[{"id":3338,"permalink":"https:\/\/dirtsportsworld.com\/2020\/05\/22\/auto-leveling-at-new-heights\/","title":"Auto Leveling At New Heights","content":"Story by: Jake Headlee\r\n\r\nPhotos: Danny Ellender\r\n\r\nTo say that not all suspension lift systems are created equal is naive. The truth of it is simple, you pay for what you get. A good suspension manufacturer spends a lot of time, effort and money making a well balance kit that addresses all aspects involved, including ride quality, fit and finish as well as replacing or relocating all components affected. RAM 3500 trucks are extremely popular rigs to modify, though the optional Factory Air Assist throws some companies for a loop.\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\nThat wasn\u2019t the case for Carli Suspension and their 3-3.5-inch Pintop System, specifically designed for the RAM\u2019s Auto Level Air Suspension. Rear air assist air bags aren\u2019t uncommon in the aftermarket world; it is the OEM world that doesn\u2019t utilize them as much.\r\n\r\n\"\" \"\"\r\nWhen building the kit, Carli Suspension had more than just air bag placement to be concerned about. The air bags adjust based on positioning of sensors tied to actuator arms. When the arms angle from a heavier load on the truck, the air bags automatically inflate, then deflate, as needed. These actuators need to be in the correct position to work properly and by default, lifting the back of the truck would change them.\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nThe can of worms gets opened. To relocate the front radius arms for proper geometry, drop brackets need to be carefully designed. Doing so, however, causes interference with the Auto Level truck\u2019s air tank. Carli Suspension includes components to relocate the air tank. There is quite a lot that goes into a good kit and to get a good scoop, we got in touch with Dan Tourino, Sales Manager at Carli Suspension.\r\n\u201cWe\u2019re the only company that engineered the entire kit for the air-assist truck.\u201d Explained Dan. \u201cAll items needed to correct geometry and maintain FULL use of the truck\u2019s factory air assist system are included while the additional suspension travel and progressive rear leaf spring pair with custom shock tuning to offer a superior ride and huge boost in handling while minimizing driver fatigue.\u201d\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nThe southern California based company didn\u2019t stop there. They are a performance suspension company and build components that had handle the duress of off-road fun, heavy loads and general on-road driving. \u201cThe progressive leaf spring pack is not from our non-Auto Level system and adapted, it\u2019s designed to bear the entirety of the 6,500lb payload should an airbag fail.\u201d Dan explained further. \u201cWe provide brackets to lower the actuator links to ensure the bags are NOT over-inflated at the new ride height causing a harsh ride quality. The air tank is relocated to the factory spare tire area (on a Ram, there\u2019s no room for an oversized spare so this area is worthless on a lifted truck) to clear the radius arm drop brackets that correct the front pivot point\/alignment.\u201d\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\n\r\nThe company spent plenty of time in the front end of the truck too. A reduced spring rate was carefully chosen for the front coil springs. To keep geometry correct, radius arm drop brackets were computer modeled based on CAD files from RAM and built from \u00bc-inch cold rolled steel plate and CNC formed for a precision bolt in assembly. These also correct the dreaded coil bow some common on the stock RAM heavy duty trucks. An Adjustable Track Bar is also included to push the straight-axle back into position at the new ride height.\r\n\r\n\"\"\r\nNew front bump stop drop brackets are included as well a Cali Tuned King 2.5-inch Remote Reservoir Shocks at all four corners. The new combination of springs and shocks boasts a 50 percent improvement in straight up and down suspension travel over stock. A key point of the dually drivers out there, this kit is fully compatible with dual rear wheel trucks.\r\n\r\nAt the end of the day, the base kit from Carli Suspension blows most other kits out of the water. That doesn\u2019t include the additional options that can be added such as replacement fabricated Radius Arms, Torsion Front Sway Bar replacement, Low Mount Steering Stabilizer and more.","excerpt":"

Story by: Jake Headlee<\/p>\n

Photos: Danny Ellender<\/p>\n

To say that not all suspension lift systems are created equal is naive. …<\/p>","date":"May 22, 2020 23:34","categories":[{"id":25047769,"title":"FEATURES","slug":"features"},{"id":25048177,"title":"Tech","slug":"tech"}],"tags":[{"id":25048362,"title":"air assist","slug":"air-assist"},{"id":25047830,"title":"baja hq","slug":"baja-hq"},{"id":25048361,"title":"carli suspension","slug":"carli-suspension"},{"id":25048368,"title":"danny ellender","slug":"danny-ellender"},{"id":25048367,"title":"jake headlee","slug":"jake-headlee"},{"id":25048170,"title":"leveling kit","slug":"leveling-kit"},{"id":25048363,"title":"pintop system","slug":"pintop-system"},{"id":25048364,"title":"RAM","slug":"ram"},{"id":25048365,"title":"ram 3500","slug":"ram-3500"},{"id":25047793,"title":"suspension","slug":"suspension"},{"id":25048366,"title":"truck","slug":"truck"}]}]{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "user_comment": "This feed allows you to read the posts from this site in any feed reader that supports the JSON Feed format. To add this feed to your reader, copy the following URL -- https://dirtsportsworld.com/tag/danny-ellender/feed/json -- and add it your reader.", "home_page_url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/tag/danny-ellender", "feed_url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/tag/danny-ellender/feed/json", "language": "en-US", "title": "danny ellender Archives - DirtSportsWorld", "description": "The Voice of Off-Road Motorsports", "icon": "https://i0.wp.com/dirtsportsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/cropped-DSW-Web-Icon.png?fit=59%2C59&ssl=1", "items": [ { "id": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/?p=3338", "url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/2020/05/22/auto-leveling-at-new-heights/", "title": "Auto Leveling At New Heights", "content_html": "

Story by: Jake Headlee

\n

Photos: Danny Ellender

\n

To say that not all suspension lift systems are created equal is naive. …

The post Auto Leveling At New Heights appeared first on DirtSportsWorld.

\n", "content_text": "Story by: Jake Headlee\nPhotos: Danny Ellender\nTo say that not all suspension lift systems are created equal is naive. …The post Auto Leveling At New Heights appeared first on DirtSportsWorld.", "date_published": "2020-05-22T23:34:44-07:00", "date_modified": "2021-09-22T23:51:02-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "DirtSportsWorld Staff", "url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/author/dirtsportsworld/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4817be88e351e2814fd215f4b782a136e8119efccfc1eafde273c56619cf08f5?s=512&d=identicon&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "DirtSportsWorld Staff", "url": "https://dirtsportsworld.com/author/dirtsportsworld/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4817be88e351e2814fd215f4b782a136e8119efccfc1eafde273c56619cf08f5?s=512&d=identicon&r=g" }, "tags": [ "air assist", "baja hq", "carli suspension", "danny ellender", "jake headlee", "leveling kit", "pintop system", "RAM", "ram 3500", "suspension", "truck", "FEATURES", "Tech" ] } ] }