Hello guys a few weeks ago my rear end was stuck in the low postion and I did not hear anything from the air system at start up. I did some research and found that a height sensor was 300.00 and the converstion kit for my truck was 497.00 strutmasters. The air ride system for my truck is only rated for roughly 10 years so I opted for the kit to eliminate future problems. I installed the front kit on Sunday and through out the old shocks and heigh sensor. I plan to do the rear this weekend, but I decided to look in the instructions and found that the height sensor I had just thrown away is needed to eliminate the check suspension light. TGhat sucks. I was also reading in some forum that the soleniods help with the steering once the kits is added or the steering is hard. I dont know if I need to finda used sensor or just use the instruction to unplug the bulb from the dash to get rid of it. I am also unsure of how the kit will ride if the sensor isnt there or will the truck ride fine with kit installed with out doing the light elimination procedure pulling fuses, cutting wire, etc. Can you guys give me some opinions of your experiences

 

Wow no one has any insight on these conversion kits. Any info will be greatlyd Thanks appreciate

 

I changed to that kit on my wife's 98 the instructions are very vague had to not only take the dash apart to eliminate the light in the dash but I also had to stretch the sensor to fool the suspension I guess the kit is not the right ride height because the air pump kept trying to fill the front I could hear the air coming out the front hoses ,I even E mailed strutmaster a few times and never got a response kinda pissed me off , I would say just put the back kit in and get rid of the pos air suspention.

good luck

 

Contact Eddie Spinks at American Air Suspension. He will set you on the right path with your set up. His web site also has a faq section that may help.

 

What led you to believe your front ride height sensor was faulty, when it was he rear that was sagging? What components did you test and troubleshoot to determine why the rear was lowered? Did you get any CHK SUSP light? Were there any codes stored in the suspension control module? What air susp components (ie. the 'wear' items) have you replaced in the last 9 years on this truck?

The powering steering assist is tied into the suspension controller through a sensor on the ps pump; you can disable the light if you absolutely must but you can't disable the entire controller and it's associated circuits.

 

Thanks for the info. First off I took it to a mechanic freind off mines and he told me it was the rear height sensor probably bad because the check suspension light popped on and the rear would not rise up and he didnt hear any leaks around the bags and solenoids nor did I hear the air pump come on when I started the car. After being told it was a special order and if it didnt work it was mines at 300.00 I came to thje forum and read some post that let me know about the many problems with the system and the 10 year rating. So I opted to change out he whole thing. As we were changing the front out I happen to see the connection for the height sensor and figure it wasnt needed before I read the paperwork showing it was needed and tossed it. While we were do the installation. I figured since I was doing the front and the back kit all of the components would not be needed any further (stupid on my part). It a 2001 and I hadnt replaced any part in the system it was working fine until that day when the light came on and the system would not operate.

I figure I would change it now rather than slowy componets start failong on me and those parts are pretty expensive. Currently I have installed the front kit and will be installing the rear on Sunday. The only thing I have done is turned the button off on the air suspension located at the kick panel on the passenger side of the truck. I also removed the height sensor on the outside of the truck on the driver side right above the wheel, nd ofcouse the hoses that were plugged into the shocks. I have touch the dask light, I have pulled any fuses, I havent cut any wires, nor touched the control module yet everything is still in tact as it was when I started the instal. That is why I am asking what I need to do for the truck to function correctly. Should I just unplugg the bulb in the dash and keep riding or disable something in the dash with the controller or with the all of this fool with my power steering I dont know.

Also will Eddie assisst me with this even though I bout the kit front strutmasters and not American Air suspension?

 

From my experience with Eddie he will help you. Do not cut any wires or take your dash apart at this time. As you remove things you should mark them and put them away as the next owner may want to put the air ride back in the truck.
You should go to the local "Pick n Pull" salvage yard and find enother sensor from a parts car. There are lots of cars and trucks that have the same components. The sensor looks just like the ones on Mark VIIIs, Contis, Town Cars and other Ford products. You will have to pull the part as they usually charge $1.00 to get in and then charge you for whatever parts you bring to the check out. The sensor is not hard to remove or identify and should not cost more than $10.00.
Also, seal all the air lines you disconnect as they may be needed in the future by you or the next owner.

 

Thanks I finished the rear kit today, I have sent Eddie and email to clear up some other questions I do have but for now the trucks sits nice with the front and rear kits installed. I did opt to pull the fuse 109 for the compresser and turn the switch back on some say that helps with the variable steering. I also pulled the bulb for the check suspensin light as well to get the light to go out

 

Glad to hear that its done and I think Eddie will help you.

 

You're on track.

It's a correct statement that you need to have the switch on for the variable steering.

I pulled the instrument cluster out and removed the service suspension bulb.
The instructions have you cutting the wire to the cluster bulb so it was way easier just to pop the bulb out.

My truck rides like new!

 

yeah thanks for all you guys help the truck does ride great with no problems great forum and great info!!!!