Airbags - Firestone Or Airlift?

Spurshot · August 3, 2011

I'm getting things together for the fall hunting and remembered I'd like to have airbags for my long trips where I load up the truck.

Any feedback on which way to go and why would be helpful. Also, I have a Helwig rear bar installed, but it appears that won't interfere with either?

wavery · August 3, 2011

The sway bar looks nice!!!!!! It certainly won't get in any arguments with the air bags.

I have AirLifts on mine. I carry about 500# in the bed of the truck (Including the shell) and I tow a trailer that has 500# of tongue weight. The AirLifts service me well and I've had them on this truck, with no issues, for 2-years. I also had them on my previous truck with the same results.

I don't know anything about the Firestones. It seems like it may come down to price.

ChevyTech77 · August 3, 2011

I've had horrible luck getting a set of Air-Lifts to make it through a few years of Michigan winters, here but have had not one issue with the 3 or so sets of Firestone bags that I have installed thus far and all of those, have over 3 years worth of winter abuse so I'm sticking with them, at this time.

Besides, if the Firestones are good enough to be used pretty much exclusively by all large/semi truck manufactures, they're good enough for the people that ask me to install a set on their pickups, as well.

AirLiftCompany · August 3, 2011

The sway bar should not interfere with either brand of air spring. Both are fine companies who have been in the business for a long time. Speaking for Air Lift, we do have a lifetime warranty on our air spring kits, and many of our dealers are offering a very attractive rebate through the end of September, if you buy air springs and an optional compressor system. Some of the new compressor systems are really neat, and much easier to install than the old-style gauge systems. Feel free to PM me if you need any application info.

-Mike

redjewel2ss · August 3, 2011

The sway bar should not interfere with either brand of air spring. Both are fine companies who have been in the business for a long time. Speaking for Air Lift, we do have a lifetime warranty on our air spring kits, and many of our dealers are offering a very attractive rebate through the end of September, if you buy air springs and an optional compressor system. Some of the new compressor systems are really neat, and much easier to install than the old-style gauge systems. Feel free to PM me if you need any application info.

-Mike

would you say having the air springs and a sway bar a bit redundant? i just started reseaching the suspension side for trucks, and don't know if i would need a sway bar, air springs, traction bar, or a combo of both. in my case i'm looking for something to keep the wheel hop/axle wrap to a minimum and it would be nice not to have a cali lean if/when i tow or haul something after i get a levelling kit in the front. and if you watch this video, see how the chevy sways side to side, i don't want it to do that if i get put in that kinda situation.

temmert1 · August 3, 2011

I have the firestone bags. Have been using them for 2 years now with no problems. Run about 12lbs in them to help support tongue weight of camper and cargo......

wavery · August 3, 2011

The sway bar should not interfere with either brand of air spring. Both are fine companies who have been in the business for a long time. Speaking for Air Lift, we do have a lifetime warranty on our air spring kits, and many of our dealers are offering a very attractive rebate through the end of September, if you buy air springs and an optional compressor system. Some of the new compressor systems are really neat, and much easier to install than the old-style gauge systems. Feel free to PM me if you need any application info.

-Mike

would you say having the air springs and a sway bar a bit redundant? i just started reseaching the suspension side for trucks, and don't know if i would need a sway bar, air springs, traction bar, or a combo of both. in my case i'm looking for something to keep the wheel hop/axle wrap to a minimum and it would be nice not to have a cali lean if/when i tow or haul something after i get a levelling kit in the front. and if you watch this video, see how the chevy sways side to side, i don't want it to do that if i get put in that kinda situation.

No redundancy at all. They each serve a different function. The sway-bar basically controls side-to-side and "rolling" motion. The air bags support weight.

Are you using a WDH??

What are the weights on the trailer?

Do you drive on roads like in that video? I know that I don't. That's ridiculous........

What you may end up with is a truck that rides like an F150 instead of the nice Chevy truck ride. If that's what you want, you are on the right track. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that.... I'm just saying that you will definitely lose that smooth ride that Chevy builds into their trucks for people that drive "Normal" roads.

If I had to sit in an F150 for several hours, I couldn't stand it. I hate the way that they ride.

dave_benn · August 4, 2011

I just installed the firestone on my 2010 and they went in smooth, less than an hour to do both sides. The reason i went with them over the air lift was the design, firestone is a regular billow like the big rigs use, and the air lift was a cylinder shape. Not shur if one design is better than the other but firestone is rated for i think 1000 lbs more. Also firestone mounts between the axle and on the side/under the frame were the airlift went ontop of the springs slightly behind the axle and on the side of the frame.

sillywillie07 · August 4, 2011

Not to give firestone a bad name, but I am going threw a problem with them. Installeed them and they fit like crap, and one bag would loose 2lbs over night with no visable leaks. They would not fit rite between axle and frame. They were not sraight(verticale) between the axle and frame, not even close. I tryed to adjust with no luck. Called and talk to tech support, they said to send pics and they would get back to me. Sent them back and had to pay shipping, they would not pay for it. I was not happy. I had to put 40lbs in the bags to carry a 700lbs atv grizzly 700, just so the air bags would not rub on mounting bolts. I will stick with my timbrens. Just so you know if you lift the car on a lift by the frame you need to let the air out and they don't suggest to lift it by the frame. If you get your axle to flex in a hole off road it could be a problem. Just my thoughts.

AirLiftCompany · August 4, 2011

The sway bar should not interfere with either brand of air spring. Both are fine companies who have been in the business for a long time. Speaking for Air Lift, we do have a lifetime warranty on our air spring kits, and many of our dealers are offering a very attractive rebate through the end of September, if you buy air springs and an optional compressor system. Some of the new compressor systems are really neat, and much easier to install than the old-style gauge systems. Feel free to PM me if you need any application info.

-Mike

would you say having the air springs and a sway bar a bit redundant? i just started reseaching the suspension side for trucks, and don't know if i would need a sway bar, air springs, traction bar, or a combo of both. in my case i'm looking for something to keep the wheel hop/axle wrap to a minimum and it would be nice not to have a cali lean if/when i tow or haul something after i get a levelling kit in the front. and if you watch this video, see how the chevy sways side to side, i don't want it to do that if i get put in that kinda situation.

If you find yourself towing over those test track bump strips... be sure to post the videos!! Let me say I'm a sales guy, not a suspension engineer, but I've been chatting about your post with the real engineers, and they agree the sway bars and air springs have different functions. Air springs support the load. Remember on the bump strips in the video, you're looking at worst-case for an unloaded truck. The suspension is about as heavy as the box, so it's going to bounce like mad. What you're seeing, the engineers call "tramp," not wheel hop. Damping (shocks) helps some with tramp. Neither sway bars nor bags have much effect. In the real world, the thing that helps most with real world tramp, like a washboard road, is SLOW DOWN! Every vehicle has a natural suspension frequency, and the test track bumps are spaced to make that look as good or as bad as possible (oversimplifying a little). The only thing which would affect axle wrap significantly is going to a different (heavier) spring pack... but that will make the ride worse when empty... more tramp! Real world, normal loads, not much help. Your solution of sway bars and bags is a good start... consider adding more sturdy shocks as your next step, if needed. Hope that helps some.

Mike

AgDoctor · August 15, 2011

I have the firestones and have ran them on my 2010 for over a year now and 31,000 miles with probably 20,000 pf those miles with a 700year grizzly in the back. Mine do not lose pressure and I run 24 psi in them and that le els the truck perfectly with my 2 inch leveling kit. I only wish I had gotten the wireless controller. I love mine. If the guy above is losing air he has a problem with one of the air lines.

sillywillie07 · August 16, 2011

I have the firestones and have ran them on my 2010 for over a year now and 31,000 miles with probably 20,000 pf those miles with a 700year grizzly in the back. Mine do not lose pressure and I run 24 psi in them and that le els the truck perfectly with my 2 inch leveling kit. I only wish I had gotten the wireless controller. I love mine. If the guy above is losing air he has a problem with one of the air lines.

I just had a bad air bag. It was leaking around the metal crimp of the bag. I found the leak later. I have to say if you put them on buy the air pump kit so you can adjust for the load. I do like my timbrens just for the put them in and forget them factor.

herm0016 · August 21, 2011

i just installed the firestone kit, i got it for a great deal from a local guy that orderd it for someone and it never got picked up.

i notice that they are not perfectly vertical on my truck either, but should not really effect the performance that much. they were easy to install and do help with the bouncy feeling in the rear of the truck un-loaded. they are for hauling my slide in camper so that I can control roll better with the higher center of gravity. no air leaks so far.