TruckSpring Times

VIAIR has introduced the new Automatic Deployment Air (ADA) Systems for the 2007-2011 and 2012 Jeep Wrangler.  VIAIR Automatic Deployment Air Systems incorporate a 12-port extruded aluminum air tank to provide a compact air locker and tire inflation station using either a 400C (Heavy Duty) or 450C (Constant Duty) compressor at its core.

The heavy duty system utilizes the 400C compressor that has a 12 volt permanent magnetic motor capable of running a duty cycle of 33% @ 100 PSI at 26 amps.  The constant duty system utilizes the 450C compressor that has a 12 volt permanent magnetic motor capable of running a duty cycle of 100% @ 100 PSI at 19 amps. 

Each ADA System comes complete with an onboard pressure switch, automatic coupler and a Digital Tire Inflation Kit. Additionally, a wiring harness is included to make the installation a plug and play process, with very little install time required.  Each kit is also equipped with a brake booster mounting bracket. 

Viair onboard air systems make tire inflation or air locker actuation possible in a very compact space, so you always have air when you need it the most.

You can view more information on the Viair ADA kits using the links below or call 1-800-358-4751.

Heavy Duty 40041 (2007-2011 Jeep Wrangler)
Heavy Duty 40044 (2012 Jeep Wrangler)
Constant Duty 45041 (2007-2011 Jeep Wrangler)
Constant Duty 45044 (2012 Jeep Wrangler)

 Viair Automatic Deployment air systems are available from Michigan Truck Spring, contact them at 1-800-358-4751 or 989-755-0561 with any questions or to pricing and availability.

If you adding air bags to your car, truck, suv or motorhome you’re probably wondering how much air should you put in the air bags.  There is no golden rule for the amount air pressure you should start with. You have to take into account a few things before you start inflating you air bags.

All air bag kits will have a warning on how much air pressure you can put in them. It will vary from manufacturer and product line, but here are a few of the more popular kits and their maximum psi. The maximum psi will vary with your specific air bag kit number, so you should check the instructions for your specific air bag kit. Most air bag kits will fall into this range.

Air Lift 1000 kits – 35 to 100 lbs. maximum PSI  (Varies with application)
Firestone Coil-Rite Kits – 35 to 90 lbs. maximum PSI  (Varies with application)
Air Lift Ride Control kits – 100 lbs. maximum PSI
Firestone Sport-Rite kits – 100 lbs. maximum PSI
Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 kits – 100 lbs. maximum PSI
Firestone Ride-Rite Kits – 100 lbs. maximum PSI
Hellwig Air Bag Kits – 100 lbs. maximum PSI

So, now that we have the maximum amount of air that you can put into your air bags out of the way, let’s look at how much you should put into them to get the ride you want.  First thing you want to do after installing your air bag kit is to get your vehicle on a level surface, next to an air pump at a gas station will work. Make sure you have the minimum air pressure in your air bags, 5 lbs., before heading out.

Inflate your air springs so your truck or SUV is level and your headlights are at a correct angle. Also check your truck from the rear and make sure you are level from side-to-side. Inflate or deflate your air bags until you have the height you want. If you are planning on filling the back of your pickup truck with logs, obviously you’ll want to over compensate for the upcoming load.

Now that your truck is level, take if for a ride and check the ride comfort and stability. If it feels stiff you may have too much air pressure.  We have found it is easier to start out with more air than you think you need and work your way down, fine tuning until you get the desired ride from your air bags.  This can take a little work if you are manually inflating and deflating your air springs. We recommend an air compressor kit if you plan on using your air bags frequently and tow more than a few times a year. Air compressor kits allow you to inflate and deflate your air springs from the inside of your truck and monitor the air pressure at all times. We have found they are worth the extra money and people that have air compressor kits seldom run into air bag problems associated with low air pressure.

Due to the fact that air bag kits are installed on a wide variety of vehicles with suspensions in various conditions there is not a set psi number you should go with. Unfortunatley, you cannot say for example, use 50 psi in your air bags if you have a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD and you are towing a 30 ft. Jayco travel trailer. If you haul heavy loads and your leaf springs are worn out, you will need more air than the other guy with the same truck but whose leaf springs are in good condition. The psi will vary with how much weight your are towing or hauling and the condition of your trucks suspension.

While we are discussing air pressure, we have to mention minimum air pressure. The most common cause for failure in air bags is running them without the minimum air pressure. This causes them to bottom out, tear, etc. You should always keep 5 lbs. of air pressure in your air bags to prevent any damage. 5 lbs. will not affect your ride but will ensure your air bags last. This is where an air compressor kit comes in handy, monitoring and maintain the minimum air bag pressure.

Remember it will take a few tries to get the air pressure exactly where you want it. Don’t expect to get it perfect or settle on your first go around. Add and deflate until your vehicle is level and you have the ride comfort and stability you want. It will take some tinkering, but it can be achieved. You can call Michigan Truck Spring at 1-800-358-4751 or 989-755-0561 if you have any questions regarding air springs or airbag kits. They have been installing and selling them for years and have hands on experience with just about every make and model truck.

Will an air bag suspension kit or helper springs increase my trucks GVWR?  If the back of your pickup sags and you’re considering adding some load support with helper springs, you may have not noticed the fine print “do not exceed vehicle's GVWR”. This is a commonly asked question by people looking to add extra load support to the rear of their truck or SUV with air bags or overload springs.  The short answer is no, any form of load support will not increase your trucks GVWR. 

Why won’t air bags increase my GWVR? First let’s look at what GVWR is. GVWR stands for gross vehicle weight rating and is determined by the manufacturer. It is the total combined weight of your truck and the trailer, including all passengers, fuel, water, dogs, cargo, etc.

There are many factors that go into determining your trucks weight rating and this is why an overload kit will not “up” the weight rating. When a vehicle is engineered they take into account many factors like frame strength, drive train, braking power, stability, performance, etc. So, for example if add an air bag kit that has a 5000 lb. rating, it may help with the stability and performance, but it will not increase your vehicles breaking power and therefore your vehicles GVWR will not increase.

To be sure you choose the right truck for towing, you should find one with a tow rating high enough to meet your needs.  It’s typically a good idea to get a bit more capacity than what your currents needs are so you have a buffer if you want to tow more in the future. Always make sure the towed load and tongue weight are within your vehicle’s capacity.

An air bag kit or suspension overload kit will help level your load, reduce bottoming out and increase stability, but it will not change your vehicle GWVR. If you have any questions about towing and your GVWR you can call Michigan Truck Spring at 1-800-358-4751.

You may be familiar with SuperCoils front replacement coil springs. Commercial snow plows companies, utility companies and trucks with winches have been using them to increase front end support for years. SuperSprings international, the maker of SuperCoils, recently introduced a new SuperCoil heavy duty coil spring for the rear of the Dodge RAM 1500.

If you have a 2009, 2010, 2011 or 2012 Dodge RAM 1500 and are looking to provide extra support to the rear, SuperCoils kit SSC-50 is the answer. SuperCoils kit SSC-50 replaces your Dodge RAM 1500 factory coil springs with a heavy duty coil spring that has a load capacity 30% higher than the factory coil springs. The kit also increases the rear ride height by 3/4 of an inch. They fit both 2 and 4 wheel drive RAM 1500’s.

SuperCoils have a linear, constant spring rate and have been field tested with a 30 year proven track record. They are a high quality North American product that come with a 3 Year limited product warranty.



If you have a new Dodge RAM 1500 and are looking to tow a heavy trailer or haul heavy loads, SuperCoils factory replacement rear coil springs are your answer.  You can order SuperCoils Dodge RAM 1500 replacement coil springs online at TruckSpring.com or by calling 1-800-358-4751.

 SuperCoils SSC-50 install instructions

Ever have a leaf spring crack, become fatigued or break and wonder what the cause is? We will take a look at a few common reasons why leaf springs fail.

Loose U-Bolts

The image below shows center bolt failure due to a truck spring not having tight enough u-bolts. U-bolts, especially on newly installed truck springs should be checked periodically to verify they are tight. Even if you have a professional installer install springs on your truck, you should stop by after 500 miles and have your u-bolts inspected to make sure they didn't come loose.

Corrosion and Fatigue

Corrosion and fatigue are typically caused by a combination of time and the elements. Numerous variables will weigh on how long your leaf spring will last before it suffers from corrosion or fatigue. How much weight you haul, what part of the country you live in, etc. will play a role in the life of your springs. Making sure salt and other corrosive materials are washed off and not overloading your truck will help prevent corrosion and early spring fatigue.

Overloading Your Truck Springs

Everyone says they never do it , but we see it all the time. Overloading is pretty self-explanatory. You have more weight in the back of your truck or you are towing a load heavier than what your truck is rated at. We all love to do it, but the negative effect on your truck springs is unavoidable. On the left image below you can see the radial shear marks from an overloaded spring. The image on the right shows distortion of the spring eye from overloading.

How do you prevent overloading your truck springs? Obviously you could carry less weight or purchase a truck with a higher weight rating. If buying a new truck or hauling less weight is not an option, you could add an overload kit like a Firestone Air Spring kit, Hellwig Helper springs or a Air Lift Air Spring kit. Overload kits are designed to take some of the weight off the leaf springs and place it onto the overload kit.

Another option that is more popular with commercial vehicles it to add another piece of steel to the spring pack. This may cause the ride to be stiffer, but if you are always hauling heavier loads in a commercial setting this may be your best bet.

We do not recommend adding a new piece of steel to leaf springs that already suffer from fatigue. You are better off replacing both of your truck springs with new ones with a higher weight rating. It's very common that we will have someone only want to replace one busted leaf in a spring pack and a few months later a different leaf breaks. If one has cracked, the others are probably in the same condition and will not last much longer.

Weld Splatter

Weld splatter is more common in commercial trucks and vans that come from the factory without a bed or on motorhome leaf springs . This is caused by welding a body or accessories to your truck in the same area as your leaf springs. Just a small amount of weld spatter can be disastrous to the life of your spring. About the only way to prevent this is to inspect your springs after and make sure no one was careless with the welder.

Above are a few common reasons why leaf springs fail. There are other manufacturing reasons such as quench cracks, tight eyes, notches, incorrect temperatures, etc. that can cause failure. With today's modern, high-tech manufacturing processes and quality control, they are not nearly as commons as they were in the past.

If you need have any questions about your leaf springs or need replacment leaf springs, call Michigan Truck Spring at 1-800-358-4751. They carry OEM replacment leaf springs for everything from old corvettes to semi trucks and trailers.

Installing a Timbren Kit on a 2012 Ford F-150 is simple to do and only requires a few basic tools. Timbren offers 2 different kits for the rear of a 2012 Ford F-150. For this Timbren application the customer tows a horse trailer and frequently hauls heavy loads. We decided to go with the heavier Timbren kit FRTT1502D. Timbren Kit FRTT1502D fits 2009-2012 Ford F150's, both 2 or 4 wheel drive. The kit has a 7,000 lb maximum rating, which is more than enough for a F-150.

Below is a summary of what is involved for this 2012 F150 Timbren install.

1. Raise your 2012 Ford F-150 allowing the axle to hang freely.
2. Remove your existing bumpstop using a 13 mm socket.
3. Assemble Timbren rubber spring and bracket
4. Mount the Timbren spring using the existing holes in the frame with supplied fasteners.
5. Lower vehicle and your good to go!

The rubber Timbren spring for a 2012 F-150 is desinged to sit about an inch above the axle as you can see in the picture below. This allows the suspension to work as desinged from the factory without assistance from the Timbren kit. (The flaking on the spring is normal and will come off after a few car washes)

We connected the customers horse trailer to test out the install. As you can see the spring is now in contact with the axle, but is hardly compressed. The Timbren spring is hollow on the inside which allows it to have some 'give' and expand and contract with varing load conditions. When the horse trailer is loaded with horses the spring will compress and help support the tongue weight of the trailer and prevent the 2012 F-150 from sagging.

As you can see the 2012 Ford F-150 sits level and is ready for the road.


You can view the Instructions for Timbren Kit FRTT1502D

Order online at TruckSpring.com or call 1-800-358-4751.

Happy travels!

Bilstein shocks are put through a rigorous testing process before they put into production and it shows on the road. Yes, they do cost more than your standard replacement shock you can find at any auto parts store, but the old saying “You get what you pay for” has never rung more true.

Bilstein shocks are found in the world’s elite brands and vehicles, including BMW, Audi, Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche and more. This high quality is shown in all of their shocks. So if you’re looking for new shocks on anything from a mini-cooper to full size pickup or motorhome, Bilstein has you covered. They create the right driving experience for every vehicle.

The same technology that is used in their motorsports and original equipment manufacturer process is also used in the development of Bilstein truck shocks. Take a moment to watch the below video to get a behind the scenes look and some of the testing Bilstein does in the development of their shock absorbers and struts.

You can order Bilstein shocks from an autorized warehouse distributor by calling 1-800-358-4751 or online at TruckSpring.com

Timbren kits are great for supporting heavy loads on your trucks suspension. Timbren SES suspension kits do not change your ride when your truck is unloaded or when you are not towing your camper. Every wonder what a Timbren kit looks like in action? This new video from Timbren Industries shows a Timbren kit going down the road while loaded and unloaded.

You can order Timbren Kits online at TruckSpring.com or phone 1-800-358-4751. Free shipping in the contiguous U.S. and always quick.

Air tanks complete your compressor system by providing your air suspension, air brakes, or air tools with a constant flow of compressed air. Whether you’re looking to do some serious off-roading, drop your ride height to give your vehicle that cool lowered look, Viair has the air compressor systems and accessories you need to get the job done. Even industrial settings and shops can benefit from the presence of an air compressor system.

Whatever the application, the air compressor is only half of the picture. An air compressor cannot run continuously, as they are limited by their duty cycle. So if you need to have a constant and uninterrupted source of compressed air, then you need to add an air tank to your air compressor system.

Air reservoir tanks from Viair are strong, durable and built to last. These air tanks are coated to prevent damage from corrosion and oxidation. Their capacity can range from 1/2 gallon to 5 gallons and are tested to twice their 150 PSI or 200 PSI working pressure. Each air tank features at least 2 NPT ports which range from 1/4 to 3/8 inches.

Buy Air Reservoir Tanks online or call 1-800-358-4751. Truckspring.com is your source for air tank, air compressors and air compressor accessories.

Have you ever noticed that your truck is leaning hard to the outside of a turn when you are using your slip on truck camper or while hauling a top heavy load? Do you feel the loss of traction as that weight shifts? The answer to problems like these could be the Big Wig Sway Bar by Hellwig.

Issues like excessive body roll and loss of traction are caused by the extra weight in the back of your truck. Adding a substantial amount of weight to your truck can significantly change the way it rides, especially around corners. The key to this change in ride quality is the truck’s center of gravity. Adding a camper to the bed of your truck can add a few thousand pounds to its weight, even with the camper’s weight shifted as forward as possible, this can dramatically alter the vehicle’s center of gravity.

The change in ride quality is a result of the added weight being placed above the center of gravity. Normally a truck has its center of gravity towards the middle of the vehicle which results in a smooth even ride while taking a turn. Even under unloaded conditions, the weight of your truck shifts to the outside tires as the weight pivots on the center of gravity, much like a lever pivots on its fulcrum. Adding a sway bar, such as the Hellwig Big Wig, can help keep that weight from shifting, giving you better control around turns.

The added weight of a heavy road, like that of a camper, tends to create a combined center of gravity above and to the rear of its previous location. Adding weight to the rear of a truck essentially moves the fulcrum on the lever upward and backward. This change in ride quality occurs because the closer the force on a lever is to the fulcrum, the less force is needed to offset the weight on the opposite side. In other words, the higher the center of gravity is on your truck and camper the less force is needed before it experiences body roll during a turn. Take control of your truck’s center of gravity with the Big Wig and take corners with ease.

Body roll, aside from being uncomfortable to endure, can have some serious consequences. By shifting the weight to one side of the vehicle, weight is being shifted off of the other side. This can result in a loss in traction on that side’s tires. Hellwig Big Wig sway bars combat this loss of traction by increasing the rigidity of your truck’s body, thereby allowing for less body roll around turns.

The Hellwig Big Wig is able to reduce the body roll of a truck more than a standard sway bar because it specifically designed for vehicles with a high center of gravity, such as truck campers or other heavy hauling pick-up trucks. The Big Wig can provide more than a 20% increase in stability because it has a wider diameter and heavy duty hardware. This extra width adds much to the roll stiffness of your suspension, creating a smoother more comfortable ride, even when hauling a few thousand extra pounds in the form of a truck camper.

Hellwig Big Wig sway bars are made in the USA by Hellwig Products and are guaranteed for the life of your vehicle. Buy a Big Wig sway bar and take control of your heavy duty or super duty pickup and truck camper.

Buy Hellwig Sway Bars online at TruckSpring.com or call 1-800-358-4751 to speak with a suspension specialist. Michigan Truck Spring has been installing Hellwig sway bars at thier shop for years and is an authorized warehouse distributor for Hellwig sway bars.