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problems with add-a-leaf and loadleveling?

NedFlanders

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Help!! will my loadleveling be affected by add-a-leafs?

I have a '96 XLT (the European version) with automatic loadleveling in the rear. Will I experience any problems if I put in a add-a-leaf? Any of you guys tried that?

I don't mean to ask over and over again, but the guys in the "import-parts-for-US-trucks"-shop(that seems to be my only way to get the add-a-leafs here in Norway) didn't know if it would matter. He actually hasn't sold anyone for explorers yet at all, so...
I have tried the search(great you finally got it ut'n running again Rick :) ) but didn't find anyone mentioning the combination loadleveling/airsuspention and lifts.
Guess I could just turn the whole system off, but it would be a shame to have it and not use it, so I keep hoping it will work out okay..
Is there any way to "readjust" the shocks so they will work together with the added hight? Will it adjust itself when I turn it on again after adding my new leafs?
Or will the loadleveling just not start working until the susp. is below stock hight if I leave it the way it is?

Well, hope anyone have tried this, cause I'd really like to lift my truck a little bit, and I guess it would look kinda stupid with just the torsiontwist, and nothing in the rear(it woluldn't level out by it self because of the loadleveling by any chanse....? he-he... guess not..)

Thanks for your time!

Rune
My Truck
 



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Sorry...

...I'm just posting to get this one back ontop.. Hoping that someone knowing anyting about this will see it this timeDead Link Removed.

I really need some help on this one. Tried asking both the guys at Ford(wich don't even have the add-a-leafs) and the us-carpart-shop, but without any luck.. Dead Link Removed

Thanks, Rune
My Truck
 






Does this mean that noone has lifted a truck with airshocks? Sorry for bugging you with this one, I just REALLY want my lift!
 






Hello Rune,

Let me check mz manual when I get back to the states next week. I recall some other members on the board talking about the load leveling szstem some time back so what zou want to do should be possible. With the exception of lighting, bumpers and emissions it is basicallz the same as the US version.

If anzone out there can shine some light on this please jump in.

(I just love this German kezboard...)

Best regards.
hg
 






Just posting to tell that it should not be any problem putting in an add-a-leaf even if you have the loadleveling. I finally got in touch with the mecanic that spesializes on the US-fords at the local ford-garage, and he said that the loadlevelingsystem would recalibrate by itself if I just remember to turn it off before I do the lifting, and turn it on again afterwards.
He said it worked by measuring the distance from the frame to the axle or something with some kind of "pole"(not sure abt. the correct word) between the two, and would recalibrate to the new hight by itself. I tried to look underneath the truck, but didn't see anything, so I guess it sits inside the shocks or something...

Just wanted to let you all know, in case someone else is having the same "problem". I'm a little short on cash right now, but hopefully I'll have the lift during this summer.....
 






Ned,

I am glad you finally found some info on this! I had posted a very similar thread about a week ago, and nobody seems to know anything about it. I am afraid to try my local 4x4 shop, because I doubt if they really know how the system works! My temptation is to remove the system all together. I don't want to go really high with my 98, but I want to fit 31s on it, and add about 2" of ground clearance (for these Canadian winters!)

Anyway, if you are going to get the work done, please let us know how it works out!
 






Sure I let you know! Just need to get the cash first.. I know it's not to expensive, abt. 161$ for the leafset, and that should be it, well, except I guess I need a lineup after the tt.. As soon as my planetickets are paid for I guess I gonna order them. Hopefully I'll be able to do the job myself. Read quite a lot about it on this site, and it doesn't seem too difficult.

But is my loadleveling the same as yours? I thought the Limited ones was lifting and lowering by itself, both in the front and rear, when you put it in 4lo? Mine only lifts if I put in some heavy load, or hook on a heavy trailer. The system sits in the shocks(just in the rear). The shocks has a much bigger diameter than normal, and is labeled explorer. I've also read (somewhere) that someone had some kind of "airbag" on top of the leafs or something. Anyway, I guess I gonna take some pictures while doing the job, so you can see how my system looks..
 






Ned,

Ya, I had read that my air suspension was supposed to lift the vehicle, but it doesn't. It is the same as yours. When my fat ass gets in our out of the back of the truck, you can hear the air pump go for about 5 seconds, or let some air out. Seems kind of useless to me, unless you are towing or loading a lot of stuff in the back. The air suspension activates when I put my briefcase in the back *hehe*

Anyway, I am probably going to go the 2" shackle route, but I am curious to see how the add-a-leaf works.
 






regarding the loadleveling I guess the shackle and a-a-l would have the same effect. I've never heard my loadleveling make any noises at all, maybe it actually don't work..? Anyway, I think I saw the truck rise a little bit when I hooked on a big trailer(1 ton ++) the other day, but except for that I haven't noticed it at all.
But it's not supposed to lift the car when I put it in 4lo as the system on the limited is supposed to(or so I've read) and I don't usually have a lot of stuff in there, so...
The reason I don't want the shackle is that I don't like the way it looks. But do you know if the shackle would give more flex than the add-a-leaf, since it doesn't stiffen up the susp.? If it does, maybe I should consider that instead...
I'm really looking forward to getting the lift, not just because of the clearing and looks, but I could use a little better depardure angle in the back, since my trailerhitch is mounted underneath the bumper(some stupid norwegian law, I can't have it where it's supposed to be), so it hits the ground very easy the way it is right now.
 






DAMN!!

I was on my way to buy the add-a-leaf today, but called ford again just to check that it shouldn't be a problem.. This time the mecanic wasn't so sure, so he told med to call the importcompany. So I did, and he wasn't sure eighter, but he said something probably would go wrong. he ment the shocks maybe would be to short to handle a 2" lift, that they maybe could be destroyed..

ouhhh... anyone out there with some input for me? Is there a way to go around this? I would really like to get some lift... Please! There has to be someone who has done this with the airshocks.
 






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