Firestone R4Tech hybrid air/spring suspension questions

[lil red cummins]

Hi all:



I have been looking for a better air suspension system for my truck for some time and came across this www.firestoneindustrial.com/misc/r4Tech/R4Tech%20FAQs.pdf yesterday. I also watched a youtube video of an install on a Ford. There are many vendors selling this system, but the few reviews out there only talk about softer ride, which is great, but nothing about axle wrap and hop. My initial thoughts are that this is a much better system than the AIRLIFT setup I have now. I posted a thread about the airlift system when first installed and then updated it recently. Those interested in that thread can see it here. This system is no longer available probably due to the problems others have encountered similar to mine.



A search of the TDR site yielded one hit on R4tech. There is only the comment that the system has been installed on the truck.



My questions are:



1. has anyone installed this and what are your impressions?

2. does this really help eliminate axle wrap and hop conditions?



The truck is run empty 95% of the time as a daily driver. Ride quality and axle wrap/hop issues are my biggest problems. With the power this Cummins puts out, axle wrap is severe. I am looking for any words of wisdom on this system.



I have thoroughly research Kelderman and other systems but they are not for me.



I was just about ready to re-engineer my own system using only a few of the original leaf springs with air bag assist and a set of traction bars, but this pre-packaged system is almost exactly like what i was planning.



Thank you for reading.



Feel free to sound off.



Jim

 

[BGlidewell]

some time ago I read someone used traction bars.

 

[lil red cummins]

Traction bars of some sort were definately on my priority list. The way this R4tech system is setup, the secondary lower link essentially makes this system a 4 link setup.



i also found some additional engineering data. they have done their homework http://www.vehicledynamics-expousa.com/08_conf/pdfs/day%202/14. 50_hayes.pdf



the one chart answers the question about reduced axle "windup". looks better than stock, but i have no idea how this compares to a good set of traction bars.



Jim

 

[bobwhite]

I'm thinking about going with this system too as soon as I get back to the states. I would love to hear some more input. Bump to the top!

 

[lil red cummins]

Since I last posted, I found out that the R4 system is not available for 04. 0 or older trucks :{.



Firestone has an ad in the latest TDR mag. near the back which makes me even more upset. They are aiming their system at the new trucks.



So, I have decided to make my own hybrid suspension system. I will be using a couple of my original leaf springs (2 or 3) along with a Firestone Riderite airbag system and then a pair of Caltrac traction bars. The details have not been worked out completely yet. There will be some trial and error to get the right amount of leafs to hold the axle in place but allow it to be lowered below stock. The thickness of the spacer block below the spring is also an unknown and that will probably be trial and error also.



Not sure when the project will get started. I am hoping for some slightly warmer weather, even though the garage is heated. The truck has been parked all winter so at least it is clean.



Jim

 

[bobwhite]

Sorry to hear they're not making them for your truck. I have been thinking about piecing together a kit myself just to save a little money. I was thinking about dropping down to only having 2 or 3 leafs left and use the airbags to support the truck and the leaf springs would mainly be used to keep the axle in the correct place. The only problem that I see with going this route is that most of the weld in traction bar systems will attach to the axle at the same place the lower mount of the airbag will be. I was planning on using several different brands of parts to get what I wanted. I like the Pacbrake airbags best, but I prefer the AirLift Wireless air system to control it and then use a set of Motorsports Diesel (Wicked Diesel) traction bars to control the axle wrap from the lack of leaf springs, then use a set of Thuren Shackles to drop the rear the rest of the way down.

 

[lil red cummins]

The Caltrac bars are not weld in. They are bolt in.



This link Calvert Racing - The Leader in Leaf Spring Innovation shows how the bars are installed.



The only change on my truck will be that the U-bolts will be facing down instead of up. Calvert supplies the bottom plate and the exact length bolts you need.



Jim

 

[bobwhite]

Thanks for the link. I think those might work better in my situation since they mount on the bottom of the axle as opposed to the front side. I'm trying to find some pics of a stock spindle mount for a 2007 or so 3500 so that I can have a set of lowering spindles built for it. I'm wanting to set the truck down some but I can't afford to lose any of my towing ability in the process. It wouldn't be that hard to get a pic if I wasn't 7,000 miles from my truck... lol.

 

[AH64ID]

I have looked at the kit a few times and I am not convinced it can control axle wrap as good as stock, in fact I think it will even be worse.



I have had suspensions that use half leafs for axle wrap (similar to the the lower leaf in this setup), and they do help but not a ton.



Someone with real world experiance could hopefully discredit that, but until then I don't think it will be an improvement in the axle wrap catergory.



How can they say its different for 03 than 04? Maybe they have the first year of the 3rd gen confused?

 

[bobwhite]

I was thinking the same thing, but after looking into the kit more I noticed that the bottom "half leaf" isn't really a leaf spring at all. They call it a J-Spring but only the small curved piece in the middle is a spring. The lower link is actually solid. After piecing together what I would need to build a similar system, I think I have found that I can build one cheaper. It wont have the auto-leveling feature, but it will have a system that will maintain a constant air pressure and have a couple of presets that I can tailor to my usual loads.

 

[AH64ID]

I was thinking the same thing, but after looking into the kit more I noticed that the bottom "half leaf" isn't really a leaf spring at all. They call it a J-Spring but only the small curved piece in the middle is a spring. The lower link is actually solid.

It sure doesn't look like a solid link to me. . Looks about 1/4" thick, 2. 5" wide. . kinda like a short leaf spring.



#ad




Here is an install write-up



2005 Dodge Ram 3500: Air Suspension Install - Diesel Power Magazine

 

[bobwhite]

Hmm... maybe you're right. I wonder how the system would work if you replaced the "J-spring" with a solid traction bar? Of course you would have to make a forward mount that would allow it to move back and forth without letting it go up or down, but I think that would work really well. On the other hand, I couldn't see spending around $2200 and then throwing another $500+ on top of that when you could piece a system together for around $1600 or so.

I can't wait to get home so I can finally start piecing my system together and find something that will work for me.

 

[AH64ID]

If you want a softer ride get the airbags, remove a few leaves and add some traction bars.

 

[bobwhite]

That's pretty much what I plan on doing, but I want the Airlift Wireless Air system to go with it.

 

[Kilroy]

If you want a softer ride get the airbags, remove a few leaves and add some traction bars.

Anyone tried this yet? I've been thinking about the same thing, Wife doesn't even want to ride in the truck empty now.

 

[bobwhite]

Not yet. I'm still planning on it, especially since I'm getting some 19. 5's to go on the truck soon. It will probably be at least July before I can try this out because I'll be stuck here till about June and wont get leave till July or so. It's still in the plans though, and if I have the funds to do it, I'll make sure I post pics and a little writeup on it.

 

[MSicotte]

As an owner of a 2004 SRW 3500, I was disappointed too that they say 2006-2009 only, did anyone find the reason for this? I noticed in another magazine I saw a write up of it in, that Fords have lift options to go with it, but not Dodge. I really like the concept of the system and its something that I've been wanting for a long time, but before I spend that kind of money I'd like some real world user feedback

 

[AH64ID]

Typo is all that I can think, nothing in the frame/suspension changed in 06, really even 10+ for that matter.

 

[APounds]

I found the Firestone R4Tech hybrid air/spring suspension system at Firestone Rear Air Leveling Kit Firestone R4Tech for $375. 00 with tax to CA. I talked directly to the rep at autopartswarehouse and he assured me it was made by Firestone and I would get what is shown in the pictue. I ordered it for my 07 3500.

For that price mabe modifiying the kit brackets to and older truck would be practicle.

 

[SMasters]

APounds - Did you ever receive the R4Tech kit from Autopartswarehouse?