Firestone Airbag Installation Question

This may be a ridiculous question. I’m asking for a friend...How much of a hassle is it to install the airbags without jacking the rear axle up and removing the tires?

 

‘Hassle’ is subjective. I guess ‘ease’ is also. But...I’m certain it will be much easier, jacked and tires removed.

Whether you’re going to run lines for a compressor or run to a valve end, you’ll need to be able to move around the axle, springs and frame a good bit.
I have a short line and valve ran to the frame so I can reach in over the tire and easily add air.

 

I just removed the spare tire and jacked the frame up a few inches by the rear hitch.

 

I've installed 3 sets of these and never removed the tires (including spare). It's a very simple install.

 

I neither removed the spare, nor jacked the back end up. Took me maybe an hour and a half to install.

 

I need that bit extra room with my vertigo.

 

I put an 8” lift on my tundra for extra room under there lol

 

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to install them without jacking it up and removing the tires. After all, what else do I have to do while quarantined?

 

If this is new install I'd try and pick up some better quality bolts that bolt the brackets on to the spring area (8 carriage bolts). They are poor quality, try and find some grade 5.

 

that's what I did grade 5 bolts,3" lift so just crawled under for install.

 

How did your installation go?

 

LOL! It would have gone well if it wasn’t for SDTRUCKSPRINGS.COM sending me the airbags for a 2000-06 Tundra. Nick at SDTRUCKSPRINGS.COM was great to work with and immediately shipped me the correct airbags. I am supposed to get them today and will put them on this weekend. I’ll post an update when completed.

 

I received the correct airbags and installed them. The install is pretty straight forward and I was able to get them in without putting the truck on a lift or removing the tires. eTrailer makes a good tutorial. The hardest part was cutting off the bump stops. I had to use a hacksaw, so it took a little longer.

 

I didn't remove my tires or Jack it up either to install. But I will say the lift a big tires made it nice to just set under there.

 

I dropped my spare and was able to sit, kind of.