Principles of Operation

WARNING:
- Before repairing or installing any air suspension component(s), turn off the air suspension switch or disconnect the battery ground cable to prevent vehicle damage or personal injury.
- Do not attempt to install or inflate any air spring that has become unfolded to prevent vehicle damage or personal injury.
- Failure to observe the following procedures may result in a sudden failure of the suspension system.
- Any air spring which is unfolded must be refolded prior to being installed in a vehicle.
- The air spring refolding procedure should not be used for an air spring which has never supported the vehicle's weight while in the correctly folded position.
- Vehicles with an incorrectly folded air spring(s) found after the vehicle has been driven, must have a new air spring installed.
- Do not attempt to inflate any air spring which has collapsed while deflated from the rebound hanging position to the jounce stop.
- When installing a new air spring, care must be taken to not apply a load to the suspension until the air springs have been inflated using the air spring fill procedure.
- After inflating an air spring in the hanging position, it must be inspected for proper shape.

The air suspension system is designed to improve ride handling and general vehicle driving performance.

Rear Air Suspension Control Module
A microprocessor controls the air suspension system. The microprocessor and its supporting hardware are contained in the air suspension control module. The rear air suspension control module responds to signals from various sensors in the vehicle to maintain the programmed ride height while the vehicle is either moving or stopped. The rear air suspension control module accomplishes this by opening and closing solenoid valves to control the amount of air in the air spring(s). The rear air suspension control module turns on the compressor by applying voltage through the compressor relay to inflate the air spring(s) and raise the vehicle. The rear air suspension control module opens the vent solenoid to lower the vehicle by releasing air from the air spring(s) in response to signal inputs from the air suspension height sensor(s).

Air Suspension Switch

CAUTION: The air suspension switch must be turned to the OFF position when the vehicle is hoisted, jacked, towed, jump started, or raised of the ground, to avoid unnecessary operation of the system and possible damage to the air suspension system components.

The air suspension switch provides a signal to the rear air suspension control module in the ON position to activate the system to maintain the programmed vehicle height.

Air Compressor

Note: The compressor contains a thermal overload circuit breaker. The circuit breaker automatically resets after a cool down period and after being tripped by excessive compressor motor heat.

The air compressor assembly consists of the compressor pump, electric motor and vent solenoid (must be installed as an assembly).

Air Suspension Height Sensor
The air suspension height sensor sends signals to the air suspension control module. There are three possible conditions that the air suspension control module interprets from the signals of the air suspension height sensors. The conditions are trim height, below trim height, or above trim height.

Solenoid Valve, Air Spring

WARNING: Never rotate an air spring solenoid valve to the release slot in the air spring end cap fitting until all pressurized air has escaped from the air spring to prevent vehicle damage or personal injury.

The air spring solenoid valve allows air to enter and exit the rear air springs during height adjustment Operations. The air spring solenoid valve is electrically operated and controlled by the air suspension control module.

Steering Sensor
The steering sensor provides the steering rate and position to the air suspension control module to avoid overcompensation of the air suspension during turns.