Installing Air Ride Suspension On A 1969 Ford Mustang - All Aired Up

The rear of the cradle is attached to the frame-rails using the U-bolts just installed. A helper is beneficial here to prevent knocking the U-bolts into the frame and ensuring all four U-bolt ends pass through the AirBAR bracket correctly.

The rear cradle for the AirBAR system is shown here completely secured into position. This component will carry the entire rear weight of the vehicle through the mounting points on the framerail and floorpan areas.

Using the new U-bolts furnished with the kit, install the brackets for attaching the trailing arms onto the axlehousing. They are positioned directly over the existing spring pads as shown. The OE lower spring plates, which also received the original shocks, are discarded.

The trailing-arm bracket is tightened into place. Next, the lower air-spring mounting bracket is attached to the trailing-arm bracket as shown using the supplied Allen-head fasteners.

The forward end of the lower trailing arm is installed onto the car where the front of the rear leaf spring used to go.

The lower trailing arm is rotated up into the previously installed axle bracket. Install the upper trailing arms into their brackets on the support cradle. The correct location for the upper trailing-arm-attachment brackets for the rear axlehousing can now be determined. Carefully mark the desired location on the axlehousing.

The rear axlehousing is removed from the car and placed on the bench, and the upper control arm rear attachment brackets are welded into place. With this accomplished, the rear axle can be permanently installed into the car.

Here, we see the rear axle attached to the car with both the upper and lower trailing arms. The lower trailing arms are plainly visible, while the upper arms are mostly hidden behind the framerail.

The compressors, pressure sensors, and air tank are mounted to a custom-built platform which will be securely fastened to the trunk floor. Be careful to avoid the fuel tank.

With the rear axle correctly positioned, the air springs are installed at both the top and bottom mounting points.

The control panel for the Air Ride Technologies suspension is mounted and ready to go. Each button controls a corresponding corner of the vehicle. Now the owner will be able to control the rake on his car for cruise night, and also maintain it during a heavy load situation. It's a cool setup on a cool car.