Front Air Bag Helper Springs

[Diesel Max]

Is anyone currently using or can anyone recommend air bag helper springs for the FRONT of a 93 7.3 Diesel 4X4 ? As with all these trucks, mine is sagging in the front due to the weight of the diesel engine. I would prefer the air bags as opposed to the add-a-leaf helper springs.

Thanks for the input.

 

[gonecrazyi]

Try replacing the bushings in the front end. When I replaced the ones on mine I gained about 1.5 inches.

Mine were crushed and worn allowing everything to sag and creak.

 

[Diesel Max]

Try replacing the bushings in the front end. When I replaced the ones on mine I gained about 1.5 inches.

Mine were crushed and worn allowing everything to sag and creak.

Which bushings are you speaking of ???

 

[jperecko]

Which bushings are you speaking of ???

I assume the leaf spring bushings

 

[gonecrazyi]

Yep, those and the shackle bushings. I think the kit was around 60 bucks at autozone for the polyurathane ones.

 

[drive for free]

should be easy to put some 2600lb bags in there. super easy. probably could get away with buying a good used rear helper kit and just put it on the front.

 

[apextrans]

I did this on my 88 & would advise against it. When you pump up the bags to level the truck, you lose ride quality. I could live with it because I didn't drive far to work but if your commute is a good distance, get an air seat!!

These were firestone bags:

 

[DragRag]

Nice job on the airbags, never seen them up front on a truck before.

 

[apextrans]

Michigan Truck Spring.

This is the link to firestone front airbags for our yr trucks. You want the second one down (4x4).
I've bought all four sets of airbags I've owned from these people. They are excellent with fast shipping & fantastic customer service. Not pushing them on you but I've had a great experience with 'em

 

[DragRag]

Book marked, thanks.

 

[apextrans]

Nice job on the airbags, never seen them up front on a truck before.

Thanks. I was gonna plow with the truck & changed my mind. They will definitely hold the weight of a diesel & a plow

 

[Diesel Max]

Michigan Truck Spring.

This is the link to firestone front airbags for our yr trucks. You want the second one down (4x4).
I've bought all four sets of airbags I've owned from these people. They are excellent with fast shipping & fantastic customer service. Not pushing them on you but I've had a great experience with 'em

How does the truck ride with the airbags in the front ? Are you using the Firestone Ride Rite bags ?? I wouldn't think the ride would be too bad as long as your not putting max PSI in them. The part # is Firestone Rite Rite 2223. Below is the link of what I'm looking at purchasing.........

http://truckaddons.com/Catalog/subpages/ridrite_riderite.html

 

[Diesel Max]

One other thing........... Is there a difference between the airbag and the air spring ? Do they make an air spring for the front of our trucks ??

 

[apextrans]

If you run a little air in them just to keep the front end up, it should be fine. I had alot of psi in mine to stay level. I don't think there is a difference between an airbag & air spring. Different people call them different things I guess. Firestone, Ride Rite, & Air Ride all have a kit for the front end but they are all the same kit. The bags are just molded with the respective company name on them, but I think firestone makes them all

 

[Diesel Max]

Thanks for the info Apextrans. All I'm looking to do is level about 1 - 1.5 in the front. I'm not looking to fully support anything like a plow, etc. I also don't want it to ride like a tank either. i had heard the Firestone bags would ride better then the 1.5 inch steel add-a leafs and that's why I was looking into them. If the ride is going be be stiff or harsh, I may just as well go with the steel add-a-leafs as they are about $100 cheaper. I have air bags on my Class C Motorhome in the rear and they made a huge difference in the ride (for the better) but I only run about 60 - 65 PSI in them. I was thinking lower PSI in the ride rites would be the same principal and I wouldn't think I would have to pump them up alot to get the truck leveled out. That was the thought any way.