Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs - Double Convoluted - Rear Axle
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2020 Ford Edge
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2020 Ford Edge
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When hauling a big load or towing a heavy trailer, rear-end sag can throw off your handling and braking. The Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs add up to 5,000 lbs of load-leveling capacity to your rear suspension. By working between the frame and axle, they reduce strain on your suspension parts and help keep your vehicle level for better steering control, braking stability, and proper headlight aim.
Every load is different, and this setup lets you adjust for it. You can fine-tune each air spring manually, side-to-side, using individual inflation valves. Run higher pressure when towing or hauling to keep things steady, then drop down to 5 psi when unloaded for a softer ride. With the ability to compensate for off-center loads, you maintain even weight distribution and balance no matter what you’re carrying.
These air springs don’t just support weight—they also smooth out the ride. The double-convoluted design with four layers of reinforced rubber cushions road shock and softens contact between the axle and frame so you don’t bottom out on rough patches. The built-in braided wire girdle strengthens each spring’s shape, boosting burst pressure for dependable performance mile after mile.
Durability matters when you rely on your suspension every day. Firestone’s air springs use heavy-duty rubber bonded to corrosion-resistant metal end plates with a rolled crimp seal that locks everything in place. The kit includes custom brackets, air line tubing, hardware, and manual inflation valves so you have what you need to set up a reliable system designed to last through real work and travel conditions.
The construction material of the fittings may vary.
Ratings & Reviews
Install easy. Except running air lines PITA, but seem fine just installed so don’t know about longevity
etrailer is very easy to work with. Product shipped quickly and got to my house within a few days. Installation instructions were very easy to follow and the install video was very well-made. The only negative I could find was that there was no packing along with the product inside the box, which did cause some wear and tear on the parts inside, but not enough to cause damage.
After reading the commenters before I bought the Ride-Rite Air Helpers. I specifically ran into at least 3 of 4 items I saw people call out from their installs.
#1 Open the package and verify you have the correct nuts and bolts quantities and sizes. Mine was missing one of the flange nuts, 12 needed in that 3/8" size, which I thankfully had in my surplus bolt bin. Also note that the 4 carriage bolts (2 per side) for the bottom bracket to clips will be short on one side of the bracket, both sides of the truck. So have 2 longer carriage bolts in case. The front facing side of the brackets with the clips and brackets flush in position were allowing barely a thread to start the tightening process. So I had some carriage bolts just a 1/2" longer that worked perfectly.
#2 Verify the large nuts that fit the airbag are correct thread. Mine were correct, one commenter had course which didn't work. A 1 1/8" wrench would be perfect for that nut size, but limited area to work around.
#3 Expect the emergency brake cable WILL interfere with the airbag locations on both sides. Expect you will need to reroute to create no rub or pinch points.
Someone mentioned an hour job. Expect many more than that if you're not working on a lift. Jack stands and wheels removed worked well. And the airbag install was easy and quick, 30 minutes for both sides. The extra rerouting and messing with things in your way will be the hardest time consuming part of the whole install. It took me 4 hours start to driving, with MANY neighbor interruptions during the process. I would consider myself better than average 70 year old mechanic and very particular how the airlines and brake cables were routed and realigned. Unless you have lift and nothing in your way, 1 hour could be a stretch.
#4 The instructions worked well, someone mentioned they were tough. I found them easy to follow and the flow worked well. Start on the passenger side to get an easier start point, and remember the heat shield on that side where the exhaust runs. Driver side will have a gas tank cover to hinder wrench access. Wrenches will be the majority of your tools needed. Socket wrench only fit on 4 locations.
As far as the ride. So far I love the solid feel without my trailer installed at 20# PSI level, I might lower it and raise it a little and see what works best unloaded. Leaving on a long road trip soon, so I will be able to see the improvements with a 14000 5th wheel trailer.
Hope this information adds to the other commenters. So far I love the way they feel.
Had to enlarge the holes in the upper brackets plates in order to clear the height of the frame, also the forward facing lower brackets interfere with the suspension stops. The heat shield is right against the muffler and the air bag.will see if the heat melts the air bag
I installed in an afternoon. Drivers side was harder to install but I used Zip ties to help keep compressed while I installed it .i am Happy So Far. 10 psi to Start. A little pressure makes a Big Difference
Product was a great quality. Spencer helped me find the right airbags I needed with the kit. Got them sent out next day. Had them in two days. Great job thanks.
It took 6hr. To install and 4hr. To run the air lines. I put the air lines in spit loon to protect the lines from all the sharp edges, not enough tie strap to do the job.
After installing my Firestone ride, Rite- Air helper Springs Double CONVOLUTED/rear-axle made my RV ride much smoother. I’m very pleased.
I returned the air helper springs (air bags). These did not fit my early 1999 F250 Super-Duty. The airbag alignment pin did not seat properly into the alignment hole due to contact with the jounce bracket. The upper and lower brackets would contact my shock mount and the manufacturer would not approve modifying them. In addition, the manufacturer changed the brackets to more of a universal style where, rather than bolt "holes", there were elongated "slots" where the upper and lower brackets fit together. I was concerned that over time the brackets would not stay tight in position and would contact the axle mounted hard brake lines. I spoke with the technical engineers at Firestone and they stated they did not have a solution.
Working great. Better than Airlift bags in last truck
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.
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.
The airlines could use an upgrade. When pulling a travel trailer 26’ the air pressure would drop 10 lbs in 3 hours of highway travel
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
Great product! Quick shipping, good install instructions, easy to use. Installed these on my 2500HD. Next day had 2,500# of shingles loaded in the truck bed. Truck still sat level, and handled great! I highly recommend for anyone moving weight. Difficulty to install from 1-10, 1 being easiest these are about a 3. I would say around the same level as changing a set of brake pads.
A great product, works well. Had to remount an electrical plug with zip ties
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
Excellent customer service! Very knowledge staff and basically have anything you need!
I just unpacked my box filled with air bags for my truck! Great video showing how to install made it a breeze!!
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.
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.
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
Received the air shocks in a timely manner. Had them installed yesterday and they make the rv ride much better
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