I finally installed the Firestone Ride-Rite airbags today on my '03 4x4 Excursion 6.0l diesel. Took about 3 hours with two guys, no air tools. Here's some notes for anyone wanting to install these little wonders. These only really apply to my truck as done by me, so your results may vary:

- their instructions and diagrams are great. No missing fasteners, everything was there.

- use a good jack and axle stands. Lift the truck by the frame (despite what the instructions say) to get the required clearance between the frame and leaf springs. We actually jacked it up by the pumpkin and put the axle on stands, then removed the tires, and found that we couldn't get the bags in place. Lifting up the body did the trick (we kept the axle stands under the axles at all times).

- the spring bumper stop/snubber needs to be removed from the frame, and it was near impossible to remove. They need a 15mm socket. Clean the top of the nut and threads first to remove all road grit, and use penetrating fluid for a few days before you start, if possible. This took two people: One to remove the nut from the inside of the frame and the other to hold onto the bumper with big channel-lock pliers. This was by far the hardest part.

- The lower bracket, under the air bag, is supposed to slide around the metal bumper stop. (This is the ramp-shaped thing sticking out from the side of the spacer between the axle and leaf springs. You know, the spacer that causes axle-wrap for which you need Landyot's Radius Rods.) The metal bumper stop was too wide to fit through the bracket. Not wanting to compromise the strength of the airbag bracket, I used a flap-style sanding disk on my small grinder to reach in and take maybe 1/8" off of each side of the bumper stop. The grinder just fit above the axle and between the brake lines. It's the small Makita grinder body set up for 5" disks.

- Despite lifting the body, we couldn't get the airbags in when they were pre-assembled in one piece. So we removed the lower bracket and put the two halves into position, then slid them out just enough to bolt the lower bracket onto the bottom of the airbag. Make sure you keep the brackets aligned when tightening the lower bracket onto the bag

- The diesel fuel lines (send and return) run along the inside of the driver-side frame rail, right where the lower of two bolts from the upper airbag bracket need to go. These didn't like being bent, so I bent them a very little bit towards the inside of the truck. I also cut the bolt for that hole BEFORE I put it in place, such that the end of the bolt was flush with the nut when tight. The nut then fit just behind the two fuel lines.

- I didn't drill any holes for the air lines. I just had to make the lower license plate holes a tiny bit bigger. So now the air fittings are also holding on my license plate.

- after installation is complete and before your put the tires back on, double-check everywhere for anything chafing against the bags and against the brake/fuel lines. Also imagine where things will be when the truck is lowered down. We had to bend away the passenger side brake line over the axle, the main driver-side brake line, and the fuel lines inside the frame.

Like I said, your experience may vary. But consider lifting by the frame to get the required clearance for installation. Clean and use penetrating fluid on the bumper bolts, and use two people to remove them. Check the fit of the lower bracket to see if you need to grind away the sides of the bumper stop. And be very careful with getting adequate clearance around the brake and fuel lines.