It literally "hangs" from the intake pipe. The filter is very light and with the support of the brace under the inlet/intake pipe, (near the filter end) the filter is supported just fine. The prefilter helps keep it clean and sheds off water better. I ran ther aFe without the prefilter for two years or so. No problem of any sort. Just be sure that the underside of the filter will not rub the bracket the OEM filter box was suppoted by/to. I removed mine, as the engine moved on it's mounts, it was allowing the filter to touch a bit.
Scott