Airkewld’s Ball Joint Air Ride Kit (ARK)

This kit is designed for show purposes only. Airkewld and all of its personnel are not responsible for any misinstallation, modification, or mishaps with the installation of this product. The consumer buying and installing this kit is completely responsible for all and every liability once installed.

  1. Disconnect the battery
  2. Raise the front of the car and put on jack stands.
  3. Remove the wheels.
  4. On the driver’s side, remove the circlip attaching the speedometer cable to the dust cap.
  5. Remove the dust cap, spindle nut and drum or rotor.
  6. Once removed, remove the (3) bolts holding the backing plate onto the spindle and set aside.
  7. To remove the spindle you will need to remove the ball joint nuts on the back side of the spindle. Simply tap the outer edge of the spindle with a hammer to spring free the upper and lower control arms. Remove the upper and lower control arms.
  8. Remove the center grub screws and remove the factory torsion springs.
  9. If your car has not been narrowed you can install the DOM threaded inserts. If it has been narrowed, you will need to shorten it according to how much you have narrowed it. These inserts allow your front end to move freely and will ultimately rely on the Airkewld’s Custom Air shocks.
  10. Install the upper and lower control arms with the supplied hardware.
  11. Install the new spindle into the control arms with the original hardware and adjust caster mount in the upper ball joint until the spindle is straight up and down.
  12. Reinstall the backing plates with the original hardware and tighten.
  13. Reinstall the drum or rotor and tighten the nut until the rotor cannot turn at all. Then back it off ¼ of a turn.
  14. Install the keeper and the jam nut.
  15. Reinstall the dust cap and push the speedometer cable through. Attached with the original circlip.
  16. Install the air shocks with the stock hardware. You might need to ream out or drill out the lower shock boss if it doesn’t fit.
  17. With the supplied custom fittings, you will need to use a thread compound or Teflon tape to the air shock. Do not over tighten the fittings that attach to the air shock because you can split them. Be careful. The way these fittings work is by inserting a straight cut piece of tubing into the fitting until it pops into place and then pull out to engage them. If you need to remove them again, simply push the brass rings in and pull out the tubing.
  18. Run your airlines to a tee and install the inflation stem.
  19. Then do a leak test on the air lines. Please take your time so you will not have a problem in the future. Use a soapy solution on the fittings and fix if necessary.
  20. Reinstall the wheels and remove the jack stands. Make sure the car is inflated so you do not damage your front apron with the floor jack.
  21. Now deflate! BOOM! Rock bottom!