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While we do a lot of installations here at the shop, we also see a fair amount of fix-it jobs. These are the ones where some unfortunate soul’s “buddy” offered to cut them a deal on their install. The result is a mess, and we have to come in and clean it up.
So what kinds of mistakes do we see out in the wild? Oh, there are a lot of them, but here are a few of our favorites.
Not Accounting for Clearance
Your air bag’s bladder — the big rubber part that inflates with the air — should not touch anything. There should be a large amount of clearance around the air bag so there is no chance for rubbing. Thing is, rubbing air bags? We see those all the time, and that’s never a good thing.
But it’s not just air bags. Sometimes we see issues where the front shock is relocated to the outside of the control arm (a totally normal thing), but it’s angled such that the wheel can barely turn without rubbing. Sometimes people leave too much slack in their air lines and they hang down, not thinking about how much room they have under their vehicle.
Basically, clearance and rubbing are both huge issues that we see all the time.
Not Checking for Leaks
Anytime you have a fitting you have a chance for a leak. Sometimes it’s between two NPTs and others it’s a tube union, but leaks are a major thing we see here around the shop. Want a solution? Get this Loctite 545 Pneumatic/Hydraulic Thread Sealant 10ml and Cutter kit. It’s got the right sealant to lock your threads down nicely, plus a cutter to ensure your plastic lines seat nicely in those PTC fittings. Trust us, leaks are a problem, and you should do your best to seal them up.
Rushing to Drive
We know how hard it is to have your car or truck down for an extended period of time while you get your air bags installed, but it’s always important to double check all of your bolts and fittings before you hit the road. We’ve seen plenty of people drop their cars off the jack stands, fire up their ride and hit the road, just to watch as a wheel flies off or something similarly preventable happens.
Before you go anywhere, do a quick once over of the vehicle. Make sure everything is torqued down properly and there are no leaks. When that’s good, go on a short, gentle shake-down drive around the block, then a little further. It’s OK to take your time. There’s no reason to rush to the finish line when you’re so close.
Buying the Wrong Parts
We had a customer in here once who wanted to put a five-gallon tank and two compressors in the spare tire well of their car. Mathematically, there was room. But realistically? Not so much. Everything would have been so jammed in there that nobody would have been happy with the results, especially the owner.
It happens all the time and we understand. Sometimes you want something you can’t have, so you overbuy or get the wrong thing. If you got it from us, check our return policy and see if you fit the limitations.
Be Safe
We hate fixing someone else’s mistakes, but we hate it even more when we can see those errors happening before a single wrench is turned. If you have questions, ask. We’re here all the time and we have a very knowledgeable sales staff who know their stuff. Let’s get you what you need and get it right the first time.
