Suspension bouncy after 'failed' Firestone Ride-Rite installation

TLDR: Can non-inflated (zero PSI) Ride-Rites cause a "bouncy" suspension or did my recent install just reveal I should have at the same time replaced my rear shocks on my stock 2012 SR5 2WD w/ 95k miles?

2nd TLDR: Can going on a 900 mile trip with the truck loaded with ~800 lbs between the bed and the tongue weight, and the Ride-Rites at 0 PSI (they had a leak) damage the Ride-Rites?

Full story:

Last week I had Firestone Ride-Rites installed on my suspension a couple days before I left on a trip towing a travel trailer. After they were installed, I a test inflation at home and then lowered their inflation to the minimum 5 PSI. 2 days later, I left on the trip with the bed full of about ~400 lbs (I'm guessing) of gear but no trailer yet (a rental I was picking up later). The suspension felt *REALLY* bouncy... not stiff, but bouncy. Like the shocks were horribly shot. I figured it was that the load was more than I thought (I would have initially guessed a couple hundred pounds, but a more thorough dead-reckoning suggests twice that) and I shouldn't have left the Ride-Rites at minimum pressure. So when I got to the gas station a few miles away, I increased the pressure to 30 PSI... but I never checked the PSI before I inflated them (which turned out to be a mistake as you will see shortly).

It was a 2 hour drive to the rental pickup and at first it felt reasonably good at 30 PSI, although in the back of my mind when looking back at those first few miles before I inflated them, I was surprised that even with the pressure low, the ride was so bouncy. I mean, all these things do is give some air-support. Theoretically when the PSI is low, it should behave just like it did before I installed the Ride-Rites, right? And I've towed this load many times and without it feeling so bouncy.

As the drive continued, the ride kept getting worse and worse, returning to the horribly bouncy performance I first experienced. When I pulled over I tested the PSI... it was zero. Oh-No, my Ride-Rites have a leak!

So, I sadly had to do the remainder of the trip with the Ride-Rites at 0 PSI. I tried at 3 subsequent stops to re-inflate them. The first time it got to 50 lbs with my small hand-held inflator, but I could tell on the drive it lost all it's pressure with 20 minutes or so. The 2nd time it would only inflate to about 40 psi and then go no further and I could hear a whoosing sound of it deflating in just a few minutes. The 3rd time it would only go to 15 PSI with an on-going whoosing. I couldn't place the leak to either a hose or the Ride-Rites themselves.

So, the first question (which is my 2nd one above), is the worse performance (aka the faster leak) a sign that I damaged the Ride-Rites by riding on them empty? Should I be demanding new ones when I take it back to the shop? Or, if it turns out the leak is in a hose, will fixing that be sufficient?

2nd, I just can't get over my question about the bouncy ride. The Ride-Rites shouldn't affect this, even at 0 PSI, right? I can't imagine those 5 PSI making much of a difference in the ride. My gut is that the shocks need to be replaced as well, and the only reason I haven't noticed the deterioration in the last year or so is that the impact of dead shockes isn't as noticeable when the truck is unloaded and when I do load it, I'm loading it so heavily I was previously allowing the bump-stops to be my "shock absorbers". What do people think, do I need to replace the shocks while I'm having the Ride-Rites fixed/replaced?

Final note about the status of the vehicle regarding whether it's time to replace the rear shocks, as stated above, I'm at 95k miles. I have done a fair amount of gravel washboard road driving as well as about 5k miles of overloaded with gear/trailer driving.

Finally, any recommendations for an affordable brand of shocks for an otherwise stock vehicle would be appreciated.

 

When I hear bounce I first think shocks. The primary function of a shock is to control and mitigate bounce. As far as shocks get yourself a set of Bilstein 4600’s. They replace oem shocked on non lifted shocks. They are far superior to the oem Bilsteins in every way and they are reasonably priced. I have them on my truck and they are great. I tow a 3500 lb boat, do some off roading and lots of highway travel. They do it all. Excellent ride (although my wife thinks the ride is a little stiff, but it’s a 4x4 truck not a Cadillac.).

 

Shocks are a given at rough use 95k.

Fix the knowns first.

Sounds like you may have a leaking air hose. Pulled tight orcpinched?

 

Thanks Sprig for the information.

The more I think abou it, the more I think I agree with you. I think the Ride-Rite installation, and it's leak, is just coincidental. From what I've been reading here, needing to replace the shocks after ~100k miles is pretty normal.

Thank you as well for the Bilstein 4600 recommendation. I kept reading about the 5100's but apparently they're too long for my stock SR5 (one needs at least the pre-runner and it's slightly higher suspension for the 5100's to fit).

And that's a good point '1 Limited Toyota'... fixing one known problem at a time is wise.

Althoug ironically, I've got an appointment next Monday for them to both fix the air leak and to replace the rear shocks with Bilstien 4600s.

 

Just fyi 4600’s and 5100’s are almost identical internally. There is a very slight difference in the valving. The main difference is that 5100’s are for lifted trucks and 4600’s are for non lifted trucks. 5100’s also cost a little more. You can put 5100’s on non lifted truck but it’s kind of a waste unless you plan to lift it in the future. I’m sure you’ll be happy with the 4600’s.
One last thing the automotive industry says shocks generally last between 50000 to 100000 miles and some last longer. . I think in reality it’s more like a max of 80000 miles and sometimes far less. Most shocks are shot by 80000 or less miles. Some people think if a shock isn’t leaking its just fine. Wrong! Leaking is only one of a list of several. Here’s a few I pulled off the net. There’s several others too. Bounce and handling when cornering are probably the most common.

1. Nose dive when braking. ...
2. Bouncy ride. ...
3. Vehicle rolls or sways when cornering. ...
4. Uneven tire wear. ...
5. Rear squat during acceleration. ...
6. Vibration in steering wheel. ...
7. Unusual noises. ...
8. Leaking fluid on exterior of shocks/struts.