4 replies to this topic

[Sprucelee]

Hey there Wanders,

I just ordered a pair of Firestone Ride Rite air bags for my '04 Tundra and was looking for some feedback on installation. I am hoping to do the install myself and was hoping to hear some words of wisdom from folks that installed them at home. My biggest concern is the drilling in the frame. Any advice or encouragement on the process.

Thanks
Trevor

[sotter]

Hey there Wanders,

I just ordered a pair of Firestone Ride Rite air bags for my '04 Tundra and was looking for some feedback on installation. I am hoping to do the install myself and was hoping to hear some words of wisdom from folks that installed them at home. My biggest concern is the drilling in the frame. Any advice or encouragement on the process.

Thanks
Trevor

Sprucelee,

Installed the Air Lift bags last December on my 2002 Tundra in preparation for our All Terrain Ocelot. The install was pretty straightforward. Drilling into the frame took some caution on our part to avoid brake lines...etc. When you are under your truck you will notice several lines running within the frame rail. We used a small piece of steel plate to protect these when the drill punched through. Lots of WD-40 sprayed on the drill bit to cool down as we went through. I ran the air lines out to the bumper but really wished I had used the license plate bolt holes (as seen on Wander the West-try searching for this...very slick). Bags functioned fine and did the trick.

A note on the air bags for my particular truck. After the install I picked up my camper and inflated the bags and they worked very well. After a few weeks I was looking under the truck and noticed that the mount for the top of the air bag (a round piece of plastic that is the top of the bag) was very close to the inside sidewall of my tires. I have OEM tundra wheels and 265/70 R16 BFG's. I was not able to find anyone else that had this issue and when I called Air Lift they were surprised to hear that and not that interested in helping me solve the problem. I didn't worry too much about it until we took the truck on the White Rim Trail and found it being twisted and torqued because of the trail conditions. Half way through the trip I noticed that the side of the bag had rubbed against the tire and started to wear through the air bag. Being concerned about losing that bag while out on the trail I was especially careful the rest of the trip. It weighed on my mind though and since we routinely take our setup off road I started plotting a new solution.

Last night I installed supersprings and removed the air bags. I have yet to load the camper but the truck is significantly stiffer without the camper.

Just an FYI for you. I thought the air bags functioned very well but I couldn't get past the worrying about having it blowout on me somewhere down the trail.

While you are installing just pay close attention to the clearance. It may be that the Firestone bags mount in a different way and this may not present any problems for you at all just thought I would share my experience. Also, decided to leave the air bag mounting plate installed in the frame because it seemed like it would be stronger than three open holes and it created no clearance issues.

Good luck.

sotter

[Mushhuskies]

Trevor,

Can't help you with install tips as I had Les Schwab do mine on an 05 Tundra a couple years back. They've really improved the ride and handling characteristics but to be honest they are a PITA. I've had to return to Schwabies multiple times for bad bags, bad lines and valves. To this day one side is a continual slow leaker with camper on or off. One thing you can do to prevent an issue down the road is to go to your local hardware store and get some aircraft type, I believe Grade 8 bolts ( not sure I have that right) to use for your leaf spring hanger bolts as the ones supplied will shear off usually when you're miles from anywhere. Another option for mounting the air lines/stems is to put them in your wheel wells. They've worked well there for me and since I'm always fiddling/checking the air pressure in my tires, they're right close to hand.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy a rig with a beefier stock suspension such as those on a 3/4 ton. Too bad Toyo doesn't make one.

Good luck....pete

[the fisherman]

2 carbide drill bits of the correct size unless you have a drill doctor or some way to sharpen your bits. It's best to start smaller and step up the hole with a smaller pilot hole, a half inch 110v drill forget the cordless, and if it was me I'd forget the WD40 and use machine tool oil.
AND REMEMBER: Airbags will not let you safely overload your truck, contrary to what some people around here seem to think. I have them on my F250 only to level the truck when it is loaded, it helps with head light adjustment when I'm loaded over 6000# or so.

[generubin]

Thankfully I have a 3/4 ton,no need for airbags..

I was in Baja a few years back with someone with Firestone Ride Rites. It was on a Toyota. In their case the Ride Rites mounting required the removal of the original rubber suspension stops. The washboard road blew out the Ride Rites and there was no bump stop to limit the drop of the chassis all the way to the axle. What ensued was a truck out of control on a dirt road in Baja a very long way from a hospital. Thankfully nobody got hurt. We basically had to put wood blocks between the chassis and axle and the truck limped home with zero effective suspension. This truck belonged to my parents. They tossed the Ride Rites in the garbage and had custom springs made.

If your installation requires the removal of the factory bump stops, I would switch to a custom spring.

If you have a truck that is not designed to carry the load you are attempting, you need to seriously consider your safety. When you beef-up one area, something else breaks, often something important. And then you have the problem of inadequate wheel bearings, and the greater danger of inadequate braking in an emergency. Don't forget the value of your life and that of your loved ones.