Specifications

17730-248 7 Important Safety Notice
AIRTEK
®
•
SOFTEK
®
for Blue Bird Buses
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
FASTENERS
LOOSE OR OVER TORQUED FASTENERS CAN CAUSE COMPONENT DAMAGE, LOSS OF VEHICLE
CONTROL, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR SEVERE PERSONAL INJURY. MAINTAIN CORRECT TORQUE
VALUE AT ALL TIMES. CHECK TORQUE VALUES ON A REGULAR BASIS AS SPECIFIED.
AIR SPRINGS
AIR SPRING ASSEMBLIES MUST BE DEFLATED PRIOR TO LOOSENING ANY CLAMP GROUP
HARDWARE. UNRESTRICTED AIR SPRING ASSEMBLIES CAN VIOLENTLY SHIFT. DO NOT INFLATE AIR
SPRING ASSEMBLIES WHEN THEY ARE UNRESTRICTED. AIR SPRING ASSEMBLIES MUST BE
RESTRICTED BY SUSPENSION OR OTHER ADEQUATE STRUCTURE. DO NOT INFLATE BEYOND
PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY AIR SPRING MANUFACTURER, CONTACT HENDRICKSON
TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR DETAILS. IMPROPER USE OR OVER INFLATION MAY CAUSE AIR SPRING
ASSEMBLIES TO BURST, CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR SEVERE PERSONAL INJURY.
WHEN SERVICING THE VEHICLE OR ATTACHING AN AIR SPRING AND THE VEHICLE IS ON THE
GROUND, PRIOR TO AIRING THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM MAKE CERTAIN THE AIR SPRING
LOCATOR IS INDEXED INTO THE UPPER AIR SPRING BRACKET PROPERLY, AND THE AIR
SPRING IS FULLY SEATED ON THE SPRING TOP PAD. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE
INSTRUCTIONS CAN RESULT IN PREMATURE AIR SPRING FAILURE, CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY,
OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
PRIOR TO AND DURING DEFLATION AND INFLATION OF THE FRONT AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM,
ENSURE THAT ALL PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT ARE CLEAR FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND
AROUND THE SERVICE AREA, FAILURE TO DO SO CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY,
DEATH, OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
LOAD CAPACITY
ADHERE TO THE PUBLISHED CAPACITY RATINGS FOR THE SUSPENSIONS. ADD-ON AXLE
ATTACHMENTS (I.E. SLIDING FIFTH WHEELS) AND OTHER LOAD TRANSFERRING DEVICES CAN
INCREASE THE SUSPENSION LOAD ABOVE THE RATED AND APPROVED CAPACITIES WHICH
CAN RESULT IN FAILURE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY CAUSING PERSONAL
INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
MODIFYING COMPONENTS
DO NOT MODIFY OR REWORK PARTS. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION OR
AXLE COMPONENTS, USE OF A MODIFIED OR REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AUTHORIZED BY
HENDRICKSON MAY NOT MEET HENDRICKSON’S SPECIFICATIONS, AND CAN RESULT IN
FAILURE OF THE PART, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY OR
PROPERTY DAMAGE. USE ONLY HENDRICKSON AUTHORIZED REPLACEMENT PARTS, DO NOT
MODIFY PARTS WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM HENDRICKSON.
SHOCK ABSORBERS
THE SHOCK ABSORBERS ARE THE REBOUND TRAVEL STOPS FOR THE SPRINGS. ANYTIME THE
FRONT AXLE ON AN AIRTEK SUSPENSION IS SUSPENDED IT IS MANDATORY THAT THE SHOCK
ABSORBERS REMAIN CONNECTED. FAILURE TO DO SO CAN CAUSE THE AIR SPRINGS TO
EXCEED THEIR MAXIMUM LENGTH, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE AIR SPRINGS TO SEPARATE FROM
THE PISTON, OR CAUSE A REVERSE ARCH IN THE STEEL LEAF SPRINGS, POSSIBLY RESULTING
IN PREMATURE STEEL LEAF SPRING FAILURE.
SERVICE MANUAL
L
49
FRONT AXLE & SUSPENSION
1
APPENDIX