Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs - Double Convoluted - Rear Axle
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2021 Toyota Highlander
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2021 Toyota Highlander
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When the back end starts to sag under a heavy trailer or bed load, these Firestone Ride-Rite air springs step in to keep things level. With a load-leveling capacity of 5,000 lbs, they sit between your frame and rear suspension to help distribute weight evenly and reduce strain on the rear axle. That means better steering control, more consistent braking, and headlight beams that stay aimed where they should on long highway or mountain drives.
Every load is different, and this setup lets you dial it in. Ride-Rite springs adjust manually from 5 psi to 100 psi so you can match air pressure to what you’re hauling. Add air for towing or carrying heavy gear to stay level and stable; drop pressure when running empty for a smoother ride. Separate inflation valves give you side-to-side adjustment so off-center loads don’t throw off your balance.
Rough roads and heavy loads can make the suspension hit hard, but the double-convoluted design of these rubber air springs absorbs road shock before it reaches the frame. They soften contact between the axle and frame to prevent bottoming out while keeping handling predictable. Four layers of reinforced rubber with a braided wire girdle provide strong cushioning that holds up through repeated compression cycles.
These springs are made for durability where it matters most. Each bag is reinforced with corrosion-resistant metal end plates and locked together with a rolled crimp seal that keeps the air securely contained. The kit includes custom-fit brackets, hardware, air lines, and manual valves for inflation, giving you everything needed to mount it solidly between your axle and frame. Once installed, you’ve got reliable load support built to handle serious towing or hauling without permanent sag in your leaf springs.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
89% were satisfied with this product
11% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
Definitely help level the truck back out with the camper, and bed full of firewood cooler. Installed very easily, but it did have a clearance issue with a bracket almost touching the gas tank skid plate. Some grinding down and krylon flat black paint fixed that issue. But the little tacoma still needs heavier shocks to slow the travel down when hitting bumps. Especially bridge joints back to blacktop. In all worth the money, just need to set aside more money for better rear shocks to accommodate. May eventually change them to the cradles to keep flex availability. As well as less issues when putting the truck on a lift for service.
These are very well built, and the installation instructions were clear and easy to follow. I run my Tacoma with a camper shell, and the weight always had the back end squatted a little. These air springs require 5 psi minimum, and I've got 7 in there now, and the level is great. I test drove at 80 psi just for fun, and the truck looked and felt silly. But the real reason I got these is so I can handle loads in the bed and/or tongue weight from trailers. The diameter of the upper and lower disks on the springs is about 4.5 inches. Doing the quick math, the pair of springs will compensate for about 320 lb of load (over the axles) for every 10 psi you inflate. Tongue weights are applied farther back on the vehicle so it works out to about 225 lb of tongue weight per 10 psi given the geometry of my Tacoma. At any rate, these springs will compensate for any conceivable load I'd put on this truck. I'm very happy with them.
Oh, I drilled and installed the inflation valves in the bumper, right under the license plate lights where they're unlikely to get stepped on or have loads dropped on them.
Brackets bent in first few months apparently due to not enough air pressure. Warranty department was cooperative with replacement.
Seems to me a better mounting design could be used. Instructions need some work also but product performance is what to be expected.
I recommend this to anyone with a 3/4 ton that wants stability without adding springs. It works well at giving support when I hook up to the 5th wheel. Before adding the airbags the rear suspension would settle 4 inch or more when hitching up to the trailer. Now I can control how much it settles and I get more stability and a better ride. Good system and not too difficult to install. I would have given 5 stars but I had to make three attempts to get the airlines to seal. The airlines are plastic and are a tight coil and are tough to straighten and install. I had a leak that I finally was able to remedy after several attempts at connecting. This was frustrating but I am still a big fan of this system and highly recommend these airbags. I have run with as much as 60 psi in the bags and have decided that around 40 is about right for my setup. The truck settles about 1-2 inches with about 40-60 psi.
Best airbag kit on the market! Going on 10 years and 160k miles on one kit and a year and a half on the other (two different vehicles). Firestone’s quality is excellent, their customer service is exceptional, and the kit design is simple. Quality components means ZERO air leaks in 10 years when installed properly (cut the airlines at 90 degrees with an inexpensive airline cutter or brand new razor blade). Their mounting brackets are simplified, making more room for the airbag between the axle and frame. And the double convoluted bag offers better ride quality and more suspension movement than a single convoluted bag. I’ve run a single convoluted bag setup from another reputable manufacturer and noticed a marked decrease in ride quality and comfort. I also recommend installing cradles such as those from Daystar (also 10 years on a set) to allow 100% downtravel for maintenance or off-road articulation without fear of tearing a bag. Well worth spending a little more for this USA brand kit over the cheap Chinese copy-cat kits. I tow and haul regularly - weekly, if not several times a week - and these have stood up to snowy sub freezing winters, 100 degree summer days, dusty and gravely off-highway adventures, and general use and abuse that comes from working out of a vehicle for a decade. Can’t find a better kit.
Been a great product for me has worked well for my application I chose to just run individual airlines out by the license plate to air up when needed with a little handheld compressor did not want to spend the extra money on onboard compressor pretty straightforward install
The only thing I changed was the plastic air hoses to braided lines with fittings
You would think braided lines would be standard equipment with these bags plastic hoses are junk
Hope this helps somebody down the road
The installation was pretty straightforward, and was managed at campsite with basic tools. It is filled with Milwaukee portable air inflator and has been keeping air pressure set at. We have had good use of it to level truck after loading 5th wheel. I elected to not join both lines together so I can keep individual air pressure in case one had leak but has been fine, I might join them with optional part etrailer offered.
After 1 year and 8,000 miles has been great purchase. All bolt on, no holes to drill, I even placed fill valves in license plate to conceal installation.
Alex at etrailer was excellent as helping us find the correct kit and shipping promptly with great communication and follow up.
Really quite easy installation. Honestly, the hardest part was routing the air line. (that coiled up hose!) I ended up covering the lines with cable wrapping to protect them from any rubbing or scuffing. I also don't have a compatable hitch for the mount, and didn't want to mount them through my bumper in the license plate area because I know I would step on them at some point in time. Product had all the correct parts, high quality, and super happy with it. I wish I had gotten them sooner.
I’d really love to give these a 5 star as they massively improved the ride and porpoising of my truck with a fairly heavy truck back camper. We were shorted one bit of hardware in the kit that caused a 1 hour RT drive to the hardware store for a stupid bolt. One of the hex head flange/wedge bolts for the upper mount was missing . Simple ‘miss’ by someone but was annoying . That aside everything g was great.. instructions were clear and helpful… I’d give them a 2 of 5 for difficulty installing.. any weekend mechanic can do this. The truck rides better and is safer now so thumbs up all around except for Mr Bolt pack loader!
Just what my Tundra needed to help balance load of bed and trailer.
etrailer.com and the products they offer are 100% in my opinion.
Thank You for your excellent service and follow up.
Installation was really easy except for the lower brackets that attach to a lip of metal. There was another piece of metal on the axle that got in the way but i pried and then hammered the bracket into place, squeezing it in. If I didn’t I’d still be able to get the bolt through but I bet as I tightened it down it would move the base plate and wouldn’t be lined up as well. No air is leaking so far. I didn’t buy the compressor so I might screw on some Bluetooth tire pressure monitors so I’ll get notified if pressures drop below 5psi. I have a 2023 Chevy 2500 and surprisingly with 15psi and no load in the bed it rides much better! Doesn’t hop all over the place
This installation took twice as long as it should have! The top plate had to be modified to clear the leaf spring U bolts and shock absorber bracket.
The Jounce doesn’t allow the installation of the 3/8@ bolts close the leaf spring that holds the brackets together. I’m not sure what to do with this now. I saw in other reviews where other people had similar issues. Not sure if it’s the universal bracket design vs having slotted holes like your video.
Any help would be appreciated.
Also both valve inserts had to be replaced!
I purchased this Firestone Air suspension and installed it myself on my 2017 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4x4. Not having a lift, I had to use a creeper and tarps under and beside the truck to do the installation. Installation was pretty straight forward after viewing the video from etrailer a few times and using the provided diagrams. You will need good 3/4" drive hand tools for the installation. An electric or air impact wrench and ratchet also speeds things up. I then installed a mini onboard compressor with remote control for in cab or outside operation. The system has never leaked air but if it did, any time the vehicle is started, the compressor will refill the system. I keep 10 lbs. air pressure in it and raise it to 20 when I haul my dirt bike on my hitch carrier and it compensates nicely and keeps the vehicle level. All good so far.
This the 3rd truck I've used and installed myself of the Firestone 5,000lb rated airbags on, and not one has ever failed on me. I used them on a 2007.5 Chevy LMM 2500 LT Silverado, a 2020 Chevy 2500 LTZ Silverado, and yesterday I put them on my 2025 GMC 2500 Denali. I did pair my new bags with an Airlift wireless compressor, which is an awesome addition to the bags. I like the fact that etrailer did a comparison video on the Firestone and AirLift bags, and they found the Firestone bags are of better quality and can support the weight of the axle if you lift the truck off the ground by the frame. If you have never installed these bags, you do not have to lift the truck off the ground or remove your rear tires. If you're like me, and do not have access to a lift, I suggest removing your spare tire, which will give you more seating area, and you will not bonk your head into it. Two thumbs up on this kit
excellent product, very easy (uncomplicated) install. anyone who is somewhat mechanically inclined can install themselves. It took me about 3.5 hours by myself with simple tools and a jack on my garage floor. Hardest part was me getting up and down from the creeper.
On my truck, (2015 GMC) i had to remove Ebrake cable brackets on both sides and reroute, not a big deal. also, did not find it necessary to remove spare tire heat shield, worked around it just fine. Routed my schrader valves through the plate screw holders for easy access.
Easy to install works perfectly
Easy to install. Would recommend this product.
Product was as described. Fits my 1997 Chevy Suburban K1500 like a glove. Easy to install, less than two hours. Works great leveling with trailer tongue load.
Installed on my 1996 Suburban. Everything bolted up perfectly. Only thing that would make it better is having one air chuck for both bags instead of seperate ones for each bag. One tip is make sure when you trim the airlines, keep your cuts clean and straight or you will have leaks. Overall great system.
Everything has been working great! Installation was a little harder than expected. But it all worked out. Would buy again.
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