Air-over-leaf Suspension Install!

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY WE'RE ADDING A HYBRID AIR OVER LEAF SPRING SUSPENSION KIT TO A WORK TRUCK TO IMPROVE TOWING COMFORT AND HANDLING. THEN WE'RE ADDING SOME VINTAGE LOOKING DOOR LETTERING TO PROJECT CLASSIX. IT'S ALL TODAY HERE FROM THE TRUCKS' GARAGE!

(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO TRUCKS. NOW JUST RECENTLY KEVIN AND I INSTALLED SOME SUPPLEMENTAL AIR SPRINGS ON THE BACK OF THE SEARCH AND RESTORE F-350 DUALLY. WE DID THAT SO THE GUYS DRIVING IT COULD LEVEL THE LOAD AND RIDE MORE COMFORTABLY WHILE TOWING A HEAVY ENCLOSED TRAILER HALF WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOW THE SEARCH AND RESTORE TRUCK HAS A GOOSE NECK. THIS PICK UP USES A FIFTH WHEEL HITCH THAT THE OWNER HOOKS TO A PRETTY LARGE CAMPER, BUT HE DOESN'T TOW ALL THE TIME. AND WHILE HE'S NOT TOWING, HE USES HIS F-250 AS HIS DAILY DRIVER. SO WHILE HE'S NOT RUNNING AROUND WITH A FULL LOAD HE COULD USE A LITTLE BIT SOFTER RIDE. THERE'S A NEW SYSTEM ON THE MARKET THAT USES LEAF SPRINGS AND USES SUPPLEMENTAL AIR BAGS, BUT TAKES A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH. THIS IS THE RFOUR TECH SYSTEM FROM FIRESTONE, AND IT REPLACES THE STIFF AND ROUGH RIDING FACTORY LEAF SPRINGS WITH SOME LIGHTER RATED AND SOFTER RIDING LEAF SPRINGS TO GIVE YOU A NICE, SMOOTH, COMFORTABLE RIDE. BUT IT ALSO USES SOME HEAVY DUTY AIR SPRINGS TO MAINTAIN YOUR HEAVY DUTY TRUCK'S CARRY CAPACITY. NOW IT ALSO USES SOME LOWER JLINKS TO CONTROL AXLE WRAP DURING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, AS WELL AS SOME SHOCKS THAT ADJUST ACCORDING TO THE LOAD PLACED ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. NOW THE KIT ALSO INCLUDES SOME POWDER COATED BRACKETRY, HARDWARE, UBOLTS, AS WELL AS PRESSURE SENSORS, RIDE HEIGHT SENSORS, AND AIR COMPRESSOR, AND A TANK NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THE INSTALLATION.

(KEVIN)>> THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS MAKE A REFERENCE MARK AND MAKE A NOTE OF OUR RIDE HEIGHT. WE DO THIS BY USING THE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL BEAD RIGHT NEXT TO THE TOP OF THE WHEEL ARCH OF THE BED SIDE.

THEN WE'LL MARK OFF 34 INCHES, GO TO THE OTHER SIDE, MARK IT AS WELL.

ALRIGHT!

(RYAN)>> NOW THE RFOUR TECH SYSTEM IS FIRESTONE'S PREMIER SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE INSTALLATION STARTS WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE UBOLTS, UBOLT PLATES, AS WELL AS THE PARKING BRAKE RETAINER CLIP, ALONG WITH THE LEAF SPRING WHICH IS PRETTY HAPPY WHERE IT IS. LEVERAGE IS YOUR FRIEND! ( impact wrench spinning )

(RYAN)>> NOW THAT'S A BOLT. WHY COULDN'T THEY USE THAT UP FRONT?

THE LAST STEP IS REMOVING THE FACTORY BUMP STOPS.

(KEVIN)>> NOW INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE REPLACEMENT SPRING PACK AND JLINK COME FROM SANLUIS RASSINI, WHO'S ALSO THE MANUFACTURER AND DESIGNER OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SPRING PACKS. SO RATHER THAN INTRODUCING AN AFTERMARKET SUSPENSION COMPONENT INTO AN OE SYSTEM, YOU GET THE SAME ENGINEERING DYNAMIC AS WELL AS THE ADDED BENEFIT OF WEIGHT LOSS.

(RYAN)>> NOW THE FIRST STEP IN INSTALLATION IS THIS MULTI PIECE BRACKET, WHICH UTILIZES THE ORIGINAL LEAF SPRING HANGER LOCATION ALONG WITH WRAPPING AROUND THE FRAME TO GIVE A GOOD SOLID MOUNTING POINT TO THE REPLACEMENT LEAF SPRING AND THE LOWER JLINK.

WE ALSO HAD TO REMOVE THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK TRIM TO GIVE US ACCESS TO INSTALL THIS LOWER BRACE THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME RAIL AND STIFFENS THINGS UP.

NOW JUST LIKE ON THE RIDE RIGHT SYSTEM, WE HAD TO TEMPORARILY UNBOLT THIS BRACKET SO WE COULD INSTALL THE UPPER BAG MOUNT CAUSE IT USES SOME OF THE SAME BOLT HOLES. ALSO DON'T FORGET THIS LOWER SHIM THAT INSTALLS IN BETWEEN THE BRACKET AND THE FRAME.

NOW THE FACTORY BRAKE LINE BRACKET HAS TO GO AWAY. IT'S GONNA BE REPLACED WITH THE SUPPLIED BRACKET EVENTUALLY. NOW WE ARE GONNA BE REUSING THE FACTORY LEAF SPRING SHACKLE, BUT WE'RE INSTALLING IT ONTO THE REPLACEMENT SPRING PACK FOR NOW. WE'RE JUST SNUGGING DOWN THE BOLT. YOU WANT TO LEAVE THE SHACKLE SWINGING FREELY TO MAKE INSTALLATION THAT MUCH EASIER. BUT BEFORE WE INSTALL OUR NEW SPRING PACK, WE'VE GOT TO INSTALL THE SUPPLIED LOWER AIR SPRING MOUNT.

NEXT THE LOWER JLINK GETS BOLTED INTO PLACE.

FOLLOW THAT WITH ADDING THE REPLACEMENT UBOLTS SUPPLIED IN THE KIT. THEY HOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND COMPLETE THE INSTALLATION OF THE LEAF SPRING. ( impact wrench spinning )

(KEVIN)>> HEY, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS, WHERE WE'RE ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF OUR FIRESTONE RFOUR TECH SYSTEM ON OUR 2011 F-250 HERE. NOW JUST LIKE IT SITS, WELL IT'LL PROBABLY RIDE PRETTY SMOOTH DOWN THE ROAD BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO BE HAULING AROUND A 15,000 POUND TRAILER WITH A SETUP LIKE THIS. THAT'S WHERE THESE GUYS COME IN. NOW FIRESTONE IS AN INNOVATOR IN AIR SPRING TECHNOLOGY, AND TOGETHER WITH THIS PATENTED SYSTEM, THIS VIRTUALLY ELIMINATES THE ROLLING COMPROMISE OF A MASS PRODUCED VEHICLE, GIVING YOU BACK THE RIDE OF A MODERN HALF TON PICK UP, INCREASING YOUR CONTROL WHILE MAINTAINING THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF A HEAVY DUTY SUSPENSION. ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S BOLT IN.

(RYAN)>> HERE'S THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINE BRACKET WE TOLD YOU ABOUT EARLIER. DON'T FORGET YOUR AXLE'S BREATHER TUBE. YOU DON'T WANT A BUNCH OF WATER OR DEBRIS GETTING IN YOUR REAR END. NOW THE AIR SPRING IS SECURED WITH A SERRATED STAR WASHER AND LARGER RETAINING NUT. FOLLOW THAT WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE ACTUAL AIR FITTING, WHICH COMES WITH THREAD SEALANT PREAPPLIED. NOW ONE OF THE COOL FEATURES OF THIS KIT ARE THE SHOCKS THAT ARE INCLUDED WITH IT. LIKE WE SAID EARLIER, THEY'RE LOAD ADAPTIVE. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THESE SHOCKS HAVE SOFTER VALVING IN THEM THAN THE FACTORY ORIGINAL SHOCKS. THAT WAY THEY'LL MATCH THE SOFTER RIDING LEAF SPRINGS, THAT IS UNTIL YOU PLACE SOME WEIGHT ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. THESE SHOCKS GET T'ED INTO THE AIR LINES THAT FEED THE AIR SPRINGS. THE MORE PRESSURE IN THE AIR SPRINGS, WELL THE FIRMER THE VALVING IN THE SHOCKS. THE BEST PART ABOUT IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANYTHING. IT HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY.

NOW THIS BRACKET, PRESSURE SENSOR, AND VALVE ASSEMBLY IS WHAT MEASURES THE VEHICLE'S RIDE HEIGHT, AND DISTRIBUTES THE AIR PRESSURE THAT GOES TO THE SHOCKS, ALL DEPENDENT ON THE VEHICLE'S LOAD. NOW PROVIDING THAT AIR IS THE SUPPLIED AIR COMPRESSOR THAT GETS BOLTED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RAIL. AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT LARGER THAN THE RIDE RIGHT COMPRESSOR WE INSTALLED RECENTLY. NOW JUST IN FRONT OF THE COMPRESSOR WE'RE ADDING THE SUPPLIED AIR TANK, AND THAT MAKES FOR QUICK FILLING AND ADJUSTMENTS OF THE REAR AIR SPRINGS.

(KEVIN)>> NOW JUST LIKE THE RIDE RIGHT KIT, THE RFOUR TECH SYSTEM COMES WITH ITS OWN FUSE TAP. A TEST LIGHT WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET THE KEY ON VOLTAGE IN THE FUSE BLOCK. THE ONLY OTHER CONNECTIONS ARE POWER AND GROUND RIGHT TO THE BATTERY.

(RYAN)>> THE ROUTING OF THE AIR LINES IS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. JUST LIKE ALWAYS, AVOID KINKING THE AIR LINES OR RUNNING THEN NEAR ANYTHING THAT IS SHARP OR ANYTHING THAT GETS HOT. NOW THE RED LINES ARE AIR SUPPLY LINES. THE CLEAR TUBE IS NOTHING BUT A VENT FOR A FEATURE WE'LL SHOW YOU IN A SECOND. THIS ADJUSTABLE ARM IS WHAT TELLS THE SYSTEM THE RIDE HEIGHT OF THE REAR SUSPENSION, AND HELPS TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE AIR PRESSURE FOR THE AIR SPRINGS AND SHOCKS.

(KEVIN)>> ALRIGHT RYAN, WE GOOD?

(RYAN)>> YES SIR. ( air compressor buzzing )

(RYAN)>> ALRIGHT, WELL THERE'S THE COMPLETE AND INFLATED SYSTEM. NOW THE OWNER OF THIS TRUCK IS READY TO HOOK TO HIS CAMPER AND HAVE A GOOD SOLID TOW, OR RIDE AROUND UNLOADED AND NOT BOUNCE OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER BENEFIT OF THE SYSTEM THAT WE WANT TO SHOW YOU ONCE WE REASSEMBLE THE TRUCK. AND THAT'S THE KNEELING FEATURE. SIMPLY BY FLIPPING THIS SWITCH THAT WE'VE INSTALL HERE NEXT TO THE LICENSE PLATE, WELL IT LOWERS THE BACK END OF THE TRUCK A FEW INCHES SO YOU CAN BACK UNDERNEATH YOUR TRAILER. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET OUT IN THE RAIN AND CRANK ON IT, OR YOU COULD JUST LOAD THINGS INTO YOUR BED THAT MUCH EASIER. WHEN YOU'RE DONE, FLIP THE SWITCH, REINFLATES, PRETTY SLICK.

(KEVIN)>> NOW THERE'S ONE LAST STEP AND THAT'S RESETTING THE TRUCK BACK TO THE ORIGINAL RIDE HEIGHT USING OUR REFERENCE MARK WE MADE EARLIER. THAT'S DONE BY ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT CONTROL VALVES. AFTER THAT, THIS TRUCK'S READY FOR THE ROAD AGAIN.

(KEVIN)>> HEY, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS. WELL PROJECT CLASSIX IS LOOKING COOL. IT'S RUNNING UNDER ITS OWN STEAM, OUR COPPER IS PATINA'ING AND MATCHING THE PAINT JOB, AND EVERYBODY IS DIGGING THE FAUXTINA PAINT. BUT THERE'S ONE MORE THING WE WANTED TO DO. WE WANTED TO GIVE IT SOME OLD FASHIONED SIGNAGE. KINDA MAKE IT OUR OWN SHOP TRUCK, BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE CREATED OUR PATINA BY SANDING THROUGH LAYERS OF DUPLICOLOR PAINT CREATING AN AGED LOOK, AND WE WANT TO DO THE SAME THING WITH THE DOOR SIGNAGE. BUT IF YOU SAND THROUGH THOSE LAYERS, YOU'RE GONNA EFFECT THE UNDERLYING LAYERS. THAT'S WHERE DUPLICOLOR COMES IN WITH A NEW PRODUCT. THEY'VE JUST COME OUT WITH THIS NEW MATTE FINISH CLEAR TO GO ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE PAINT SHOP SYSTEM, AND WHAT THIS IS GONNA DO IS GIVE US THE ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR GROUND COATS SO THAT WHEN WE PAINT OVER TOP, WE DON'T SAND THROUGH THE LAYERS OF THE PATINA THAT WE'VE ALREADY CREATED. SO TODAY'S PROJECT IS TO SHOW YOU GUYS HOW TO DO OLD SCHOOL SIGN PAINTING WITHOUT BEING A SIGN PAINTER USING SIMPLE OVER THE COUNTER PRODUCTS AND THE HELP OF OUR LOCAL SIGN SHOP, IT'S COOL! WE MASKED UP THE DOORS AND SHOT FOUR HEAVY COATS OF THE MATTE CLEAR ONTO THE TRUCK. THE COOL THING IS, WELL IT WAS ALREADY SANDED. SO THERE WAS NO PREP WORK, AND WE KNOW 100 PERCENT THE PRODUCTS ARE COMPATIBLE BECAUSE IT'S ALL DUPLICOLOR. NOW THE MATTE CLEAR IS PERFECT FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MANY COATS YOU SPRAY OR HOW WET YOU SPRAY IT, THE FLATTENING AGENTS, WELL THEY EVEN IT OUT AND THEY MAKE IT HOT ROD FLAT. SO LITERALLY NOW ALL IT IS IS USING THE STENCILS THAT WE HAD CUT AT OUR LOCAL SIGN SHOP AND CREATING AND AGING OUR SIGNS. NOW A PROFESSIONAL SIGN PAINTER WOULD GO THROUGH THIS ELABORATE PROCESS OF CENTERING THE ART WORK, STARTING THE GRAPHICS, BUT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LITERALLY LEVEL THE STENCIL UP TO THE HORIZON LINE OF THE BELT LINE OF THE DOOR, SIMPLE. NOW THE SIGN SHOP TRANSFERRED THE STICKER ONTO THEIR OWN BACKING PAPER. WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS USING A CLEAR TRANSPARENT FILM AS OUR OWN TRANSFER PAPER. THIS IS CALLED FRISK FILM. YOU AIR BRUSH GUYS KNOW WHAT THIS STUFF IS. IT'S AVAILABLE ONLINE AT ANY AIR BRUSH SUPPLY. BASICALLY WHAT THIS ALLOWS US TO DO IS TO KEEP THE ORIENTATION OF THE CUT OUT LETTERS ON THE BACKING PAPER AND TRANSFER IT LITERALLY TO THE DOOR. ONCE THE AIR POCKETS ARE SQUEEGEE'ED OUT, YOU CAN TAKE THE TRANSFER PAPER OFF AND START PEELING AWAY AT THE INSERTS OF THE DECALS. NOW IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT, THIS IS THE TRUCKS LOGO WITH A LITTLE STYLISH TWIST. SO WE'RE PULLING THE INSERT OF THE LETTER OUT THAT ACTUALLY SPELLS TRUCKS. BUT IF YOU'RE DOING A STENCIL LIKE OURS, DON'T THROW THE LETTERS AWAY. KEEP THEM SAFE AND KEEP THEM TO WHERE YOU CAN REUSE THEM AGAIN. NOW AFTER YOU'VE GOT YOUR SIGNAGE MASKED OFF, WELL OF COURSE WE'RE USING YELLOW FROM A DUPLICOLOR SPRAY CAN TO COLOR THE LETTERS. NOW FOR THE GARAGE PART OF THE TRUCKS GARAGE SIGN WE'RE USING A DUPLICOLOR GREY PRIMER SEALER MIXED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF WHITE HEADER PAINT JUST SPLATTERED IN FOR SOME TEXTURE. AFTER LETTING THE YELLOW SIT FOR ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES, THIS STARTS TO GET FUN AND WE CAN START PEELING OFF STICKERS. THIS IS THE COOL THING ABOUT THE GRAPHICS SHOP DOING THIS FOR US BECAUSE THE OUTLINE IS REALLY EASY TO DO. USING THE LETTERS THAT YOU SAVED, YOU CAN REMASK THE TRUCKS LOGO OR YOUR LOGO AND SAVE YOURSELF A TON OF TIME. IT MAKES IT REALLY, REALLY EASY TO DO THE OUTLINE IN JUST A FLAT BLACK PAINT LIKE WE'RE DOING. IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO DRY. PULL YOUR MASKING PAPER OFF AND YOU KINDA SEE WHERE THE MAGIC STARTS TO HAPPEN. NOW REMEMBER, IF YOU'RE DOING FAUXTINA LIKE WE'RE DOING, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. YOU CAN MAKE A MESS BECAUSE IT JUST ADDS CHARACTER.

(KEVIN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS. WE'RE SHOWING YOU HOW TO FAUXTINA SIGN PAINTING, EVEN IF YOU'VE NEVER PAINTED SIGNS BEFORE, BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT. THIS IS CUSTOM PAINTING 101. THE MATTE CLEAR HAS GIVEN US PROTECTION LAYER BETWEEN OUR LETTERS AND OUR FAUXTINA. THIS LITTLE BOO BOO, THIS HOLIDAY RIGHT HERE. IF I HADN'T DONE THAT, WHEN I TRIED TO SAND THAT OFF AND GET RID OF IT, I'D HAVE DISTURBED THE PATINA. NOW, INVISIBLE, AND THE HOLLIDAY'S GONE.

NOW IT'S GONNA TAKE YOU ABOUT 10 SECONDS TO FIGURE OUT THAT I'M NO PIN STRIPER, BUT I DON'T HAVE TO BE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE EITHER. ALL WE'RE DOING IS BASIC ART CLASS STUFF. WE'RE CREATING A HIGHLIGHT TO GIVE THE LETTERS SOME DIMENSION. NOW WE'RE USING KUSTOM SHOP'S FLAT LETTERING ENAMEL. IT'S REALLY THICK IN THE CAN, SO YOU NEED TO ADD A LITTLE REDUCER. YOU DO THIS WITH A BRUSH. IT'S CALLED PALLETING YOUR BRUSH AND IT WORKS GREAT ON A MAGAZINE. BASICALLY YOU ADD REDUCER AND DRAG IT THROUGH THE PILE OF PAINT UNTIL THE FEEL IS JUST RIGHT, UNTIL IT FEELS LIKE IT'S FLOWING OUT OF THE BRUSH, AND THIS GUY'S STARING AT ME. THE BRUSH I'M USING IS OBVIOUSLY A PIN STRIPING BRUSH, AND IT'LL COST YOU ABOUT FOUR BUCKS. NOW WITH OUR LIGHT SOURCE IN THE UPPER LEFT, OUR DROP SHADOW IS GOING TO GO DOWN IN THE LOWER RIGHT. THIS GIVES THE ILLUSION OF A THREE DIMENSIONAL WORD AND LIFTS IT OFF THE PANEL NICELY. IN THE TIME THAT IT TOOK TO DO THE BOTTOM LETTERING, THE TRUCKS SIGN IS ALREADY DRY. SO WE'RE USING 500 GRIT SAND PAPER AND JUST SANDING UNTIL WE THINK IT LOOKS WEATHERED. NOW THE 10 MINUTES THAT IT ACTUALLY TOOK, YOU'RE SEEING IN 17 SECONDS AND IT TAKES THE PLACE OF ABOUT 50 YEARS WORTH OF NATURAL AGING. YOU DO THE MATH. WITH THIS TECHNIQUE THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU CAN MAKE A MISTAKE. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU SAND THE LETTERS COMPLETELY OFF, YOU'VE GOT MORE STENCILS. THE GARAGE, WELL IT AGES VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE THE LAYERS ARE VERY THIN, AND A LITTLE BIT OF SCRUBBING ON MY HORRIBLE PIN STRIPING FORGIVES A LOT OF SINS. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PULL LINES PROFESSIONALLY.

SO A FEW DOLLARS IN PAINT, A FEW MORE DOLLARS IN STENCILS, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND NOT SO MUCH KNOW HOW, YOU HAVE ANTIQUE SIGNAGE THAT MATCHES THE PATINA OF THE TRUCK PERFECTLY. LOW BUCK, STILL COOL!

(RYAN)>> NOW YOU GUYS KNOW OUR MATCO SOCKETS ARE CLEARLY LABELED AND EASILY IDENTIFIABLE, BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME SOCKETS IN YOUR TOOL BOX THAT AREN'T SO EASY TO READ. AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, URBAN GORILLA TOOLS HAS THE SOLUTION FOR YOU IN THE FORM OF THESE FIND IT SOCKET LABELS. NOW THEY COME IN BLACK FOR STANDARD SOCKETS AND RED FOR METRIC. NOW THEY COVER A SIZE RANGE FROM FIVETHIRTY SECONDS UP TO INCH AND A HALF AND FROM FOUR TO 30 MILLIMETERS. NOW YOU CAN PICK UP YOUR FIND IT LABELS AT GORILLA TOOLS DOT COM. GUYS, THANKS FOR WATCHING TRUCKS, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.