Air spring kit: What to do when the rear of your vehicle drops too much 

When you add non-factory permanent weight to your vehicle, it requires you to change the springs or leaf springs, depending on the suspension design. This is because the standard suspension is designed for the basic weight of the vehicle. So any extra kilograms increase the sprung weight, which negatively affects handling or makes it much harder to control the vehicle. 

This kind of serious sagging makes the suspension unnaturally stiff, which in practice means worse shock absorption. This leads to quicker wear and tear of suspension components, poor body stability, and longer braking distances. Why does this happen, and what can you do about it? You’ll find out more in our article about extra weight in your vehicle and how to choose the right springs. 

As it turns out, replacing the springing parts isn’t the only solution to handling extra weight in your vehicle. There is also an air spring kit available on the market, which is a set of special air bags placed between the frame and the rear axle. In pick-up trucks, most of the extra load ends up here. That’s why this pneumatic support system is useful for: 

• Leveling the vehicle when towing, for example, a boat. 
• Preventing the rear from sagging when carrying heavy loads. 
• Temporarily raising the rear axle when installing a removable camper conversion. 

In short, by inflating these air bags, you can level the vehicle when it’s loaded to its maximum capacity. However, this has nothing to do with raising the suspension itself—it’s a simple concept. 

What’s also important is that the air spring kit serves as an addition and supports your current suspension. To achieve the desired effect and install the air bags, you don’t need to replace any existing parts.Bbut remember, they don’t replace them either. 

Air spring kits from Rough Country can be used with both standard suspension and lifted suspension, even up to 6 inches. In such cases, the kit usually comes with a spacer for the air spring. Of course, these values can vary depending on your vehicle model. In most cases, you can install these air bags either before or after the lift. 

RC100326

Rear air spring kit Lift 6" Rough Country

717EUR

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RC100324

Rear air spring kit Lift 4" Rough Country

717EUR

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Regarding inflation, having a compressor is not necessary with the RC kit since the one available at a gas station will do just fine. In this scenario, the valve is discreetly mounted near the license plate, making it easy to inflate the air bags without the valve being noticeable. 

Nonetheless, Rough Country also offers kits with their own compressor, which has the advantage of an external button or even a remote control, allowing you to inflate the air bags without leaving the vehicle or getting your hands dirty. 

If you don’t want to get into advanced suspension modifications, then the answer is definitely yes. The air spring kit system is highly durable. Supports loads up to 5000 lbs, and, if not mechanically damaged, will serve you well for many years. The parts most prone to failure are the air bags and pressure lines. So it’s recommended to regularly check the system for leaks and ensure the lines are properly seated on the valves.