Beginner’s Guide to Installing the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs on a 2011 Ford F-150

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Today on or 2011 Ford F150, we'll be installing the Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs, part number F2525. First, we've gone ahead and raised the vehicle and removed the rear wheels. Now, we're ready to go ahead and remove the rear bump stop. Each process we do here on the driver's side, will get repeated identically on the passenger's side. Now, with our John's stop removed, we can go ahead and take one of the upper brackets and attach it to one of our airbags using the 3/8 nuts provided. Now with our lower bracket attached, we'll install the fastener finger tight.
Now, we're going to go back to the upper bracket and attach the second piece to it, before we install our airbag assembly ion to the vehicle. We'll be using our 2-inch hex bolts, and our 3/8 flange nuts to secure the second piece of our bracket to our upper bracket we've already attached to our airbag. Now, with those tightened down, we're ready to go and set the assembly in on top of the leaf spring. To secure our assembly to the frame, we'll first use our bolt that we removed from the John's bumper originally. Now we'll use our 2-inch hex bolt and bolt plates fed to the frame.
Quick tech tip: I recommend bending the handles on the bolt plate, as it will make it easier to install the bolt to the frame. Now, with both of those in place, we can now go ahead and install the bail clamps. The bail clamps will secure the lower bracket to the leaf spring pack. We'll use the bail clamps with the 3/8 flange nuts to secure the lower bracket. Quick tech tip: Before you tighten it down, I recommend that the air bag is straight up and down.
It can be slightly adjusted on the leaf spring to make sure that it is vertically straight, up and down. Now, once you've made that adjustment, we can go ahead and tighten everything down. Now, with all our fasteners tightened down, we've completely secured our air bag. Now we're ready to start installing the air line fittings and air line. We'll start with the threaded right angled nipple.
The manufacturer's already installed sealant on the end that will get threaded into the air bag. Next, we'll move to the Schrader-valve nipple. We'll be mounting this one in the bumper. First we'll need to drill out a five-sixteenth hole. Now we can go ahead and take the nipple, the nut, and two washers, and secure the Schrader-valve nipple. Now, we're ready to go ahead and start routing our line. We'll take the protective covering and feed it over the line as it will sit up against the nipple here at the airbag. Now, we'll go ahead and route the line back to the Schrader-valve nipple. The easiest way to do this and to protect the line is to route it through the frame. We'll go ahead and take our first opportunity here to get into the frame and route it back to the frame channel to the bumper. Now we'll go ahead and cut off any excess line with our tubing cutter and go ahead and secure the other end of our line into the Schrader-valve nipple. Next, we'll go ahead and take a couple of the red zip ties that were supplied with our install kit to secure the line. Now we'll go ahead and repeat the same process with our passenger's side. That will complete the install of our Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs, part number F2525, on our 2011 Ford F150.

[@Sinister_Reaper]

I'm gonna try putting the airbags we use on the semi's at work on my pickup haha, pretty simple, just a bar across the end of both springs with the bag between it and the frame, those things can really take on some weight

[@jasonw463]

Could you put a TEE in the air line, allowing for one fill point and equal air between the two bags? Thanks!!

[@etrailer]

Yep! People do that all the time.

[@melcurnutt5857]

I have had several trucks with this system on them and have found it is better to control each side of the truck

[@cannedham3774]

Love that milwaukee ratchet!!!! I got one too!!

[@thomabb]

Why did these air bag systems change to be mounted on the jounce stop instead of over the leaf springs? This setup looks a lot easier to install than the new ones do.

[@33BMX33]

Is it possible to relay the bags to a air compressor so it's easier to air ? And are the compatible with lifted trucks ?

[@EODMARINE]

I was thinking about this. A few questions. 1. Can you leave these bags inflated all the time? 2. Does this work with a 3 inch level kit, if it does when the bags are inflated will it raise the bed as well? Thank you

[@anthonycenteno2200]

what kind of battery operated torque gun was that? Great video thanks.

[@brianmcfarland9809]

Can this kit be used if you have a taller block installed on the rear as part of a leveling kit?

[@robertbiedermann4255]

Can this be used along with brackets for a fifth wheel hitch.

[@willietribute2000]

Can these be put on a 2011 E-350 passanger van ??

[@Alpha-to9od]

will this air bags give a 2inch lift on my truck?

[@brewskisdodge]

I cannot get mine to fill through the Schrader valve any thoughts? They had 30 psi in them and my son deflated them now I can't seem to re inflate them.

[@etrailer]

Occasionally Schrader valves can be a little bit stubborn, especially if they are in a difficult to access area. My best advice would be to try and get the air hose as square as possible on the valve and press firmly to let the bag inflate.

[@fawaz200]

do you have kit for the 2007+ expeditions ?

[@danikael2815]

what is the price for these

[@rsstnnr76]

New to the truck world. What does having the airbags do? Is it a smoother ride?

[@bobalobalie]

Load leveling while towing a trailer is it's purpose.

[@chedrick16]

It’s more for when your pulling a trailer or a heavy pay load in the truck bed.

[@melcurnutt5857]

be carful not to exceed your trucks GVWR this could damage your truck and you

[@AlittleSmokey]

Can this be installed on a lifted truck?

[@AlittleSmokey]

Awesome! I did get this installed on my tundra. Had to do just a bit extra, but easily done and installed. Had one company tell me that they would have to manufacture blocks, but they were not needed. Nice setup and improved towing my camper. I do have some issue with possible spring rate with the lift, it tends to undulate.

[@FranciscoSantoyo-pr5vr]

Do u have any for a 14 f150 2wd for the front?

[@etrailer]

At the link below you can see what we offer for the front suspension. www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Ford/F-150/2014/CSS-1094F.html?vehicleid=20141179884

[@MrTBDude]

Is there anything special needed if the truck has a 4" RC Suspension lift kit?

[@mene1111111]

Using the exact kit in this video (Firestone 2525), it should not matter if truck is lifted. This is because the bottom support of the bags sit on the leaf springs, which sit on top of the lift block. There are other kits that sit on the axle and in that case a spacer would be required specific to the lift. These spacers are not that cheap either. I have a 6" lift and considering this particular Firestone kit for this reason.

[@robertbullard4741]

Working like this with bulky Gloves...???