Today were working on 2011 GMC 3500. Were going to install the Firestone Air Helper Spring Kit, part number F2528.Our first step is to remove the manufactures jaunt stop. I recommend to get underneath it with a screwdriver or pry bar to get it out. Well be removing the jaunt stop and not reinstalling it. Next, were going to take the bottom bracket and install our airbag, but before we can do that, well need to install the hold-down fasteners that run through the bottom plate.Once the airbag is in place, you will not be able to install these bolts, so we do it now. Then well take our 5/8s flathead screw to secure it to the bottom bracket.Quick tech tip: We recommend going ahead and tighten it down, but not so tight, that you cant still move the airbag on top of the plate.
Later on, well line it up then make a mark and a final adjustment before we tighten it down completely. Alright, were going to set that aside, go back to the truck.Next were going to take our insert and put it up into where the jaunts bumper came out. Well line the teeth up so we get it up in and then were going to turn it clockwise so that it sits in these notches to secure it. You may need to take a hammer and screwdriver to tap it into place. Once you have it in place, it will fall down with the notches in the jaunt stop frame and the notches of the insert.Next, were going to take our upper bracket for the driver side.
The brackets look very similar for both driver and passenger side, but there is a difference, so you make sure you do a test-fit to make sure it will install properly. You need to sit up tight to the jaunt stop and the frame. Now well go ahead and put the driver side upper bracket in place and secure it with our flathead 2-inch bolt.Now, were going to go back to our lower bracket then we mount the airbag on. You see the nipple here in the top of the airbag is going to line up with one of the two holes either side of the fastening point of the upper bracket. So well do a test fit to see which one that lines up with best.
Theres one where our airbag would sit if the nipple is in the rear hole on the upper bracket. And here is how our airbag will sit in the forward hole of the upper bracket. The forward hole seems to give us the best alignment for the driver side, so thats the one Im going to go ahead and use.So now what I want to do is take a marker and mark the bottom of the airbag and where it aligns with the bottom bracket. With our mark made, well go ahead and pull it back out of the truck, and secure the bottom fastener. So well line up our marks we just made and go ahead and tighten it down.
Once its tightened down, we can go ahead and reinstall it in the truck.Now with my airbag reinstalled, we need to go ahead and attach the airbag to the upper bracket. Well be using the provided -inch nut and lock washer, well go ahead and tighten it down. Now, on the top of the airbag, were going to go ahead and secure the airline fitting. When you tighten down the airline fitting, you want to make sure you get as much of the orange thread ceiling down into the airbag as you can.Now were gonna install our lower u-bolt. This will go around the spring shackle bracket to hold the lower bracket of our airbag tight to the spring bracket mouth. Well use the -inch nuts provided in the install kit to secure it. Once we have it installed, we can go ahead and tighten them down. Be mindful when youre tightening down the U bolts. Were going to try and tighten it down evenly front to back and Im not going to tighten these down 100% until I get my lower bell clamp on also. So well work the U bolt clamp front-to-back to take out some of those slack.Now we can go ahead and install our lower bell clamp using the -inch nuts provided in our install kit to secure it. Once we have them tight, were going to work it just like we did the u-bolt front to back, tightening it up evenly. With the lower bell clamped tightened down, Im now going to go back for my u-bolt and complete tightening it down. With our airbag completely installed, we need to go ahead and route our airline to it. This particular application the customers chose in a custom mount, so what I did is mocked up one so you can see what it will look on a standard mouth.First, Im going to go ahead and route my airline. Routing inside the frame as far as I can go back to my connection point. Here is where I will mount my air fitting. Ill go back up, make sure Ive got enough line to run down into the airbag itself. Ill take my tubing cutter, cut off the excess. Installing it into the airbag is a simple push-and-pull lock system. Now the airline is locked in. Ill go ahead and take a zip tie here and secure it against the manufactures wiring. Now Ill take a pair of side cutters, cut off the excess from our zip tie.Now lets go back to the rear of the vehicle, make our connection with the mount. Here, again, Im going to go ahead and cut off any extra using my tubing cutter not a utility knife or a pair of side cutters as it will damage the perfect circle that we get from my air line. Ill go ahead and take the fitting that comes in our install kit and install it onto the air line, and then Ill take one of the provided washers, my fitting through my mount, another washer, and then the nut. Ill go ahead and tighten it down.Now I can go ahead and check the operation of our new Firestone Airbag, and then repeat the same process on the passenger side. This is what our airbag looks like when its aired up then well go ahead and use the provided tool and we can deflate the airbag.And there you have it for the Firestone Air Helper Spring Kit, part number F2528 on a 2011 GMC 3500.
Air Lift LoadLifter Air Helper Springs Installation - 2011 GMC Sierra
Today on this 2011 GMC Sierra, we're going to install part number AL57338 from Air Lift. First thing we're going to do is lift the vehicle up so that we can take the load up some suspension to give us more working room, then we'll go ahead and remove the jounce bumpers from the very bottom. All we have to do is just pry them out. Next, we'll go ahead and remove the bracket for the brake lines that are located on the axle. At the end of the install, this bracket will be reinstalled. Also, there's a bolt in front of the axle for parking brake.
Firestone Level Command II Installation - 2011 GMC Sierra
Today on this 2011 GMC 3500, we're going to install the Firestone Air Accessory Kit, part number F2219. Our first step is going to be mounting the gauges for our accessory kit. The customer has chosen to mount the gauges in the glove box. First, what I did is made a custom bracket so they will seat deep enough in the glove box and still be able to close the door. What I need to do is go ahead and open the door all the way, releasing the safety latch here. I'll be using my gauges as a template to draw out so we can cut out the back of the glove box to create a depth that we need to mount our gauges.
