1969 FORD MUSTANG Volume One Chassis

03-02-29

Suspension

03-02-29

SPRING LEAVES

AND TIE-BOLT

LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

Check for broken spring leaves. In-

spect the anti-squeak inserts between

the leaves, and replace them if they

are worn. The spring leaves must be

dry and free of oil and dirt before new

inserts are installed.
If the spring center tie-bolt requires

replacement, clamp the spring in a

vise to keep the spring compressed

during bolt removal and installation.

REAR SHACKLE AND

HANGER ASSEMBLY

LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

Inspect the rear shackle, bushings,

and studs for wear or damage. Re-

place parts where necessary (Fig. 6).
If the rear shackle bushings are to

be replaced, it will be necessary to re-

move the rear hanger assembly. Tor-

que the hanger attaching bolts to

specification when installed.procarmanuals.com

03-03-01
Automatic
Air
Leveling System

03-03-01

PART
3-3
Automatic
Air
Leveling System

COMPONENT INDEX

AIR COMPRESSOR

Disassembly
and
Overhaul

Removal
and
Installation

AIR CYLINDER

Removal
and
Installation

DESCRIPTION

HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE

Disassembly
and
Overhaul

Removal
and
Installation
MODEL APPLICATION
All
Models
Ford

03-03

03-02

03-02

03-01

03-03

03-02
Mercury
03-03

03-02

03-02

03-01

03-03

03-02
Meteor
03-03

03-02

03-02

03-01

03-03

03-02
Cougar
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Fairlane
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

A page number indicates that the item
is for the
vehicle listed
at
the head
of
the column.

N/A indicates that
the
item
is not
applicable
to the
vehicle listed.
Falcon
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Montego
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Mustang
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Lincoln-
Continental
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Thunderbird
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A
Continental-
Mark III
N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

DESCRIPTION

The automatic level control
is an

accessory item
on the
Ford, Mercury

and Meteor vehicles
(Fig. 1).
This
de-

vice
is a
supplement
to the
rear coil

spring suspension,
and
will automati-
cally maintain
the
rear standing height

of
the
vehicle
at an
approximate
con-

stant position compensating
for
vary-

ing loaded conditions.
The
system

consists
of a
vacuum operated
com-
pressor, control valve,
air
cylinders

and
the
connecting lines
and
fittings.

In
the
event
of
accidental
air
loss,
the

conventional coil springs will support

the vehicle.

RUBBER
AIR
CYLINDER

WITHIN COIL SPRING
HEIGHT CONTROL

VALVE
RUBBER
AIR
CYLINDER

WITHIN COIL SPRING

RUBBER VACUUM LINE
TO
VACUUM

DISTRIBUTION CONNECTOR

RED CLAMP STATION WAGON ONLY

COMPRESSOR

NYLON
AND
STEEL LINES

FROM VALVE
TO
CYLINDERS

FIG.
1
—
Air Leveling System
FT475-A
procarmanuals.com

03-03-02

Automatic Air Leveling System

03-03-02

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

AIR COMPRESSOR

REMOVAL

1.
Slip the vacuum line off the in-

take fitting on the side of the com-

pressor (Fig. 2).

2.
Disconnect the output line from

the rear of compressor.

3.
Remove the three compressor at-

taching nuts from the bracket. Lift the

compressor from the mounting brack-

et.

INSTALLATION

1.
Place the star washer on each in-

sulator. Position the compressor on

the mounting bracket and install and

torque the three attaching nuts to

specifications.

2.
Connect the vacuum line to the

intake fitting at the side of the com-

pression.

3.
Start the engine and check the

compressor output.

4.
Connect the output line to the

nylon fitting at the rear of the com-

pressor (Fig. 2).

HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE

REMOVAL

1.
Raise the vehicle on a hoist. It
may be more convenient to support

the rear of the frame with two jack

stands and lower the, axle to provide

greater accessability to the valve.

2.
Disconnect the compressor line

from the intake port of the height

control valve (Fig. 3).

3.
Disconnect the air cylinder line

from the rear of the height control

valve.

4.
Disconnect the link from the

height control valve lever.

5.
Remove the two control valve-

to-mounting bracket attaching screws

and remove the valve.

INSTALLATION

1.
Position the height control valve

to the mounting bracket and install

the two attaching screws. Torque the

screws to specification.

2.
Connect the link to the height

control valve lever.

3.
Connect the compressor line to

the height control valve.

4.
Connect the air cylinder line to

the height control valve.

5.
Set the height control valve lever

as required to obtain the correct trim

height.

6. After obtaining the correct trim
height, check the operation of the air

leveling system.

AIR CYLINDER

REMOVAL

1.
Raise the vehicle on a hoist with

the hoist under the rear axle housing.

Place jack stands under the frame side

rails.

2.
Disconnect the air cylinder line

from the fitting on the lower end of

the cylinder (Fig. 4).

3.
Lower the hoist and axle housing

until the rear shock is fully extended.

4.
Squeeze all air from the bag and

install the valve cap.

5.
Remove the air cylinder from the

rear spring.

INSTALLATION

1.
Make sure all the air is out of

the bag and the valve cap is on.

2.
Position the air cylinder in the

spring with the inlet at the lower end.

3.
Remove the valve cap and con-

nect the air cylinder line to the cylin-

der.

4.
Remove the jack stands and

lower the vehicle.

VACUUM INTAKE LINE

INSULATORS

NYLON FITTING

MOUNTING BRACKET

FIG. 2—Compressor Installed
STAR WASHERS

COMPRESSOR
F 1364-Aprocarmanuals.com

03-03-03
Automatic Air Leveling System

03-03-03

COMPRESSOR LINE
AIR
CYLINDER LINE INTAKE PORT EXHAUSTPORT
ADJUSTMENT SCREW

MOUNTING BRACKET
HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE
REAR SUSPENSION UPPER
ARM

FIG. 3—Height Control Valve Installation

Al R CYLINDER
F 1365-A

FIG. 4—Air Cylinder Installation

3 MAJOR REPAIRS

AIR COMPRESSOR

Compressor repair should
be
limit-

ed
to the
cleaning
of the
micro-bon

filter.

REMOVAL

1.
Remove
the
three cover filter
at-

taching screws.
2.
Remove
the
filter
and
cover

gasket.

3.
Wash
the
filter
in
solvent, blow

it
dry
with compressed
air
working

from
the
inside outward.

INSTALLATION

1.
Position
a new
gasket
and the

cover
on the
compressor.
2.
Install
the
three attaching

screws.

HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE

Other than adjusting
the
trim

height,
no
repairs should
be
made
to

the height control valve.

1.
Thoroughly clean exterior
of the

height control valve.procarmanuals.com

procarmanuals.com

procarmanuals.com

03-04-02
Automatic Air Leveling System — Lincoln Continental

03-04-02

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

COMPRESSOR

REMOVAL

1.
Raise the front of the vehicle and

place jack stands under frame side

rails.

2.
Turn the front wheels all the way

to the right. Working from the und-

erside of the left front fender, remove
the three shield attaching screws (Fig.

2).

3.
Disconnect the one vacuum line,

clean air intake line and the two pres-

sure lines from the compressor.

4.
Remove the two compressor

mounting bracket attaching bolts. Re-

move the bracket and compressor as

an assembly.

5.
Remove the three compressor to

bracket attaching nuts. Separate the

compressor from the bracket.
INSTALLATION

1.
Assemble the compressor and in-

sulators to the mounting bracket. In-

stall and torque the three nuts to spec-

ification.

2.
Position the compressor mount-

ing bracket and compressor and se-

cure with the two attaching nuts. Tor-

que the nuts to specification.

3.
Connect the vacuum line (coded

with a red stripe), clean air intake line

BRACKET
AND
COMPRESSOR
MUST
BE

ASSEMBLED
TOGETHER
PRIOR
TO

INSTALLATION
IN
VEHICLE
BOLT MUST
BE IN
PLACE

PRIOR
TO
INSTALLATION

OF
SUPPORT
INTO
VEHICLE

FIG. 2—Compressor Installation

CROSSMEMBER

EXHAUST
VALVE PORT

OVER
TRAVEL
LEVER

REAR AXLE
HOUSING

F1400-A

3—Height Control Valve
F1420-A

and the two pressure lines (Fig. 2) to

the compressor.

4.
Install the shield and three at-

taching screws.

5.
Remove the jack stands and

lower the vehicle.

HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE

REMOVAL

1.
Exhaust all air from system.

2.
Raise the rear of the vehicle and

support it with jack stands.

3.
Disconnect the link from the

height control valve arm.

4.
Disconnect the air inlet and the

outlet line from the valve.

5.
Remove the two control valve

mounting bracket attaching bolts (Fig.

3) and remove the valve.

INSTALLATION

1.
Position the height control valve

and install the two attaching bolts.

Torque the bolts to specification.

2.
Connect the air inlet and theprocarmanuals.com

03-04-03
Automatic Air Leveling System — Lincoln Continental

03-04-03

outlet lines to their respective parts.

3.
Adjust the trim height as de-

tailed in Section 4.

4.
Connect the link to the arm.

5.
Remove the jack stands and

lower the vehicle.

SUPER LIFT SHOCK ABSORBER

REMOVAL

1.
Raise the vehicle and place jack

stands under the axle to compress the

super lift.

2.
Loosen the air line or lines (right

super lift) slowly to release the air
from the system. Then, disconnect the

line or lines.

3.
Remove the three mounting plate

attaching screws from the upper end

of the super lift.

4.
Remove the attaching nut and

washer from the lower end of the

super lift and remove it from the vehi-

cle.

5.
Remove the nut, outer washer

and the insulator that attach the super

lift to the mounting plate. Remove the

plate, remaining insulator and washer.

INSTALLATION

1.
Position a washer, insulator,

mounting plate, insulator, washer and
nut on the stud at the upper end of

the super lift. Torque the nut to speci-

fication.

2.
Install the mounting plate, outer

insulator, washer and nut on the stud.

Torque the nut to specification.

3.
Attach the mounting plate and

shock absorber to the crossmember

with the attaching screws to specifica-

tions.

4.
Connect the lower end of the

super lift to the mounting stud with

the washers and attaching nut. Torque

the nut to specification.

5.
Connect the air line or lines

(right super lift) to the super lift.

6. Start the engine and check for

leaks.

3 IN-VEHICLE ADJUSTMENTS AND REPAIRS

REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE

The regulator may be adjusted if

the regulator pressure is under 100 psi

with the reservoir pressure at a mini-

mum of 140 psi. If the regulated pres-

sure exceeds 130 psi, the regulator

must be replaced.

To adjust the regulator, remove the

boot and reposition the sleeve and re-

tainer deeper into the body of the re-

gulator, using a deep well socket (Fig.

4).
If the regulator pressure remains

under 100 psi, replace regulator.
SILICONE FLUID

REPLACEMENT

If the height control valve time

delay does not fall within specifica-

tion, the silicone fluid must be re-

placed. Then repeat the time delay

test. If delay is still not within specifi-

cations, replace the height control

valve.

1.
Remove control valve and clean
the exterior of the valve thoroughly.

2.
Position the valve with delay

plug on top. Remove delay plug and

drain silicone fluid from the chamber.

Remove the O-ring from the chamber

(Fig. 5), and discard the O-ring.

3.
Remove the cover plate retaining

ring, using snap ring pliers. Remove

the delay cover from the valve body.

Remove the O-ring from the chamber,

and discard the O-ring.

4.
Place a new O-ring over the

delay plug and install the plug. Tor-

que the plug to 20-30 in-lbs. .

5.
Pour silicone fluid into the delay

piston chamber until fluid level is 5/16

inch below the top edge of the body.

Add or remove fluid with an eye drop-

per until the proper fluid level is

reached.

6. Hold the control valve body in a

vise with the delay chamber elevated

slightly. Carefully operate the lever to

purge trapped air from the fluid.

7.
Place a new O-ring in the groove

around the delay piston bore. Install

5/16" TO

FLUID LEVEL

F 1405 A

FIG. 4—Adjusting Regulator
F1406 A

FIG. 5—Replacing Silicone Fluidprocarmanuals.com