Firestone Air Spring - HELP!

[seh750]

I put a set of Firestone air springs in my 06 SE V8 4x4 to help with trailer towing. The left one is working fine, but the right one keeps coming undone at the top of the bladder...as in the hose pulls out of the bladder.

The first time I noticed something with the routing of the hose that it wouldn't pass smoothly through the hold in the upper spring perch. I corrected that and plugged it back in.

The second time I cut a bit off the end of the hose so I wasn't sticking the same bit of hose back in the push-to-fit bladder connection repeatedly. And I re-verified that the hose can move smoothly through the upper spring perch.

But now it's come disconnected a third time. Any suggestions or ideas?


For those of you using the Air Lift kit, note that Firestone's instructions route the hose through the upper spring perch rather than the lower. I'm debating whether flipping the bladder over might help solve the problem, but there's probably a reason why Firestone didn't do that in the first place.


Thanks!

 

[004Gunner]

Could the air line be too tight and not allow enough slack when the suspension is in full travel? That or maybe you have a bad connector. Once you push the line in it should not be coming out with any sort of ease. I'll take a look at my setup on Friday to see if I can find any other weak points. Post back if you figure it out

 

[seh750]

Could the air line be too tight and not allow enough slack when the suspension is in full travel? That or maybe you have a bad connector. Once you push the line in it should not be coming out with any sort of ease. I'll take a look at my setup on Friday to see if I can find any other weak points. Post back if you figure it out

I tested the slack with the truck supported by the frame and suspension at full travel, wheels off the ground.

I suppose it could be a bad connector, but it seems ok...when it's connected initially I can move the bag with the hose no problem.

It always works at first and then deflates after driving for awhile.

I'll double-check these things, probably this weekend. Thanks.

 

[seh750]

I'll double-check these things, probably this weekend. Thanks.

Finally got a chance to get under my 4Runner. The air bag is connected but leaks air from the valve on the bag. I tried to push the hose in further but that didn't help. I contacted Firestone tech support and am waiting for an answer. I may end up taking it to the local Firestone shop and making them deal with it.

I'll keep you informed if I find out anything that might be useful to others using these.

 

[seh750]

Contacted Firestone

They sent me out a new fitting and then called me to let me know they had done so. I'm impressed.

Hopefully that'll solve the problem. I'll post up and let everyone know.

 

[004Gunner]

Good to know they took care of you. Was it a warranty deal and how old are your air springs?

 

[seh750]

Good to know they took care of you. Was it a warranty deal and how old are your air springs?

The springs are only a couple of months old. But they didn't even ask - they just shipped the part and called to let me know they had.

 

[seh750]

Re: Contacted Firestone

They sent me out a new fitting and then called me to let me know they had done so. I'm impressed.

Hopefully that'll solve the problem. I'll post up and let everyone know.

Got the new fitting in and hose reattached, pumped her up to 30 PSI and drove up and down some curbs. So far so good!

Towing on Tuesday so hopefully the problem is solved and these will hold air now.

 

[004Gunner]

Good to hear! Did that fitting look like anything that could be picked up locally?

 

[seh750]

Good to hear! Did that fitting look like anything that could be picked up locally?

Maybe...but I've never seen anything like it. I have the old one on my workbench, if I have a moment tomorrow I'll post up some pics.

 

[seh750]

Pictures

The larger part is mostly inside the bag. The smaller part is external to the bag and comes out easily with a screwdriver. These pictures are of the old external part and new internal part. Firestone called the external part a "collett".

I looked carefully but couldn't find anything different about the old vs new collett, but the air is holding so something worked.

It looks like the tangs on the collett surround the end of the air line and as the air line is pushed in the collett gets squeezed and holds the air line in place. The opening in the internal part tapers towards the bottom.

 

[004Gunner]

Thanks for posting that up. Hopefully none of the air spring owners will need to reference it. . .