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I'm getting a set of airlift 5000 ultimate airbags for my 2019 f350. I'm just doing the homework ahead of time to make sure that I can safely hold this thing up and drop the axle to install the new bags. Would you use the frame before the curve in the picture, or the bolt holding the end of the leaf pack on the frame? Looking for advice, thanks in advance.
Can I use the bolt for the leaf pack as a stand location when installing my new airbags? Or does it have to be directly on the frame rail?
My preference is to put the jacks as far from the center of the vehicle as possible. So my suggestion is to find a spot closer to the bumper.
You can put a jack stand on the frame in front of the curve. Given the weight of the front/rear, that's not a bad location. The bolt for the leaf springs is so much higher you may have a tough time reaching it with a jack stand, unless it's a really big jack stand or you have a lot of cribbing under it.
Thanks for the advice. The reason why I was thinking about the leaf spring bolt is that it looks like a secure spot to put the stand cradle in. I built these blocks in the picture in order to boost the height of the stand. I probably should invest in some 12-ton stands if anything for the height.
Built these out of 2x4.... Haven't tried them yet... But I think they should be beefy enough....
Originally Posted by HRTKD
My preference is to put the jacks as far from the center of the vehicle as possible. So my suggestion is to find a spot closer to the bumper.
You can put a jack stand on the frame in front of the curve. Given the weight of the front/rear, that's not a bad location. The bolt for the leaf springs is so much higher you may have a tough time reaching it with a jack stand, unless it's a really big jack stand or you have a lot of cribbing under it.
I just watched the install video on Stage 3, why do you need to support the truck by the frame? You're not unbolting the U-bolts so the axle will never be dangling. Just put a low jack stand under the axle so it can droop a little bit. I'm not seeing why you'd have to do anything else.
I just watched the install video on Stage 3, why do you need to support the truck by the frame? You're not unbolting the U-bolts so the axle will never be dangling. Just put a low jack stand under the axle so it can droop a little bit. I'm not seeing why you'd have to do anything else.
This...when I installed airbags on my '17 250, I just jacked up the trailer hitch to give myself a little bit of room to work, but the tires never left the ground.
You don't need to get the wheels off... you just need to get some space between the rear axle and frame. Here is what I did to install Airlift 5000 Ultimate+ bags on my previous 17 F350 as well as my current 19 F450 - First, drop the spare tire and get it out of the way. Next, put a bottle jack on the towing receiver, and raised the truck to the point there is very little pressure on the wheels. Take 6-ton jack stands, and put one on each side of the bottle jack so they are supporting the the truck via the hitch cross-bar. That gives plenty of room under the truck and plenty of space to get the airbags installed. The bags themselves are a very easy install.
Thanks for the suggestions all. Here's a bit of an update.... Taking off the wheels made is much easier on the back (and head... as i seem to smack it every time i'm under there...) Anyhow, it went well putting the stands under the frame, it gave me awesome clearance. I only had issues with one part of the install... The stupid sway bar... on both sides, the sway bar was smack dab in the middle of where the airlift vertical carriage bolts sits. I ended up having the cut them down and install the axle bracket in an angle to make it work. I don't think it'll be an issue...i hope... lol
Just cause everyone love pics.... when the axle is fully dropped, it just touches on both sides... supposed 2 hour install time turned into 4... wife was not super happy with me ..... by supporting the by the frame, just before the curve, gave awesome clearance. A lot less head banging went on compared to air bag install on my older 16 F250...
The bolt issue with a sway bar is common and I think it is even listed in the instructions. I cut the bolt down on the F450 to clear the sway bar... but only needed to do on one side.
(and head... as i seem to smack it every time i'm under there...) Anyhow, it went well putting the stands under the frame, it gave me awesome clearance. I only had issues with one part of the install... The stupid sway bar... on both sides, the sway bar was smack dab in the middle of where the airlift vertical carriage bolts sits. I ended up having the cut them down and install the axle bracket in an angle to make it work. I don't think it'll be an issue...i hope... lol
