Rite-Ride 2176 - Manual (Page 3)

99-07 ONLY
S
TEP
1 - P
REPARE THE VEHICLE
With the vehicle is on a solid level surface, chock the front
wheels. This vehicle does not have to be raised up to install
the kit. Remove the negative battery cable. This installation
assumes that there is no load on the vehicle.
On 2005 and newer F-350 vehicles the emergency
brake line bracket must be relocated. Remove the screw
holding the brake line. Install the relocating bracket with
the screw previously removed. NOTE: the bracket is
marked top. Next, fasten the emergency brake line
bracket to the relocation bracket using the 3/8" X 1" bolt
and a 3/8" nut.
S
TEP
2 - P
REASSEMBLE THE KIT
Select one air helper spring and a lower bracket from your
kit. Fasten the lower bracket to the air helper spring using a
3/8" -16 x 3/4" flanged hex bolt through the center slot in the
lower bracket (finger tight) see Figure "A".
S
TEP
3 - P
REPARE THE FRAME
The frame rail on the driver's side of the vehicle will require
the relocation of three items that will interfere with the upper bracket and air
spring. This is accomplished by relocating the existing nuts, bolts, and clips
on the frame rail that fall between the upper bracket flanges.
1.) The emergency brake line clip will be moved toward the rear of the
vehicle see Figure "B".
2.) The plastic line harness located on the inside of the frame rail will be
moved 2-1/4" toward the rear of the vehicle. Two 3/8" holes will have to be
drilled to relocate the line harness see Figure "B".
3.) The ground strap bolt must be relocated to fall outside the upper bracket
flanges see Figure "B". Please note that the nuts, bolts and clips may be
placed in various locations depending upon your specific model.
S
TEP
4 - A
TTACH THE ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME
The three existing slots in the frame rail will be used in addition to one hole
drilled in the frame rail to attach the upper bracket to the frame rail. The slots
will have to be enlarged to allow the bolts to pass through. Place the upper
bracket on the outside of the frame rail, aligning the holes in the bracket with
the slots in the frame see Figure "A". Using the upper bracket as a template,
mark the hole to be drilled in the frame rail with a center punch. Remove the
upper bracket and drill a hole on the center mark using a 7/16" drill bit. Before
drilling, make sure that all electrical, brake, and fuel lines are cleared from
the path of the drill bit. Damaging the lines can be avoided by inserting a piece
of wood between the frame rail and any lines in the path of the drill bit.
Attach the upper bracket to the frame rail using the drilled hole and a
3/8" -16 x 1-1/2" hex bolt, 3/8" -16 flanged hex nut, and large washer, making
sure that the remaining holes in the bracket are aligned with the slots in the frame rail see Figure "A". With the upper bracket secured
in place, drill through the three holes in the upper bracket and through the slots in the frame rail with a 7/16" drill bit. Using the
supplied 3/8" -16 x 3/4" hex bolts, 3/8" -16 flanged hex nuts, and large washers, attach the bracket to the frame rail. Note that three
large washers will be placed between the forward bracket flange and the frame rail on both flange attaching locations on the left
side of the vehicle only. This allows the air spring assembly to mount flush with the frame rail see Figure "A". Next, install the
elbow fitting into the air spring. Tighten the air fitting securely to engage the orange thread sealant. Position the fitting to point
to the anticipated location of the air inflation valves, see Figure "A" & "F".
S
TEP
5 - A
TTACH THE LOWER BRACKET TO THE VEHICLE
Place the lower bracket and air spring on the leaf stack. Insert the studs on the upper plate of the air spring through the holes
in the upper bracket. Attach the air spring to the upper bracket using two 3/8"-16 flanged hex nuts. Install the 1/2" or 1" spacer
between the lower bracket and the leaf stack on the forward end of the assembly to align the upper and lower brackets as close to
parallel as possible see Figures "A" & "D". Insert the carriage bolts through the square holes in the lower bracket. Use 7" carriage
bolts for F-350's and use 4-1/2" carriage bolts for F-450's & F-550's. If the lower bracket does not rest on the leaf spring, the
axle u-bolts may have to be trimmed. See Figure"A".
Figure "B"
Figure "C"
5.0”-6.5”
Figure "D"