING EXCEPT THIS VERY BOTTOM 10 MILLIMETER ONE. THIS WILL GET US A TWO INCH DROP. SO WE'RE GONNA SLIDE THE NEW SPRING COLLAR ONTO IT, PLASTIC ISOLATOR, FOLLOWED BY THE VENT AND THE BUMP STOP. NOW WE CAN SLIDE THIS BACK UP INTO

THE FACTORY SPRING. TIGHTEN THE NEW TOP NUT, LINE EVERYTHING UP, AND RELIEVE THE PRESSURE ON THE SPRING.

(JEREMY)>> YOU DON'T NEED A $750 DOLLAR PROFESSIONAL STRUT/SPRING COMPRESSOR TO DO THIS JOB. IF YOU DO A LOT OF THESE OR YOU OWN A SHOP, YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD INVESTMENT.

BUT IF YOU'RE JUST DOING YOUR TRUCK OR A BUDDY'S HERE AND THERE YOU CAN RUN DOWN TO YOUR LOCAL PARTS STORE AND PICK UP ONE OF THESE STRUT/SPRING COMPRESSOR KITS, AND KEEP A LOT OF MONEY IN YOUR WALLET.

(LT)>> THE ASSEMBLED DROPPED STRUT GOES BACK INTO THE TRUCK. WE NEED TO SWAP SOME PARTS OVER TO THE NEW SPINDLES. WE'LL USE SOME TWO BY FOUR BLOCKS TO SUPPORT THE SPINDLE AND LOOSEN THE BOLTS FROM THE UNIT BEARING ASSEMBLY JUST A FEW TURNS. BECAUSE THIS TRUCK HAS SOME RUST, I NEED TO WHACK THE BOLTS WITH A PUNCH TO LOOSEN THE BEARING FROM THE OLD SPINDLE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY LIFT OR LOWER YOUR TRUCK JUST BY SWAPPING OUT THE SPINDLES, BUT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? WELL IT'S JUST THE LOCATION OF THE HUB MOUNTING SURFACE IN RELATION TO THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS. WE WENT WITH A TWO INCH DROP SPINDLE. SO THAT MEANS THE WHEEL HUB IS MOVED TWO INCHES HIGHER THAN THE FACTORY PARTS.

ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND THOUGH IS THAT AS THE HUB MOVES UP AND DOWN, THE WHEEL WILL AS WELL. IT'S GONNA GET TWO INCHES CLOSER TO THE LOWER BALL JOINT. WITH OUR COMBINATION OF PARTS YOU NEED TO RUN A MINIMUM OF A 17 INCH WHEEL, BUT THAT'S REALLY NOT A BIG DEAL BECAUSE MOST TRUCKS COME FROM THE FACTORY THESE DAYS WITH AN 18 OR EVEN A 20 INCH RIM. BEST PART IS FOR US, GET RID OF THIS OLD RUSTY JUNK. A SECOND PAIR OF HANDS MAKES IT EASIER TO COMPRESS THE UPPER CONTROL ARM AND INSTALL THE

SPINDLE BACK ONTO THE BALL JOINTS. WE'LL TIGHTEN THE UPPER BOLT AND INSTALL A NEW SHORTER NUT FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT. BECAUSE THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 17 INCH WHEELS, THE EXTRA LENGTH ON THE BALL JOINT HAS TO BE TRIMMED DOWN. BY STRIKING THE EDGE OF THE NUT AND STUD WITH A CHISEL, THE METAL WILL DEFORM JUST A LITTLE TO PREVENT THE NUT FROM BACK OUT. FROM HERE THE TIE ROD GOES BACK IN, FOLLOWED BY THE EBC'S DIMPLED AND SLOTTED ROTORS. ONCE THE STOCK CALIPER BRACKET IS ON, THE YELLOW STUFF PADS GO IN. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, INSTALL THE BRAKE CALIPER AND STOCK WHEELS. WE'LL QUICKLY BUTTON UP THE FRONT SO WE CAN MOVE

TO THE REAR AND IMPROVE THE TRUCK'S HANDLING WITH THIS EASY TO INSTALL SWAY BAR KIT.

(ANNOUNCER)>> NEXT, HOW THIS AIR SPRING UPGRADE WILL HELP LEVEL YOUR LOAD.

(JEREMY)>> EARLIER WE INSTALLED A SET OF AIR HELPER SPRING ON THE RAM. NOW THOSE SPRINGS NEED A WAY TO GET AIR. SO THIS IS THE AIR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WE'RE GOING TO USE BY AIR LIFT. IT'S THEIR WIRELESS AIR GEN THREE KIT AND COMES WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR INSTALLATION.

A 12 VOLT COMPRESSOR TO SUPPLY THE AIR WITH 20 FEET OF DOT APPROVED AIR LINE. OUR PREWIRED SOLENOID WITH ALL THE FITTINGS,

A WATER TRAP TO ELIMINATE ANY MOISTURE WE MAY HAVE, AND A MANIFOLD. NOW THE REALLY COOL THING ABOUT THIS MANIFOLD IS WE CAN ACTUALLY CONTROL EACH SPRING INDIVIDUALLY. SO NOT ONLY CAN WE ELIMINATE SQUAT, WE CAN ALSO LEVEL OUT SIDE TO SIDE, AND THEY'RE A WIRELESS DIGITAL CONTROLLER. AND THE REALLY NICE THING ABOUT THIS IS WE DON'T HAVE TO RUN ANY WIRES INSIDE THE CAB. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND A SPOT TO MOUNT THIS COMPRESSOR. THIS KIT TAKES LESS THAN AN HOUR TO INSTALL, AND WILL COME IN REALLY HANDLE WHEN WE'RE CARRYING A HEAVY LOAD IN THE BED OR TOWING A TRAILER. I'LL MOUNT EVERYTHING INSIDE THE FRAME RAIL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NOW I WENT AHEAD AND TEMPORARILY MOUNTED THE BRACKET TO THE MANIFOLD SO WE CAN GET A GOOD REFERENCE OF WHERE WE NEED TO DRILL OUR HOLES, BUT IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE OUR AIR LINES WOULD RUN DIRECTLY INTO OUR FACTORY LINES. WE'LL MAKE A COUPLE OF HALF INCH SPACERS, BRING IT OUT A LITTLE BIT, IT SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.

WE SAVED TIME EARLIER BY PREINSTALLING THE AIR LINES TO THE BAGS. NOW WE CAN CONNECT THEM UP FRONT WITH THE SUPPLIED FITTINGS. WE CHOSE TO RUN THE AIR ALONG THE FACTORY BRAKE LINES SINCE WE KNOW THOSE ARE IN A SAFE PLACE. MAKE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE MANIFOLD AND GROUND THE RELAY AND COMPRESSOR TO THE FRAME. NEXT WE'LL WRAP THE WIRING IN SOME WIRE LOOM, AND

ROUTE THE WIRES UP TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR TERMINATION AT THE BATTERY. TO TEST THIS THING OUT WE THREW A 550 POUND BIG BLOCK IN THE BED. DROPPED QUITE A BIT DIDN'T IT. WHEEL OPENING HEIGHT WAS AROUND 35 INCHES. SO WE DROPPED ABOUT AN INCH AND A QUARTER. WE CAN USE OUR WIRELESS CONTROLLER, SEE IF WE CAN GET IT BACK UP LEVEL. [ COMPRESSOR BUZZING ]

(JEREMY)>> PERFECT, NOW THE NEAT THING ABOUT THIS CONTROLLER IT'S JUST POWERED BY A FEW TRIPLEA BATTERIES. NOW YOU CAN CHOOSE TO MOUNT THIS THING SECURELY INSIDE YOUR TRUCK OR JUST THROW IT IN YOUR CONSOLE.

(LT)>> FROM STEEP HILL CLIMBS IN YOUR FOUR BY FOUR TO THE CHICANES ON A AUTOCROSS COURSE, FUEL STARVATION CAN BECOME AN ISSUE. THIS IS HYDRAMAT FROM HOLLEY PERFORMANCE. IT'S A FUEL RESERVOIR SYSTEM THAT SITS ON THE

BOTTOM OF YOUR FUEL TANK OR CELL, AND IT ALLOWS FUEL TO BE DRAWN TO THE PICK UP BY USING SURFACE TENSION AND A SPECIAL WICKING MATERIAL. AS THE FUEL RUNS AWAY, HYDRAMAT COLLECTS FUEL FROM EVEN THE SMALLEST CONTACT AREA AND DRAWS IT INTO THE PICK UP, PREVENTING AIR GETTING

INTO THE SYSTEM, WHICH CAN CAUSE POOR PERFORMANCE AND EVEN STALLING. HOLLEY HYDRAMAT COMES IN A VARIETY OF SHAPES AND SIZES STARTING AT $125 BUCKS.

(JEREMY)>> THE PROBLEM WITH HITCH BALL LOCKS IS

THEY COME WITH YET ANOTHER KEY FOR YOUR KEY RING, OR A COMBINATION YOU CAN'T REMEMBER. BOLT LOCK HAS THE ANSWER WITH THEIR NEW RECEIVER LOCK THAT IS PROGRAMMED TO YOUR TRUCK KEY. HERE'S HOW IT WORKS. TEAR OFF THE LOCK SEAL TAB, INSERT YOUR TRUCK KEY, AND TURN IT CLOCKWISE ALL THE WAY UNTIL IT STOPS. NOW YOU CAN ONLY DO THIS ONE TIME BUT THAT PREVENTS SOMEONE ELSE FROM USING THEIR KEY TO RIG YOU OFF. BOLT LOCK WON A BEST NEW PRODUCT AWARD AT SEMA AND IS AVAILABLE AT SUMMIT RACING DOT COM, STARTING

AROUND $30 BUCKS.

(LT)>> WITH A FOURSIX DROP PROJECT, WHITE NOISE LOOKS PRETTY DARN GOOD.

(JEREMY)>> YEAH WITH A TWOFOUR DROP ON THE RAM WE CAN STILL HAUL A TRAILER WITH NO ISSUES.

(LT)>> WE'VE SHOWN YOU TWO DIFFERENT METHODS OF LOWERING TWO DIFFERENT TRUCKS TO TWO DIFFERENT HEIGHTS AND LET ME TELL YOU. THEY LOOK PRETTY GOOD.

(JEREMY)>> YEAH THEY LOOK REALLY AWESOME. WE ALSO SHOWED YOU A COUPLE OF UPGRADES YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THESE TRUCKS HANDLE AND HAUL BETTER. AND EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE HERE YOU CAN DO IN YOUR DRIVEWAY IN A WEEKEND.

(LT)>> HEY GUYS, THANKS FOR HANGING OUT WITH US TODAY. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.