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  1. Vehicle Suspension
  2. Firestone
  3. Air Springs
  4. Towing/Load Leveling
  5. Rear Axle Suspension Enhancement
  6. Heavy Duty
THIS ITEM IS NOT A FIT FOR
2012 Ram 1500
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Firestone

Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs - Double Convoluted - Rear Axle

Part Number: F2251
In Stock
$594.12
Retail:$780.86
You Save: $186.74
Vehicle Suspension
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2012 Ram 1500

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5,000-lb Capacity. Ride-Rite air springs enhance your factory suspension for safety and stability when you are hauling heavy loads. They reduce strain on your rear axle, keep your vehicle level, and adjust to load size for a consistently smooth ride. Great Prices for the best vehicle suspension from Firestone. Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs - Double Convoluted - Rear Axle part number F2251 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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Firestone Vehicle Suspension - F2251

Highlights

  • Custom Fit for Your Vehicle: Mounts to existing attachment points
  • 5,000-lb Load Support: Keeps your truck level and stable when towing or hauling heavy loads.
  • Better Steering and Braking: Prevents rear sag so handling stays steady and headlights aim right.
  • Adjustable 5–100 psi Air Pressure: Fine-tunes ride comfort and levels side-to-side loads.
  • Smoother Ride Over Bumps: Absorbs road shock to stop bottoming out and soften rough roads.
  • Durable Double-Convoluted Design: Four-layer reinforced rubber construction resists wear under load.
Made in USA

Features to know about

Stay Level and Confident Under Load: 5,000-lb Load-Leveling Support

When heavy trailers or bed loads make the rear end sag, these Firestone Ride-Rite air springs add up to 5,000 lbs of load-leveling capacity to get your stance back where it should be. Installed between the frame and rear suspension, they help keep your vehicle level, maintain even load distribution, and improve steering control and braking when hauling or towing. With the truck sitting level, your headlights stay properly aimed and your tires wear evenly no matter how much weight you’re carrying.

Dial In Your Ride: Adjustable Air Pressure from 5 psi to 100 psi

Every load is different, and Ride-Rite springs let you fine-tune your setup. With adjustable air pressure from 5 psi to 100 psi, you can soften the ride when empty or firm things up when maxed out. Each side adjusts manually through individual inflation valves, so you can balance off-center loads for better handling. Once set, the system smooths out bumps and keeps your suspension from bottoming out when the job gets heavy.

Firestone Ride-Rite air spring airline installation showing tubing routed to rear bumper inflation valves for manual pressure adjustment

Built Tough for Real Work: Double-Convoluted Rubber Construction

Firestone’s double-convoluted design uses four layers of reinforced rubber with a braided wire girdle to boost strength and burst pressure. Corrosion-resistant metal end plates are sealed with a rolled crimp to keep the bags securely anchored and leak-free. The result is dependable load support that holds up to years of towing, hauling, and road shock without sagging or wearing out your leaf springs.

Straightforward Installation: Custom Brackets and All Materials Included

Each kit comes complete with custom-fit brackets, air line tubing, hardware, and air valves for manual inflation. The brackets mount between your suspension and frame to provide solid attachment points for the air springs. Drilling may be required on some setups, but once installed, you’ve got a reliable suspension upgrade ready for serious hauling duty. Optional switches, gauges, compressors, and air tanks (sold separately) make adding in-cab control even easier down the road.

Specs

Weight and Capacity

  • Load-leveling capacity: 5,000 lbs

Performance and Adjustment

  • Adjustable air pressure: 5 psi to 100 psi

Warranty

  • Air springs: Limited lifetime warranty
  • Hardware: 2-Year limited warranty

Note

The construction material of the fittings may vary.

Firestone Ride-Rite air helper spring kit components including double-convoluted air springs, brackets, and installation hardware for heavy-duty rear axle suspension support

Installed Firestone Ride-Rite air helper springs on vehicle rear axle showing bracket placement between frame and suspension for load leveling

W217602251 Firestone Ride Rite Air Bags - Suspension Kit - Double Convoluted - Rear Axle

2251

Installation Details F2251 Installation instructions

This Product Fits The Following Vehicles




Ratings & Reviews

4.6

3205 reviews
5 Stars
(2557)
4 Stars
(402)
3 Stars
(93)
2 Stars
(55)
1 Star
(98)
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5,000-lb Capacity. Ride-Rite air springs enhance your factory suspension for safety and stability when you are hauling heavy loads. They reduce strain on your rear axle, keep your vehicle level, and adjust to load size for a consistently smooth ride.

by:

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.



by:

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.



by:

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.



by:

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.



by:

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.



by:

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.



by:

I just installed them and put them to work immediately and I am impressed so far! Installation was pretty simple, and they fit great even with an Old Man Emu 3" lift (7 leaf spring stack). It only took about 15 psi to level up the Tacoma even with 1000 Lbs of feed and a steel high rack on it and they handled that load over 50 miles of some very rough west Texas terrain. They seem to be very well made and heavy duty. Time will tell if they hold up but again, I am very impressed thus far!



by:

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!



by:

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.



by:

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



by:

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!



by:

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.



by:

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



by:

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.



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Fast service! Excellent service both before and after the sale.



by:

Great Service and deliver great products



by:

It was pretty easy to install. Love this product. I have had no problems with it and still holds air a year later



by:

Great to deal with fast shipping



by:

Went together quickly and worked as described. I like the individual adjustment ability for each side in order to balance onboard load. I would recommend these to anyone that had a need for the boost when towing.



by:

Quality parts, fast shipping. Very happy with the product , hauled my 30 ft camper from Missouri to Corpus Christi TX and back, smooth ride .



by:

I have not installed it yet but the customer service when ordering was amazing. I was walked through returning parts I did not need and getting the correct complete kit for my needs.



by:

Worked great, big improvement. Mounted on a 2004 Excursion diesel with 6 inch lift. I tow a 12k pound camper and the air bags help with more stability, less sag and bouncing while driving. Huge improvement and brings me close to the empty height of the vehicle. Also easy to install with the spacers required for my lifted truck.


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See what our Experts say about this Firestone Vehicle Suspension

  • Recommended Air Bag Kit for a 2000 Ford Excursion
    Hey Loren. The correct Firestone Ride-Rite for your 2WD 2000 Ford Excursion is item # F2255. The Firestone Ride-Rite item # F2251, you referenced only fits the 4WD models. The Firestone Ride-Rite item # F2255 has a 5,000 lbs capacity that will level out the rear end of your Excursion when you are towing a trailer or hauling a bunch of gear in the back. All mounting brackets are custom fit and the kit includes all the hardware you will need for installation. I have linked an installation...
    view full answer...
  • 2003 Ford Excursion Air Bag Kit Recommendation
    The air bag kit I recommend going with for your 2003 Ford Excursion is the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs # F2251 which don't have the inner bump stops, but that's because they don't need them. Firestone has been in the air bag business a long time and has the best construction due to 4 layers of reinforced rubber, the braided wire girdle to give it the correct shape, and the rolled crimp seal that keeps the mounting plates from damaging the air bags. Attached is an installation...
    view full answer...
  • 2005 Ford Excursion Squats when Using Husky Weight Distribution with 9,000 Pound Trailer
    Let's first look at the numbers. A trailer weighing 9,000 pounds will have a tongue weight in the neighborhood of 900 to 1,350 pounds. But when you calculate tongue weight for weight distribution you also have to factory in the weight of any cargo loaded behind the rear axle of your 2005 Ford Excursion. So for example if your trailer's tongue weight is 1,100 pounds and you have 200 pounds of cargo behind the rear axle of the Excursion the total tongue weight would be 1,300 pounds and you...
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Air Bag Suspension Kits for 2001 Ford Excursion
    The rear axle air bag suspension kit I suggest for your 2001 Ford Excursion 4WD is Firestone kit # F2251. This air bag system will give you up to 5000-lbs of adjustable load support. You can add a compressor kit like the Air Command I # F2158, which controls both bags at the same time, or dual-path Air Command II compressor # F2178 which allows for independent control of each bag's pressure. Since these bags can operate with as little as 5-psi pressure (but never less than that) you can...
    view full answer...
  • Recommended Air Bags and Compressor for Tires On 2002 Ford Excursion
    The Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs part # F2255 for 2WD or part # F2251 4WD are what I recommend for a 2002 Ford Excursion. These air bags offer a bolt-on fit and will do a great job of providing extra support when towing or hauling. In order to inflate the air bags from inside the vehicle, you'll need an air compressor system. The Air Command II Xtreme Duty Compressor part # F2549 is what I recommend for this as it has everything you need for a complete installation, including...
    view full answer...
  • Can Firestone Air Bags be Installed on a 2001 Ford Excursion that Does Not have Jounce Bumpers
    To install Firestone Ride-Rite air bags # F2251 on a 2001 Ford Excursion 4x4 the jounce bumpers would have to be removed and are not reinstalled. So not having the jounce bumpers actually saves you a step for the installation. I also recommend using a compressor kit, # F2158, so you can add or remove air from the air bags from inside the vehicle. The kit is not required but makes load leveling a lot easier. If the 5 inch block you mentioned means that the frame is 5 inches further away...
    view full answer...
  • Charging Trailer Battery and Weight Distribution for 38 ft Primetime Lacrosse 3311RK
    Most people will trickle charge their trailer battery through the 12-volt accessory circuit of the 7-way trailer wiring connector. You'd basically just run a wire from the 1:00 pin of the 7-way to the positive terminal of the battery # BRW37FR and it would receive a trickle charge when you are towing. You'd want to use 10 gauge wire like the # 10-1-1 which we offer by the foot. If the tow vehicle side of this connection isn't made you'd can use 10 gauge wire for this as well but you'd also...
    view full answer...
  • 3 inch Spacer Kit Recommendation for Firestone Ride Rite Kit part # F2251
    Firestone does make a 3 inch lift spacer part # F2368 that you can use with the Firestone Ride Rite kit part # F2251 that you referenced. If the lift you have on your vehicle adds 3 inches to the distance between the axle of your vehicle and the frame this is the correct kit to use.
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Air Bag Spring Mounts For a 2000 Ford Excursion With Firestone Air Bags
    As I see you were looking at the Firestone # F2251 air bags for your I am assuming that is the kit you are looking for mounts for. Here is a list of the mounts but do understand these do not come with hardware. Replacement Upper Bracket # F2135825302 Replacement Lower Brace # F2135825303 Replacement Axle Strap Bracket # F2135821163 Replacement Lower Bracket # F2135825304 Often times it saves you more just to get the entire kit than trying to piece all the parts together. Also the only...
    view full answer...
  • Spacers for Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bags on a 2003 Ford Excursion with 4 Inch Lift
    The 2 Firestone spacer kits that you mentioned, # F2371 and # F2370, each fit different types of Firestone Ride-Rite kits. First, style # F2371 fits on Ride-Rite models that mount to the vehicle axle. The other one, # F2370, fits on models that mount to the leaf spring stack. The kit that you have, # F2251, is an axle mounted kit so you would need spacers # F2371. The spacer kit used needs to be same as the amount of lift on the vehicle. So if the ride height increased by 4 inches you...
    view full answer...
  • Firestone Air Bag Kits for 2004 Ford Excursion 2WD and 4WD
    There are two different Firestone rear axle air bag kits for the 2004 Ford Excursion. The Excursion 2WD uses part # F2255 and the 4WD uses part # F2251. The kit # F2400 that you referenced is for Ford pickups but not the Excursion. These two Excursion kits can be seen by clicking on the linked page. You'll notice the brackets in each kit are quite different. I recommend that you do not try to piece together all of the individual kit parts. Often getting all of the individual parts can...
    view full answer...
  • Air Bag Kit Recommendation for 2000 Ford Excursion Towing Travel Trailer
    Hey Wesley, the Firestone kit part # F2251 is going to be your best option for your 2000 Ford Excursion. These have a 5,000 lb weight capacity but that is just the additional lifting capacity they can provide and is not the assumed capacity of your Excursion. How does the Excursion handle your travel trailer as-is? That thing is a beast of an SUV for sure haha. Are you wanting a compressor kit as well?
    view full answer...
  • Weight Distribution for 2001 Ford Excursion Pulling a 7500lb Holiday Rambler Trailer
    An air bag or helper spring set-up is more effective for dealing with weight carried in or on the vehicle itself. A properly sized and adjusted weight distribution system will preform several tasks. It will eliminate the sag experienced when a trailer is hitched up, it can reduce or eliminate trailer sway and it can also improve braking performance and and steering response. A weight distribution system accomplishes this by using leverage to transfer a portion of the trailer tongue weight...
    view full answer...
  • Suspension Enhancement Recommendation for a 2000 Ford Excursion with 6 inch Body Lift
    A block lift is a body lift so you would not need the spacers. The only time you need to use lift spacers with suspension enhancement is when you have a suspension lift. So the Firestone Ride Rite part # F2251 would fit your 4x4 2000 Ford Excursion without needing them.
    view full answer...
  • Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs Recommendation for a 2002 Ford Excursion
    Thanks for reaching out, Philip! The Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs # F2251 replaced the # F2255 so I recommend going with the newer version # F2251 for your 2002 Ford Excursion.
    view full answer...
  • Replacement Upper Bracket for Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs # F2251
    We have exactly what you need! For a replacement upper bracket on your Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs # F2251, you will just need the part # F2135825302. This will replace 1 upper bracket for your Firestone Helper Springs to help secure it to the vehicle's frame. For the lower bracket you will use # F2135825304.
    view full answer...
  • Parts For Install of Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs on 2000 Ford Excursion w/ lift kit
    I contacted our representative at Firestone about installing the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs, part # F2251, on your 2000 Ford Excursion with 6 inch lift kit. He informed me that you will need to use the Firestone Lift Spacers, part # F2373, since you have a 5 inch lift block. Please note, that if the jounce pad or jounce tongue is lifted higher than factory position you will not be able to use the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Springs. To install, you would install the Air Helper...
    view full answer...

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Info for this part was:

Employee Joe V
Test Fit:
Joe V
Employee Leah B
Updated by:
Leah B
Employee Mary K
Updated by:
Mary K
Employee Wilson B
Updated by:
Wilson B
Employee Daron K
Updated by:
Daron K
Employee Alex H
Updated by:
Alex H
Employee Mike L
Expert Research:
Mike L
Employee Michael H
Expert Research:
Michael H
Employee Reno H
Expert Research:
Reno H
Employee Jameson C
Expert Research:
Jameson C
Employee Tyler C
Written by:
Tyler C
Employee Dustin K
Video Edited:
Dustin K
Employee Chris R
Video Edited:
Chris R
Employee Shane H
Installed by:
Shane H
Employee David F
Installed by:
David F
Employee Jonathan Y
Video by:
Jonathan Y

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