Air bags for rear suspension

Thanks! Excellent info. The Firestone website lists 2445 for 2007+ and nothing for FGT’s so I was wondering what everybody was using, so you say 2245 but likely 2445?

 

Nope, 2245. Easy to make that mistake.

Don't know if something changed with later model 1st gens? Or 2wd vs 4wd? Here's my results:

 

thanks MT! Ya just saved me from buying a kit that likely wouldn’t work on my truck.

 

Got them installed.


Finished tonight in the dark, so no pictures.


Kit had everything I needed.


4 holes in the frame per side.


Shove a block of wood to protect your brake lines when you're drilling the holes.


Also need to grind a flat spot on a few of the washers so they dont bind up hitting the radius in the frame.


Also also I had to significantly shorten one bolt as the cross member lined up dead on with the hole that needs to be drilled.


Testing them at 25psi for now.


Finally sits level.


Unbelievable difference in ride quality.


It feels "right" now. Downright comfortable, dare I say.


I'm curious how it will feel with no load/trailer.


Thanks for everything guys. This was absolutely what I needed and i wish i had done it years ago.


Now I just have to fix my broken hitch mount/frame that I discovered while installing these bags.

 

As I'm sure you saw in the instructions, you can keep them aired down as low as 5psi when you don't need them. Depending on the condition of your rear suspension, they should be almost unnoticeable at that pressure.

What I found when I had them on my Tacoma, with worn leaf springs, was that at any pressure higher than 0psi, the air bags slightly lifted the truck, so I always felt them.

When I put them on my Tundra, I tried to install them as high on the frame as possible while still staying within that 1/2" of clearance from the bottom of the frame that Firestone recommends. That way they won't engage as much when I'm unloaded. But I've also got brand new heavy-duty leaf springs and shocks, so my rear end wasn't sagging before. I would have liked to get them even higher, but wanted to keep that 1/2" clearance. I just made sure there wasn't any more than 1/2".

 

I didn’t bother following the firestone instructions, so i located my brackets smack dab to the frame (zero clearance). I still have the stock springs, so no doubt my rear end is sagging a bit. I also decided to use the Daystar landing pad cups under my bags. The only down side is that the cups are about 7/8” thick, so i can still feel the bags a little bit even when there’s only 5 psi in them. I think the FS kit would be the perfect height if i didn’t use the daystar cups, or if i have a 1” or 2” rear leaf spring lift while using those cups.

 

I do wish FS stated why they need 1/2" clearance. I would have liked mine higher up. I used the Daystar cradles too, and yeah, they're thicker than the FS base, so the air bags engage even sooner. I guess it's all a compromise. For the weight I carry, I need them, so I'll take the +s with the -s.

 

Yeah, i couldn’t figure out why the instructions say to leave 1/2”. I quadrupled checked the bag clearances to any part of the frame or the frame’s bumpstop bracket and there’s not going to be any rubber rubbing against anything. That’s the only reason i can figure why firestone would say that.

 

As others have said. 5psi when unloaded.

 

Maybe hardware clearance inside the frame rail?

 

Possibly. Long story short, i welded my brackets in place so hardware clearance wasn’t an issue i looked at.