Firestone Air Bag Suspension Kit

[Billy]

Anyone ever heard of the Firestone Air bag suspension kit? I wonder if helps with the ride, I have the 2003 3500 short bed. Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[lpennock]

You talking R4Tech?

 

[Jim W]

Anyone ever heard of the Firestone Air bag suspension kit? I wonder if helps with the ride, I have the 2003 3500 short bed. Thanks in advance for your input!

Billy, I am running the wireless Air Lift system on my truck. Works great and will level out the load with no issues what so ever. I have been running at 80 PSI bag pressure with my 5er attached and 10 PSI with no load in the bed.

Jim

 

[mwilson]

Ooooooh, look at the new avatar that Jim has....Nice!!!

 

[Billy]

Yes, I'm talking about the R4Tech, after really looking at it, I'm not so sure. What do you think?
Jim, how would I look up the air lift system you have, brand, etc. Does it improve the ride, I don't haul anything with my truck but I am looking for a better ride, as suggested I lower the air in my tires to 40 PSI, really no help. I'll Google the wireless system and see what I get, thanks all!!

 

[Billy]

Jim-where did you mount the air pump?

 

[lpennock]

Rideright, Air lift, etc are helper systems. In them selves they won't help with unloaded ride. I've seen some reviews on the R4tech and they all said it helped with the ride. There has been some treads where people removed the thick sring on the bottom of the pack. Since that spring is there to ramp up the spring rate under load (it isn't an overload as some people call it) taking it out will give a softer ride but will also reduce the load carrying ability of the truck. Most of the people that did it added bags (Rideright, Air Lift etc) to get load capability back. If you go that route I would use a set of bags that have bump stops built in since you will have a much lighter spring rate which won't be able to control the truck as weel on a bump.

Not a lot of work to remove the thick spring so nothing real to loose by trying it and seeing if you get the ride you want.

 

[AEdelheit]

Removing the thick spring will only help on large hits where the main leaf pack compresses enough to engage the apparently non overload overload spring, it wont help at all on small stuff. You could also replace the rear leaf springs with softer ones and add air bags if needed but it you dont tow or haul much then it should not be a problem.

 

[lpennock]

Actually removing the thick leaf helps all the time. The leaf pack is designed as a progressive pack. As it compresses the spring lays against the large leaf which keeps that part of the pack from flexing which increases the spring rate. When you remove the large leaf it converts the pack from progress rate to linear rate so the ride is basically the same all the time. Now if that is soft enough is another question and only a softer packet fixes that.

 

[Jim W]

Yes, I'm talking about the R4Tech, after really looking at it, I'm not so sure. What do you think?
Jim, how would I look up the air lift system you have, brand, etc. Does it improve the ride, I don't haul anything with my truck but I am looking for a better ride, as suggested I lower the air in my tires to 40 PSI, really no help. I'll Google the wireless system and see what I get, thanks all!!

This is the system that I have on my truck. I have attached the link to the home page for you to pursue; https://www.airliftcompany.com/products/air-springs/loadlifter-5000/

What I have done to improve my ride both towing and not towing is to remove the bump stops and lower the rear tire air pressure to 45 psi when the stock tires are on the truck. My summer towing tires are either at 50 psi not towing or 70 psi when I am towing my 5er. The air bags are run at 10 psi when not towing and around 80 psi when towing. The ride is better than the stock ride was on my truck.

The next change will be the shocks to a set of Bilstein shocks either 5100 series or the 4600 not sure as of yet.

Jim

 

[Jim W]

Jim-where did you mount the air pump?

My son and I made a bracket assembly out of 1/4 mild steel plate that supports the air pump and controller and the bracket as. is mounted on the LH frame rail using existing holes in the frame behind the transmission. The controller and pump are protected from splash and spray of road debris by the bottom plate of the bracket as..

Jim

 

[mwilson]

This is the system that I have on my truck. I have attached the link to the home page for you to pursue; https://www.airliftcompany.com/products/air-springs/loadlifter-5000/

What I have done to improve my ride both towing and not towing is to remove the bump stops and lower the rear tire air pressure to 45 psi when the stock tires are on the truck. My summer towing tires are either at 50 psi not towing or 70 psi when I am towing my 5er. The air bags are run at 10 psi when not towing and around 80 psi when towing. The ride is better than the stock ride was on my truck.

The next change will be the shocks to a set of Bilstein shocks either 5100 series or the 4600 not sure as of yet.

Jim

My new 4600 series shocks are going to be here today according to the UPS tracking info. I am going to install the rears Sunday. I will be towing the week of the 26th and will provide some feedback.

If the dog quits shaking and quivering while we are traveling across Route 6 it will be a success.......

 

[Jim W]

My new 4600 series shocks are going to be here today according to the UPS tracking info. I am going to install the rears Sunday. I will be towing the week of the 26th and will provide some feedback.

If the dog quits shaking and quivering while we are traveling across Route 6 it will be a success.......

Sent you a PM.

Jim

 

[WalterJ]

All good info. Air-Ride, etc does not soften ride. It's a great option to customize load leveling. I mounted my Level II compressor under my seat; no worries re: rain, dirt, etc.

I never considered removing that bottom "leaf" in the pak. I've seen replacement leaf spring paks with 10 thin leafs, that advertise a "soft 1 ton ride". Can't afford that route, now that truck is 10 yrs old. Their approach is to reduce 'spring rate', and this simultaneously increases 'spring/axle travel'.

You might look at the Kelderman Air Ride modification. It replaces the leaf pak entirely. It also 'ain't cheap'. Seems to be a good engineering approach. Again, sorry I didn't know of it 8 years ago.

Having the rear differential made of magnesium or aluminum will also be in the right direction for a softer ride, but again, I'm not Howard Hughes.

Good luck & keep us posted on your progress.