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UP YOURS Is your pickup or SUV’s rear end sagging bit under a big load? An easy cure is installing a set of Firestone Ride-Rite air bag helper springs. These little beauties, which come in a kit for less than $300 through a number of e-stores, are the heart of Firestone’s air helper spring line. They are available for a wide range of pickups and SUVS—inlcuding the new Toyota Tundra. The double-convoluted air springs are inflated by an air line and provide a great way to adjust your truck’s ride however soft or firm you desire. We installed a set on our 2007 Tundra Double Cab 4x4 when we put in a Pro Comp six-inch suspension lift and 35-inch mud tires. The Ride Rite air helper springs allow us to keep the new Tundra’s unladen ride quality maximized and it’s heavily laden ride well-controlled and level. This is especially true if you don’t like the Tundra’s harsh rear suspension and remove the big, flat bottom overload (diving board) leaf from each rear spring pack. Removing that spring gives the Tundra a very pleasant ride. That’s what we did on our Tundra Double Cab 4x4 SR5 project truck when we added the lift kit. The Ride-Rite air helper springs are installed between the Tundra frame and the top of the leaf spring pack, providing the additional load support through the use of air pressure. Installation is easy and simple. It will take the average do-it-yourselfer about 2 hours from start to finish. A hoist is not necessary, although a floor jack and jackstands make the job easier. A basic set of hand tools is also required. We used a ½-inch-drive GearWrench socket set and metric X-Beam open/box-end wrenches in our installation. The end result is the ability to firm up the stability and ride of our Toyota Tundra at will using just a few pounds of compressed air from our on-board air compressor. You can have the same ability with your new pickup or SUV.—Bruce W. Smith SOURCES www.gearwrench.com/catalog/ratchets_and_sockets/ratchets/full_polish www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/2445.html www.ultimateautoaccessories.com/Category%20Pages/Truck_Air_Kits/Toyota_Air_Suspension.htm www.tlcentral.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=628&idcategory=0 Photo Details Illustration of how the Firestone Ride Rite air spring kit goes together.
Ride Rite kit comes complete with everything needed for an easy installation.
Top plate is secured to the bottom of the frame rail with the special bolt that is also the air inlet to the air bag. Cut-out holes clear the factory frame rivets.
The only items removed from the truck during the installation process are the rubber bump stops. A hacksaw or battery operated sawz-all make short work of that step.
Once the air bag is secured to the bottom for the frame, the lower mounting plate is attached with a single bolt into the bag’s base.
Four long screws hold the lower bracket to the leaf spring pack. The lower bracket sets over the spring’s u-bolts.
Drill a hole the same size as the brass valve stems through the plastic rear bumper cover on each side of the license plate.
Plastic air line connects to the supplied air fittings by simply pushing line end into the opening where it locks and seals. Adding air instantly begins expanding air bags.
Carefully adding air to each air bag forces the bottom plate against the leaf spring pack. Once in place tighten the clamps that hold the mounting plate in place. Once all fittings and bolts are tight, adjust air pressure to suit.
We installed the Ride Rite Air helper Springs underneath Porject Deepwoods, our 2007 Tundra Double Cab with a 6-inch lift and 35-inch tires. But the kit works equally as nice under stock pickups and SUVs carrying heavy trailers or loads.
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