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Air Bags - Firestone 2430, Hellwig 6018

Savagecanuck1

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lasure13 Enthusiast

lasure13

Posted
Posted

I have not got the on-board compressor yet, as I am unsure how I am going to complete the truck. It took me just over 2.5 hours to complete the job. But I am very meticulous over how things are routed and fastened. It is a very easy install overall.

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gmc1 Enthusiast

gmc1

Posted
Posted

Everyone-

 

I installed the Firestone 2430 kit last weekend on my 14' Sierra SLE. Just to clear the air the 2430 is the correct set for our trucks. Very simple installation, straight forward, and everyday tools to install. Best part about that kit is that there was no drilling required, unlike the other kits.

Let me just say "WOW" the difference while pulling a trailer. NO more saggy bottom boy. I have only needed to put mine up to 60 lbs at most. Also I ran a "T" fitting so both bags get the same pressure. If you have any questions, please just ask.

For the money, this is one option definitely pays for itself.

 

 

Have you tried running around unloaded with just a few lbs in the bags to see if there's a difference in ride quality?

cmpcpro Enthusiast

cmpcpro

Posted
Posted

Have you tried running around unloaded with just a few lbs in the bags to see if there's a difference in ride quality?

My stepdad owns a 4 wheel drive shop and told me the big bags will make the ride stiffer even with the min. 5lbs of psi.. That is why I looked at the Airlift bags as they can run empty.. However when I called them they actually felt it wasn't good to run empty even though it's okay to and they advertise everywhere it can run empty.. Didn't make much sense to me, but thats when he told me I could run the smaller bag and have 5psi and not notice them. Thats what I did and so far I am happy. They are set at 5psi when not towing (I have had them installed for the last few weeks and still have never towed with the truck as I can't seem to find a nice camper to buy..) and I don't feel any stiffer at all.. I also liked the fact that there was no drilling, as the big bags did require to put holes in the frame.

Savagecanuck1 Enthusiast

Savagecanuck1

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Everyone-

 

I installed the Firestone 2430 kit last weekend on my 14' Sierra SLE. Just to clear the air the 2430 is the correct set for our trucks. Very simple installation, straight forward, and everyday tools to install. Best part about that kit is that there was no drilling required, unlike the other kits.

Let me just say "WOW" the difference while pulling a trailer. NO more saggy bottom boy. I have only needed to put mine up to 60 lbs at most. Also I ran a "T" fitting so both bags get the same pressure. If you have any questions, please just ask.

For the money, this is one option definitely pays for itself.

Any chance you could post a few pics of them installed thks.

lasure13 Enthusiast

lasure13

Posted
Posted

Everyone-

 

I will try and get some photos up this week.

 

Also this is my daily driver, so running around town with only 7lb of air in the bags does show a very small difference in ride. Enough to be concerned about, not at all. These aren't Cadillac's with smooth rides.

 

As for the lbs in the bags, I ran Airlift in my old 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 and now the Firestones on the Sierra. Both products state in the installation manual to run no less that 5lbs of air in the bags. I try to keep about 7lbs. in them unloaded, and in my opinion the ride is just a smooth as before.

I will say I like the mounting and everything of the Firestones much better than that of the Airlift. In my opinion the Firestone is a better overall package.

cmpcpro Enthusiast

cmpcpro

Posted
Posted

Airlift says it's OK to run these empty: http://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/88204/ . I'm leaning that way as I like the idea of having some sort of a jounce bumper.

These are the ones I am talking about. I was going to get those before I got the smaller RideControl kit.. Two things about these: One) They say they can run empty, etc. But when I called Airlift, the guy said, they can, but they don't recomend it.. What that is supposed to mean, I have no idea. I asked him, why they would advertise running empty when he says they should have atleast 5psi, and his response again was, They can run empty, but we recomend running 5psi.. Two) They do require drilling holes into the frame to mount the brackets.

full_throttle Enthusiast

full_throttle

Posted
Posted

So if i am going to install the firestone kit, do you think that i should install a different rear block kit when i install my 2.25" readylift? Or leave the rear factory block ?

  • 4 weeks later...
sthew32 New Member

sthew32

Posted
Posted

I have a 2011 Gmc Sierra 1500 SLE Z71. I got my air bags from auto anything. I bought the air lift P/N 59565. Easy install. I didnt buy the air compressor kit. It doesnt take much to air them up. I use a slime air compressor 12v which costs $20. The air compressor would be nice but not for $200+. I had my 700 Ibs Suzuki king quad 750 in the bed of my truck and put 70 psi in the air bags and my truck rode like the 4-wheeler wasnt there. The air bag psi range is 5-100 psi.

 

FYI these kinds of air bags arent made to make your ride smoother. They serve the same purpose as an 18 wheelers air bags do. They are for load purposes. If your hauling a load and are tired of your rear end of your truck sagging and dont want to compromise your ride like the helper springs do, get the air bags. If you want a smoother ride you are wasting money.

 

Impatience II Enthusiast

Impatience II

Posted
Posted

I also purchased the Firestone 2430 kit for my truck. I was leaning heavily towards the Timbrens as I have used them in times past, but decided to give these a shot. Install time was about 2 hours and much of that was on the first bag. The second bag went much more easily. I ran the air fills independently of one another as I wanted the ability to adjust air pressure should I have an uneven load. I honestly cannot think of a time when this was needed, but I figured that it would be nice to have the ability just in case. I put the air fills in the wheel well towards the front of the wheels to help prevent them from getting blasted by road debris. Undoubtedly, they will get a bit dirty being in there, but so would they on the bumper as well. I can certainly take some photos for people if you guys would like. All I had to do was back out of the the fasteners for the wheel well liner and the nipple for the air bag fit right in the existing hole. It was important for me to not have to drill any holes as the truck is a lease and I would like to restore it to its original condition when i go to turn it in.

Last C5 Enthusiast

Last C5

Posted
Posted

I also purchased the Firestone 2430 kit for my truck. I was leaning heavily towards the Timbrens as I have used them in times past, but decided to give these a shot. Install time was about 2 hours and much of that was on the first bag. The second bag went much more easily. I ran the air fills independently of one another as I wanted the ability to adjust air pressure should I have an uneven load. I honestly cannot think of a time when this was needed, but I figured that it would be nice to have the ability just in case. I put the air fills in the wheel well towards the front of the wheels to help prevent them from getting blasted by road debris. Undoubtedly, they will get a bit dirty being in there, but so would they on the bumper as well. I can certainly take some photos for people if you guys would like. All I had to do was back out of the the fasteners for the wheel well liner and the nipple for the air bag fit right in the existing hole. It was important for me to not have to drill any holes as the truck is a lease and I would like to restore it to its original condition when i go to turn it in.

I'd like some pictures for sure. I can't seem to find any accurate pictures of the 2430 kit. All the ads show "representive examples" that appear to be for the older trucks.

  • 3 weeks later...
Last C5 Enthusiast

Last C5

Posted
Posted

Sorry for the delay. Pictures are of the drivers side. These have 65lbs in them.

Thanks for the pictures, just what I wanted to see. Ordered the Firestone kit. By the way, nice boat!

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