Firestone vs. Airlift Airbags and Axle Wrap

Got the Firestones installed today. The quality of the Firestone parts is a lot better than the Airlifts. With only one winter everything was corroded pretty badly with very little paint left on the Airlift brackets. Installing the Firestones takes a lot more time than installing the Airlifts, and the instructions are not as detailed. Firestone provides a heat shield for each side, but I only installed one on the passenger side (next to the exhaust). And the best part - the test drive did not produce any clunking!

One thing that surprised me was that the inside of the lower bracket does not actually rest on the axle tube - there is about a quarter inch gap. I assumed the inside leg would actually touch the axle to provide support, but mine did not even with the lower brackets resting squarely on the spring's u-bolts.

 

Kmev- you do the onboard air up kit as well?

 

Firestones on my Pro, no issues.

@PatricNV a good rule of thumb is 1 psi for every 40 pounds of weight. With my bed rack, RTT, bike rack and bed mat I am carrying about 250 lbs. regularly. I run about 8-10 psi, no more -- going higher makes the ride very stiff. When I load all my gear, I go up to 15-20 depending on what I am carrying. I would try about 12-15 psi and see if that helps. Estimate your load, divide by 40. Add 1 or 2 psi if you want, but every psi makes a big difference.

 

No, I'm a scuba diver so I always have compressed air handy. I ran the airlines through the rear bumper and use them to hold my license plate on - looks clean and I like the simplicity.

 

I just inflate until the truck is level, and adjust for equal pressure in each side. I suck at math.

 

Debating bumper mount only or spring for the in cab adjustment setup. Only reason considering the additiinal $$ is I will be towing varied weight fairly often.

 

A friend had an Airlift setup in an F150 with compressor and in-cab controls. I must admit it was a sweet setup, but complex to install and if the compressor fails you're screwed. I tow and haul a lot of varied weights. If you have convenient access to compressed air its no big deal. If you don't have access to compressed air, well..it sucks.

 

I just use a bike pump, works fine. I have one for fat bike tires that has a better low-pressure gauge on it.