Technical Procedure: Trailer Suspension Systems

TECHNICAL
PROCEDURE
TRAILER SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
SUBJECT: Non-delay Height Control Valve
Installation Procedure
LIT NO: L668
DATE: August 2009
REVISION: D
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SERVICE NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
FITTING INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
VALVE MOUNTING / AIR LINE ATTACHMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
RIDE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Adjusting the Height Control Valve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
LINK INSTALLATION FOR TOP-MOUNT MODELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Minor Valve Adjustment for Top Mount Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
LINK INSTALLATION FOR LOW-RIDE MODELS (INTRAAX AAL PRIMARY SUSPENSION MODELS AND VANTRAAX
HKAL AND HKARL MODELS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE MOUNTING ILLUSTRATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
INTRAAX and HT250US Suspensions with Bolted-link Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
HKANT Suspensions with Bolted-link Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
INTRAAX AAL 23K / 25K Suspensions with Bolted-link Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
HKANT Suspensions with Bolted-link Assembly and Integral Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
NON-DELAY HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
SERVICE NOTES
VALVE MOUNTING / AIR LINE

ATTACHMENT
This document focuses on the installation of the

height control valve. Before conducting any
installation work:
Read and understand Hendrickson publication
L496, Wheel-end Maintenance Procedures
(available at www.hendrickson-intl.com), for
additional safety information.
Read and understand applicable work
instructions and safety information provided by
the trailer manufacturer.
Always wear proper eye protection and other
required personal protective equipment.
Park the trailer on a flat, level, debris-free surface.
Set the trailer parking brakes.
Chock the wheels of the trailer axles to prevent
the trailer from moving.
IMPORTANT: Before installing the height control valve,

please review the drawings in the height
control valve kit in order to determine
the proper mounting and assembly.
1. When tightening the lock nuts on the height
control valve mounting studs, DO NOT BACK
OUT the studs from the height control valve body.
IMPORTANT: Loosening the studs may cause the
height control valve to leak.
2. Ports C1 and C2 on the forward and rear face of
the height control valve (or on the rear top and
bottom face of the integral dump valve) are the
suspension ports. Attach the air line(s) from the
suspension air springs to the C1 and / or C2
port(s) (figures 1 and 2).
INTRODUCTION
The height control valve maintains a constant ride
height by automatically adding air to or exhausting
air from the air suspension system.
3. When using only one suspension port, plug the

unused port with the -inch NPT pipe plug
provided in the height control valve kit.
Hendrickson air suspensions need only one height

control valve per trailer, regardless of the number of
trailer axles.
4. Attach the air supply line from the pressure

protection valve to the supply port on the top of
the height control valve (figures 1 and 2).
IMPORTANT: Unless approved in writing by the

Hendrickson engineering department,
DO NOT use more than one height
control valve per trailer. The use of more
than one height control valve will void
the Hendrickson warranty.
5. Install the exhaust fitting into the exhaust port

(figures 1 and 2).
6. Tighten all the lines.
This height control valve can be used in right-hand, lefthand, fore, aft and long- or short-control arm applications.
RIDE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
FITTING INSTALLATION
1. Determine recommended ride height by locating

and reading the information on the identification
tag, found on the suspension trailing arm.
1. If necessary, apply thread sealant onto the fitting

threads (on some fittings it is pre-applied).
ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE

2. Secure the vehicle. Chock the trailer wheels and
release the trailer brakes.
IMPORTANT: Do not apply Teflon tape to the fitting

threads. The tape may contaminate the
air system.
3. Before adjusting ride height, the trailer should be

unloaded and placed on a flat, level work
surface. The trailer should be parallel to the work
surface and supported by the landing gear legs
or coupled to a tractor.
2. Install the supply and suspension fittings on the

height control valve.
IMPORTANT: Do not overtighten fittings onto the
height control valve. Overtightening may
damage the valve body.
4. Pressurize the air system. Connect the trailer to a

tractor or a compressed air supply with
approximately the same pressure as the tractors
2
L668D

-20 Mounting studs
Part number
C2
C1
Supply port
Suspension port C2
(plug if necessary)
Suspension port C1
Alignment hole
Exhaust port
Figure 1. The Hendrickson non-delay height control valve
-20 Mounting studs
Part number
Supply port
Suspension port C1
Dump control port
C1
Alignment hole
C2
Exhaust port
Suspension port C2
(plug if necessary)
Figure 2. The Hendrickson non-delay height control valve with integral dump
L668D

air system. Check the valve connections for
leaks.
5. When the air system is fully inflated, measure
the suspension ride height. A suspensions ride
height is defined as the distance from the
suspension mounting surface (the bottom of the
trailer or slider box) to the center of the axle.
A-23445
There are two easy ways to measure ride height:

A-23442
5.1 Tape measure method

a. Using a tape measure, measure the distance
from the top of the axle to the mounting
surface of the suspension.
Figure 3. Hendrickson ride height gauges
b. Add half of the axle diameter to this

measurement to determine your suspensions
ride height. For example: on a suspension
with a five-inch axle, add 2 inches to the
measured distance, and on large-diameter
axles (LDA), add 27/8 (2.88) inches to the
measured distance.
If you cannot determine the designed ride height

from the information on the identification tag,
contact the Hendrickson technical service
department at 866-743-3247 in the United
States or 800-668-5360 in Canada. They will
help you determine your suspensions designed
ride height.
OR
IMPORTANT: A minimum of 100 psi air pressure

must be available to open the brake
protection valve and allow air flow to the
height control valve in the next step. A
delay of five to 10 seconds may occur
before the height control valve allows air
flow to or from the air springs.
5.2 Ride Height Gauge method

a. Use a Hendrickson Ride Height Gauge
(figure 3) to measure the distance between
the axle and the mounting surface of the
suspension. A ride height gauge works with
both 5-inch and large-diameter axles
(LDA). Just make sure you are using the
proper scale on the ride height gauge.
7. If necessary, rotate the control arm on the height

control valve up to raise or down to lower the
suspension (figure 4) until the distance between
the suspension mounting surface and the axle
center matches the recommended suspension
ride height.
To order a Ride Height Gauge, contact the

Hendrickson customer service department at
866-RIDEAIR (866-743-3247) and specify
part number A-23442 (Ride Height Gauge for
conventional, top-mount suspensions) or
A-23445 (Ride Height Gauge for low-ride
suspensions).
IMPORTANT: After setting the ride height, the control

arm must remain in the neutral position.
8. Insert the wooden centering dowel into the
control arm alignment hole and engage into the
valve body (figures 1 and 2).
6. Compare the measured ride height with the

recommended or designed ride height (in other
words, compare what you measured to what the
ride height should be).
LINK INSTALLATION FOR TOP-MOUNT

MODELS
The recommended or designed ride heights for

all current Hendrickson trailer suspensions can
be found in Hendrickson publication L388, Ride
Height Settings (available at www.hendricksonintl.com), or on the suspension identification tag.
NOTE: This section describes height control valve

linkage installation for top-mount suspension
models. Refer to figures 6, 7 and 9 for
installation details.
4
L668D

4. Remove the wooden centering dowel. Verify the
ride height setting.
Fill
position
MINOR VALVE ADJUSTMENT FOR TOP

MOUNT MODELS
1. If a minor adjustment is necessary, loosen the
mounting nuts for the height control valve (HCV).
Raise
Control arm
Neutral
position
2. Rotate height control valve clockwise to increase

ride height setting or counterclockwise to
decrease ride height setting.
3. Retighten the mounting nuts after completing the
minor adjustment. Check ride height to ensure it
is properly set.
Lower
Exhaust
position
Figure 4. Ride height adjustment
If you are installing the height control valve on

a low-ride suspension model (AAL, HKAL, or
HKARL), refer to the LINK INSTALLATION FOR
LOW RIDE MODELS section.
1. Fasten half the link to the height control valve
control arm and the other half to the lower
mounting bracket with the provided shoulder
bolts.
CAUTION: Ensure that the links rotate freely
and do not bind. Failure of the link
to rotate freely about the fastener
will result in damage to the link,
brackets and / or suspension.
CAUTION: Ensure the height control valve
linkage is vertical when viewed from
the rear of the suspension.
2. Tighten the -inch locking nut onto the 5/16-inch
shoulder bolt until snug.
3. Rotate the halves until they are side by side. Line
up the nearest set of holes on both halves. Install
the #10-24 screws that are provided in the kit.
L668D
LINK INSTALLATION FOR LOW-RIDE

MODELS (INTRAAX AAL PRIMARY
SUSPENSION MODELS AND VANTRAAX
HKAL AND HKARL MODELS)
3. Set the suspension at the proper ride height by

moving the control arm up to fill the air springs
or down to exhaust the air springs. With the
suspension at ride height, insert the wooden
centering dowel into the alignment hole,
preventing the control arm from moving.
1. Assemble the height control valve link to the

length specified in the chart below. Lengths in
the chart are from center to center of the
mounting holes (figure 5).
4. Install the link on the HCV control arm with the

fasteners provided in the kit.
5. Install the bracket and band clamp loosely on
the axle.
Link Length Chart (Inches)

Ride Height
Link Length
6.5
3.5
7.5
3.5
3.5
10
3.5
11
6.25
12
6.25
14
5.5
15
6.25
16
9.25
17
10
6. Position the bracket on the axle, so the height

control valve link is vertical.
7. Rotate the bracket and band clamp around the
axle until the bracket mounting hole and the link
mounting hole line up.
8. Install the link fastener and tighten the lock nut.
Tighten the band clamp to 45 to 60 ft. lbs. (61
to 81 Nm) of torque.
IMPORTANT: When tightening the band clamp, AVOID
CHANGING the position of the bracket.
2. Install the HCV to the suspension as shown in

figure 8 and the drawings provided with the kit.
Lengths in
chart are
from center
to center of
mounting
holes
Figure 5. Measurement points for low-ride link lengths
L668D

IMPORTANT: For all HT suspensions, except the
HT250US, mount the non-delay
height control valve directly to the
suspension frame bracket.
/16-inch shoulder bolt

5
/16-inch flat washer
Bolted link
-20 locking nut

-inch NPT tube fitting
#10-24 bolts
Height control valve
-inch NPT plug

Bolted link
-20 locking nut
#10-24 lock nuts

#10 flat washers
-20 bolts
Bracket
5
5
Exhaust
fitting
-20 locking nuts

Spacer bracket
Exhaust tube
-20 locking nuts
Port C1
To suspension
To supply reservoir
Port C2
To exhaust
Figure 6. INTRAAX and HT250US suspensions with bolted-link assembly

L668D
-20 locking nuts
-inch NPT tube fittings
-20 locking nut

-20
locking nuts
Bolted link
5

5
/16-inch
shoulder
bolt
#10-24
lock nuts
#10-24 bolts
-inch NPT plug

/16-inch
shoulder bolt
Exhaust fitting
#10 flat
washers
Bracket
5
/16-inch
flat washer
-20
locking nut
Exhaust tube
To supply reservoir
Port C1
To suspension
Port C2
To exhaust
Figure 7. HKANT suspension with bolted-link assembly
L668D

5

5
Bolted link
-inch NPT plug
-20 locking nut
-inch NPT
tube fitting
#10-24 bolts
Height
control
valve
Band clamp
-inch NPT
tube fitting
Bracket
#10-24 lock nut

#10 flat washer
-20 hex head bolts
5
Exhaust fitting
-20 locking nuts
-20 locking nut
Spacer bracket
-20 locking nuts
Exhaust tube
Port C1
To supply reservoir
To suspension
Port C2
To exhaust
Figure 8. INTRAAX AAL 23K / 25K suspensions with bolted-link assembly

L668D

-20
locking nuts
Height
control
valve
bracket

-inch NPT plug
-20
locking
nuts
-20 locking nut
Bolted link
5

5
/16-inch
shoulder bolt
#10-24
lock nuts
#10-24 bolts
#10 flat
washers
Exhaust fitting
-20 locking nut

Exhaust tube
5
/16-inch
shoulder bolt
5
/16-inch
flat washer
Bracket
Port C1
To emergency / supply gladhand (dump control)
To suspension (port C2)
To supply reservoir
To exhaust
Figure 9. HKANT suspension with bolted-link assembly and integral dump
10
L668D
L668D
11
www.hendrickson-intl.com
Hendrickson Canada
250 Chrysler Drive, Unit #3
Brampton, ON Canada L6S 6B6
905.789.1030
Fax 905.789.1033
L668 Rev D 08-09 ECN 18242
Trailer Commercial Vehicle Systems

2070 Industrial Place SE
Canton, OH 44707-2641 USA
866.RIDEAIR (743.3247)
330.489.0045
Fax 800.696.4416
Information contained in this literature was accurate at the time of publication. Product changes may have been made after the copyright date that are not reflected.
2009 Hendrickson USA, L.L.C. All Rights Reserved
Hendrickson Mexicana
Circuito El Marqus Sur #29
Parque Industrial El Marqus
Pob. El Colorado, Municipio El Marqus,
Quertaro, Mxico C.P. 76246
+52 (442) 296.3600
Fax: +52 (442) 296.3601
Printed in United States of America

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TECHNICAL

NON-DELAY HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

VALVE MOUNTING / AIR LINE

This document focuses on the installation of the

IMPORTANT: Before installing the height control valve,

3. When using only one suspension port, plug the

Hendrickson air suspensions need only one height

4. Attach the air supply line from the pressure

IMPORTANT: Unless approved in writing by the

5. Install the exhaust fitting into the exhaust port

RIDE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT

1. Determine recommended ride height by locating

1. If necessary, apply thread sealant onto the fitting

ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE

IMPORTANT: Do not apply Teflon tape to the fitting

3. Before adjusting ride height, the trailer should be

2. Install the supply and suspension fittings on the

4. Pressurize the air system. Connect the trailer to a

NON-DELAY HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

Figure 1. The Hendrickson non-delay height control valve

-20 Mounting studs

NON-DELAY HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

There are two easy ways to measure ride height:

5.1 Tape measure method

Figure 3. Hendrickson ride height gauges

b. Add half of the axle diameter to this

If you cannot determine the designed ride height

IMPORTANT: A minimum of 100 psi air pressure

5.2 Ride Height Gauge method

7. If necessary, rotate the control arm on the height

To order a Ride Height Gauge, contact the

IMPORTANT: After setting the ride height, the control

6. Compare the measured ride height with the

LINK INSTALLATION FOR TOP-MOUNT

The recommended or designed ride heights for

NOTE: This section describes height control valve

NON-DELAY HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

MINOR VALVE ADJUSTMENT FOR TOP

2. Rotate height control valve clockwise to increase

If you are installing the height control valve on

NON-DELAY HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

LINK INSTALLATION FOR LOW-RIDE

3. Set the suspension at the proper ride height by

1. Assemble the height control valve link to the

4. Install the link on the HCV control arm with the

Link Length Chart (Inches)

6. Position the bracket on the axle, so the height

2. Install the HCV to the suspension as shown in

Figure 5. Measurement points for low-ride link lengths

NON-DELAY HEIGHT CONTROL VALVE INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

/16-inch shoulder bolt

-20 locking nut

-inch NPT tube fitting

Height control valve

-inch NPT plug

#10-24 lock nuts

/16-inch shoulder bolt

-20 locking nuts

-20 locking nuts