2007 Explorer Sport Trac - One For The Show

A pickle fork was used to separate the upper control arm ball joint from the front spindle.

The OEM upper strut collar was retrieved from the assembly. It would be installed with the Air Ride front strut/'bag assembly. A 15/16-inch drill was used to increase the size of the pre-existing hole in the OEM upper strut collar.

A 3/16-inch Allen wrench was used to secure the Air Lift front strut/'bag collar to the assembly. After wrapping the 1/2-inch airline fitting with four counter-clockwise wraps of Teflon tape, it was carefully threaded into the 'bag housing.

A 9/16-inch wrench was used to secure the upper OEM strut collar to the Air Lift 'bag assembly. After the OEM strut collar was secured to the Air Lift 'bag assembly, it was aligned and installed to the lower control arm.

The Air Lift 'bag assembly was secured to the upper strut mounting location, Casey used a floor jack to compress the Air Lift 'bag assembly. Then, he used a 15/16-inch wrench to secure the Air Lift 'bag assembly to the lower control arm.

This overall view shows the front Air Lift 'bag assembly installed into the reassembled OEM front suspension.

Moving to the rear suspension. Ron disconnected and removed the rear strut assembly from the rear suspension.

After welding on an upper rear Air Lift 'bag assembly mounting bracket to the OEM rear suspension spring pocket, the Air Lift 'bag assembly was inserted and secured.

Ron inserted a 1/4-inch-diameter airline into the two Air Lift 'bag assemblies that were merged into a T-fitting.

A 1/4-inch airline was run from the T-fitting into the Schrader valve. Compressed air was then released into the Air Lift system through the Schrader valve to test the pneumatic 'bags front and rear.