Loadshare / Measurement Guide
How to measure your setup.
Not sure how to answer a question in the kit finder? Find it below — each measurement has a diagram and a quick how-to.
← Back to the kit finderAir bag diameter — 7" or 9"
The overall diameter of the air spring your kit uses.
Loadshare kits are built around either a 7" or a 9" air bag. The number is the bag's overall outside diameter.
9" bags suit setups with a bag diameter range from about 10-1/2" and up; 7" bags suit ranges from about 8-1/2" and up.
If you're replacing an existing bag, the diameter is usually stamped on the bag itself — check there first.
Draft — pending final wording
Mount style — square top, round top, or rear offset
How and where the air bag mounts relative to the axle.
Look at the top mounting plate the bag sits against, and where the bag sits relative to the axle.
Square top: a square top plate, bag mounted over the center of the axle. Round top: a round top plate, also center-axle.
Rear offset: the bag mounts behind the axle rather than directly over it — used where there isn't room for a center-axle bag.
Draft — pending final wording
Single or dual air bag
One bag per side, or two stacked bags per side.
A single setup uses one air bag per side. A dual setup stacks two bags per side for extra load capacity and travel.
If you already run air ride, count the bags on one side of the axle.
Draft — pending final wording
Single side or both sides
Whether the kit covers one side of the truck or both.
A both-side kit includes the parts for the driver and passenger sides. A single-side kit covers one side only.
Most installs use a both-side kit; single-side is for adding to or repairing one side.
Draft — pending final wording
Air bag type — single (SC) or double (DC) convoluted
The number of lobes on the air bag.
Convolutions are the lobes on the air spring. A double convoluted (DC) bag has two lobes and gives more lift and travel — that's the bag shown here.
A single convoluted (SC) bag has one lobe and sits lower — used where vertical clearance is tighter.
Draft — pending final wording
Leaf-spring width — 3", 3.5", or 4"
The width of your leaf-spring pack.
Measure across the top leaf of the spring pack to get its width. Loadshare kits fit 3", 3.5", or 4" wide springs.
Measure the metal leaf itself, not any liner or wrap, and round to the nearest listed size.
Draft — pending final wording
U-bolt spacing
Center-to-center distance between the two U-bolts on the axle.
Measure from the center of one U-bolt to the center of the other, across the axle (Fig. B).
Narrow: 4" to 4-1/2". Standard: 4-1/2" to 4-3/4". Wide: 4-3/4" to 7".
Some kits (like rear-offset kits) don't depend on U-bolt spacing — if you're unsure, measure anyway and we can confirm.
Draft — pending final wording
Vertical clearance — top of leaf spring to frame
Room between the leaf spring and the frame (Fig. C).
Measure straight up from the top of the leaf spring to the bottom of the frame rail, directly above the axle where the kit mounts.
Allow at least 5-1/2" for the top bracket. If you have less, note the number and send it with your quote so we can check options.
Air bag clearance check
Make sure the air bag has room to sit and inflate.
Check for obstructions directly above the axle — hood mounts, brackets, wiring.
Leave roughly 11" of clearance around the air-bag location for it to inflate. Standard placement centers the bag over the axle; a rear offset (about 11–12") is used when something's in the way.
Tight on space or something's in the way? Photograph the area and we'll spec the right placement.
Shock mount & axle stop (reference)
Where the shock and axle stop sit relative to the kit.
The kit works around the existing shock mount and axle stop.
If yours look different from this reference, include a photo with your quote so we can confirm the fit.