Firestone Riderite airbag alignment
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: WA
Firestone Riderite airbag alignment
Finished my install last night for my airbags. The passenger side looks good as far as alignment top to bottom, but the drivers side is tilted pretty good. I lined up the alignment pin in the upper mount as the instructions indicated into the most forward hole and there is no way to move the lower mount because it is up against the leaf pack tight where it belongs and the tabs on the lower mount does not allow for it to be turned on the axle housing. I believe it is out of alignment enough to cause excessive wear and or improper performance (the rubber part of the airbag is actually touching the lower metal disc that is part of the airbag when there is no air in it). Has anyone else had this issue and if so, any feedback?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Florida
That is where I was going with my question. There are two holes on the bottom bracket.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Florida
Look at the bottom bracket and see if the available hole would make it more plumb.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Florida
The two holes are front to back in alignment and even though they are not that far apart it definately makes a difference.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: WA
Thanks GW, I will try that tonight (this darn work thing gets in the way of doing what I want during the day). -Glenn
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Kaysville Utah
I went thru the same thing on my install
I loosened all the bolts and shifted the bottom bracket as much as I could and tighten everything up and it looks little more plumb. But definitely not perfect.
Not only use the other hole, but push the base bracket as far as possible in the direction you need before you tighten
I loosened all the bolts and shifted the bottom bracket as much as I could and tighten everything up and it looks little more plumb. But definitely not perfect.
Not only use the other hole, but push the base bracket as far as possible in the direction you need before you tighten
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: WA
Thanks Painted Horse. I did loosen all of the bolts last night and pushed the lower bracket as far as I could. There are two "tabs" on that bracket that slide up against the saddle bolt holding the leaf springs, so I could not get much movement at all (maybe 1/8 of an inch). I will try the other hole on the bottom. -Glenn
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Central TX
Tough to get the driver side to line up straight. Went thru maybe 3 sessions of installing/tightening/loosening/adjusting before I was satisfied it was straight. Did mine over a two day period. Think I was a little more relaxed on the second day and it went together better. Still not perfect but very good.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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I'm having a similar problem, but my alignment issue is wheel-to-wheel. The two bolt holes run wheel to wheel as well, but only one allows for the alignment pin to be installed properly. Using this bolt hole causes the air bag to be bad out of alignment. Any help is much appreciated.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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I've got a 2011 6.7 superduty, bought the 2535 kit.
If I use the hole towards the outside of the upper bracket, the alignment is perfect, but then the alignment pin does not engage. Must be doing something wrong, but quite frustrating.
If I use the hole towards the outside of the upper bracket, the alignment is perfect, but then the alignment pin does not engage. Must be doing something wrong, but quite frustrating.