As long as enthusiasts have been altering their suspensions, they have been looking for ways to show off their hard work in any way possible. And for just as long, enthusiasts have been trying to find ways to outdo one another at truck shows. Recently, AIM Industries came up with a dress-up kit for its DC5000 compressor (and others) that really makes the 3/4hp compressor shine. The DC5000 compressor, which puts out an enormous amount of air (as much as 200 psi, although not recommended to go higher than 140 psi), is 100 percent duty cycle. Follow along as we show you the transformation of AIM's workhorse into a show-winning stallion that works its tail off and looks great doing it. For more information on this or any of the thousands of parts Chassis Tech has to offer, please use the source information listed below.
1.To begin, we started with...
1.To begin, we started with a 3/4hp, 18-amp DC5000 compressor. Right out of the box, this thing cranks out some serious air, but looks pretty much all business. We'll make this workhorse look like a finely bred champion in no time.
2.The end cap was affixed...
2.The end cap was affixed with three screws that were removed to get the cap off. The cap has an inner seal, which is crucial for the compressor to work correctly. With the Chassis Tech dress-up kit, this seal was vastly improved with an O-ring and a billet cap.
3.With the end cap out of...
3.With the end cap out of the way, we could see the piston and counter balance behind it.
4.Next, the four Allen bolts...
4.Next, the four Allen bolts that hold the compressor's head on were carefully removed and set to the side, along with the compressor's head.
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6.Next, the compressor's breaker...
6.Next, the compressor's breaker switch (how cool is this, each DC5000 has its own protection circuit) was removed to allow further disassembly. The mount for the switch was removed as well and set to the side.
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8.There are three screws that...
8.There are three screws that hold the fan shroud in place that had to be removed to get the fan shroud off of the compressor.
9.Behind the fan shroud is...
9.Behind the fan shroud is the cooling fan for the compressor. Using a Phillips screwdriver and an 8mm socket, the fan was removed from the compressor's output shaft.
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11.Using a small Allen key,...
11.Using a small Allen key, we loosened the set screw that keeps the piston in place as well as the screw in the counter balance behind the piston.
12.With both set screws loosened,...
12.With both set screws loosened, the piston and counter balance slid off the other end of the output shaft.
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14.On the cooling fan side...
14.On the cooling fan side of the compressor, there are two nuts that had to be removed to allow the unit to be taken apart. With those two nuts removed, as well as the three long slender bolts in the same end removed, the unit could be taken apart.
15.After separating the compressor...
15.After separating the compressor motor from the brushes and compressor housing, we made sure that the main bearing was swapped into the new chrome head surround before reinstalling the compressor motor.
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17.Next, the compressor motor...
17.Next, the compressor motor was carefully slid into the compressor housing (these things have huge, power-making magnets). With the motor and head surround in the compressor housing already, a chrome sleeve that dresses up the body of the compressor was simply slid into place on the compressor.
18.In reverse order, the counter...
18.In reverse order, the counter balance and piston were put back into place. Remember to replace the safety clip that keeps both from sliding off the output shaft.
19.The head was bolted back...
19.The head was bolted back onto the freshly dressed-up compressor with special care as to the direction it was originally installed.
20.The new billet end cap,...
20.The new billet end cap, complete with rubber O-ring was installed to replace the original plastic end cap, as well as a new brass fitting (complete with sealing tape), and an oiler to make sure that the pump was adequately lubricated at all times. Notice the chrome fan shroud at the far end.
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22.To even further dress up...
22.To even further dress up the compressor, check out this custom chrome air filter included with the dress-up kit. Using the supplied clamp and fittings, this was a snap to install.
23.Completed, we sat the freshly...
23.Completed, we sat the freshly dressed-up compressor next to a bare DC5000 like the one we had started with. The difference was amazing and bound to make any pneumatic suspension setup shine beyond your imagination.