Abstract: The method comprises basically (1) fixedly securing, as by welding, an air inlet header between an air ring at a predetermined location point and the bottom of the regenerator for a primary support, (2) connecting other elongated supports under the air ring as secondary supports, (3) pivotally mounting slip rings on parallel pivot pins on opposite ends of each of the secondary supports and inserting them into corresponding pairs of sleeves mounted oppositely on the air ring and regenerator, (4) aligning each support so that its corresponding pivot pin is normal to a line between each pin and the predetermined location point, and (5) welding the slip rings in their respective sleeves with the supports so aligned to provide pivotal movement about the slip ring pins for eliminating any bending stresses due to thermal expansion or contraction when operating in the 1,100.degree. F.-1,400.degree. F. heat range of a regenerator in a fluid catalytic cracking unit.