INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-60417

DATE 03/10/2022

SECTION:

246- AIR, BRAKE & LEVELLING SYSTEM

WRITTEN BY:

Michael Rooney

SUBJECT:

Replacing dust covers & sealing Smart Rider height sensor to vehicle
harness connectors with shrink tube. Buses w/ front & rear axle Smart Rider.

ISSUE:

Dust covers may leak water into height sensor cavity. Connector terminals can
corrode due to moisture intrusion.

SUMMARY:

Replace suspect dust covers and height sensors. Apply heat shrink to harness
connectors to prevent moisture intrusion.

ITS-60417
Ref. NHTSA Recall No.
Not Applicable

Ref. Transport Canada Recall No.
Not Applicable

THIS ITS DOCUMENT SHOULD BE RETAINED AND REFERRED TO FOR FUTURE MAINTENANCE UNTIL
THE NEW FLYER PARTS AND/OR SERVICE MANUAL IS UPDATED TO REFLECT WORK DONE AS A
RESULT OF THIS DOCUMENT. ENSURE THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR PARTS AND
MAINTENANCE STAFF GOING FORWARD.
This document and the contents discussed herein are the confidential and proprietary information of New Flyer Industries Canada
ULC and New Flyer of America Inc. and are disclosed by New Flyer in confidence. This document and the contents herein are not
to be disclosed by the intended recipient without the prior written authorization of New Flyer. Any unauthorized disclosure,
reproduction or other distribution of this document or information strictly prohibited and may result in action being taken against
the party making the unauthorized disclosure. This document and all copies hereof must be returned to New Flyer upon request.

INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-60417

PROCEDURE:
1. Turn the main battery disconnect switch to the “OFF” position.
2. Drain the air from the air system.
3. Raise coach in accordance with the New Flyer Service Manual and install appropriate jack stands to support
the vehicle.
FRONT SUSPENSION
4. Use wheel lifts on the front suspension to lift the front suspension slightly to support the weight of the front axle
and suspension components.
Caution:

ALWAYS support the weight of the axle when replacing shock absorbers.

5. Disconnect the electrical connector that attaches the shock absorber height sensor to the vehicle harness.
a.

Remove clamps used to attach the harness to the under body and set them aside.
Note: If the harness is bundled and tyrapped around the shock dust cover, the harness
must be rerouted when the shock absorber unit is reinstalled.

6. Remove the four nuts retaining the upper shock mounting plate to the chassis bracket.
7. Remove the protective cap from the lower shock mounting nut and remove the nut.

Height Sensor Harnesses

Height Sensor Connector

Figure 1: Front Shock Absorbers (Looking towards the front of the vehicle).
8. Remove the clamping plate, rubber bushing and centering ring from the shock stud noting the location and
orientation of the parts.
9. Compress the lower shock sufficiently to remove the shock stud from the lower mounting bracket. Remove
the remaining rubber bushing from the shock stud.
10. Remove the shock absorber assembly from the vehicle and disassemble the upper mounting components as
follows:
a.

Remove the protective cap from the upper shock mounting nut and remove the nut.

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DATE 03/10/2022

INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
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b.

Remove the clamping plate, rubber bushing and centering ring from the shock stud noting the location
and orientation of the parts.

c.

Remove the mounting plate, rubber bushing and steel sleeve from the shock stud.

11. Take the shock assembly to the work bench and secure the unit in a vice by the upper shock stud with the
side of the dust cover containing the sensor channel facing upward.



NOTE:

Use soft jaws in the vice to protect the threads on the upper shock stud from damage.

12. Using a rubber mallet, apply a sharp blow to the upper end of the dust cover at the square open end of the
channel in the dust cover. The dust cover should pop loose from the shock absorber.

Figure 2: Rubber Mallet Use To Release Dust Cover
13. Slide the dust cover and sensor harness off the shock absorber body and set aside.
14. Install a new dust cover/sensor/harness assembly NF P/N 6482203 over the shock body.
a.

Align the square section channel with the magnet on the outside of the shock body and slide the dust
cover over the shock body. Center the opening in the top of the dust cover with the grey circular retaining
ring below the bushing on the shock stud.

Figure 3: Install Dust Cover & Center Over Grey Retaining Ring.
b.

Using a rubber mallet, apply a sharp blow to the bottom of the dust cover to seat the cover on the grey
circular retaining ring. Take care not to hit the height sensor connector.

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
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Figure 4: Using Rubber Mallet To Seat Dust Cover on Retaining Ring.
15. Install the dirt exclusion cover at the top of the dust cover.
Dirt Exclusion Cover

Dirt Exclusion Cover

End of Height Sensor Cavity

Dust Cover

Figure 5: Dirt Exclusion Cover.
16. Assemble the upper shock mounting components as follows:
a.

Slide the steel sleeve and rubber bushing onto the shock stud. Ensure that the flat side of the rubber
bushing seats against the shock body.

b.

Place the mounting plate onto the rubber bushing ensuring that the mounting plate seats on the pilot
diameter of the rubber bushing.

17. Assemble the remaining upper shock mounting components as follows:
a.

Slide the centering ring and rubber bushing onto the shock stud ensuring that the pilot diameter of the
rubber bushing seats within the concave side of the centering ring.

b.

Install the clamping plate onto the rubber bushing ensuring that the concave side of the clamping plate
seats against the flat side of the rubber bushing.

c.

Install the M16 self-locking nut and torque to 56 Ft lbs using NEVER SEEZ NF P/N 5928660.

d.

Install the protective cap over the lock nut.

18. Align the four holes in the upper shock mount plate with the studs on the chassis mounting bracket.
19. Install four lock nuts NF P/N 203772 and torque the lock nuts to 35 Ft lbs using NEVER SEEZ NF P/N 5928660.
20. Assemble the remaining lower shock mounting components as follows:
a.

Slide the rubber bushing onto the shock stud ensuring that the flat side of the rubber bushing seats against
the shock body.

b.

Compress the shock sufficiently to allow the shock stud to enter the lower mounting bracket.

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
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21. Assemble the remaining lower shock mounting components as follows:
a.

Slide the centering ring and rubber bushing onto the shock stud ensuring that the pilot diameter of the
rubber bushing seats within the concave side of the centering ring.

b.

Install the clamping plate onto the rubber bushing ensuring that the concave side of the clamping plate
seats against the flat side of the rubber bushing.

c.

Clock the dust cover height sensor cavity approx. 30 degrees off the center line of the bus to ensure that
the upper mounting plate nuts are not aligned with the end of the height sensor cavity in order to create
better clearance and prevent contact between the bolt and the cover.

d.

Install the M16 self-locking nut and torque to 56 Ft lbs using NEVER SEEZ NF P/N 5928660. Take care
that the dust cover does not rotate out of position when torqueing the nut.

e.

Install protective cap over the lock nut.

Figure 6A: Street Side Dust Cover Orientation.

Figure 6B: Curb Side Dust Cover Orientation.

22. Locate the height sensor harness connector on the vehicle electrical harness.
a) Inspect the terminals and barrels of the connector for corrosion.
b) If the terminals are lightly corroded, they should be cleaned. If the terminals are heavily corroded the
connectors should be replaced. On the vehicle side replacing the harness connector involves splicing a
new connector/harness wire NF P/N 691560 into the vehicle harness.

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
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Height Sensor
Harness Connector

Figure 7: Front Suspension Harness Connector (Street side shown)
23. After ensuring the connector terminals are in good condition, the connector can be plugged into the dust
cover harness connector and sealed with shrink tube. Figure 8.
a) Slip a 2.5” length of shrink tube NF P/N 5940526 over one of the connector halves.
b) Apply dielectric grease NF P/N 8111767 to the connector terminals.
c) Join the two halves of the connector and secure the two halves of the connector using the threaded collar.
d)

Center the shrink tube over the electrical connector and carefully heat until tightly secured around the
connector.

e) Secure the heat tube at each end using two tyraps NF P/N 5962614.

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
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Figure 8: Connector with Shrink Tube & Tyraps.
24. Route and secure the height sensor harness.

a.

Route the shock sensor harness using the existing harness retaining clips. Bundle the remaining vehicle
harness length and secure with tie wraps NF P/N 5955945.

Bundle Vehicle Harness Here.

Shock Dust Cover

Harness Connector to Vehicle Harness

Air Spring Bellows
Harness Connector

Figure 9: Curbside Shock Sensor Harness Routing.

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
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Bundle Vehicle Harness Here

Shock Sensor Harness
Air Spring Bellows
Shock Dust Cover

Figure 10: Curbside Shock Sensor Harness Routing.
25. Repeat the dust cover installation as well as the inspection and shrink tube process on the other side of the
suspension.
REAR SUSPENSION
26. Use wheel lifts on the rear suspension to lift the rear suspension slightly to support the weight of the rear axle
and suspension components.
Caution:

ALWAYS support the weight of the axle when replacing shock absorbers.