coil right spring helpers?

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Nov 25, 2009 | 09:24 PM

Mr. Finch

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coil right spring helpers?

Hello, I have a 1996 f150 4x4 heavy duty quad suspension (4 shocks up front). I just installed Firestone Coil right spring helpers, and replaced all 4 front shocks, (the fronts broke when droping the front axle so i decided to replace all 4).
My first question is does anybody know the quality of these things, they came with the truck 2 yrs ago, but I never put them in untill today (2 hrs ago) I just don't want to be replacing them every few months.
My second question is what should I set the psi to? I have a meyer 7.5 ft snow plow. Right now they are set at 15 psi, and the truck rides better than it did, but that feels like it is mostly the new shocks. What should I set them at when I hook up the plow?
Any info would be helpful. thanks

Nov 26, 2009 | 07:24 AM

Diesel_Brad

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From: Gilbert, PA

Firestone makes a quality product. I would go to their web site and find out some specs. When i ran their rear air bags they could be run from 5 psi to 100. But that was for the rear. I had a another set in an F150 but i took the plow off (permently) and only put 10 psi in those

Nov 26, 2009 | 02:15 PM

Mr. Finch

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Thanks for the reply Diesel_brad.
I have them at 15 psi know just to keep some pressure on them to keep everything in place. They say they can go from 10-60, I was just wandering if anyone had some suggestions seeing as how I have all the weight of the plow also.
Firestone does make some good tires then they also make cheap cr** too, so I was wondering if these were the cheap versions. So far I don't hear any bad about them.

Nov 26, 2009 | 04:45 PM

danr1

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From: Sand Lake, MI

I always kinda wish I'd have went that way on my f250 plow truck. It was sagging some so I put in "add a leaf's". Works fine yea but a rough ride without the plow on the truck.

Real stiff, I have a 7.5' unmount and the front end don't drop a 1/2" when lifting the blade off the ground!

I ran into a link on the air bags shortly after installing the leaf's, would have been more the twice the money but been worth the extra cost I would think. I only use it to plow and as a hunt ride now so its just not worth the expense of changing it.

As far as how much air to use really only you can answer that, put the blade on and add air until the front wheels have a slight positive camber to them.

I know one thing, next plow truck will be a F-350! My '87 never needed any thing done to it to beef up the front end to carry a plow blade, just like anything else they make everything cheaper, same goes for 3/4 ton truck front ends........

Nov 26, 2009 | 07:05 PM

Mr. Finch

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Quote:

Originally Posted by danr1

I know one thing, next plow truck will be a F-350! My '87 never needed any thing done to it to beef up the front end to carry a plow blade, just like anything else they make everything cheaper, same goes for 3/4 ton truck front ends........

yea, I did not plan on buying a plow truck, I just found a truck i really wanted on ebay, and when I looked at it I saw it had a plow setup. I bought the blow from the po 3 months after I bought the truck, and he then just gave me the air bags for free saying he had no use for them.

I usually stay away from aftermarket products, the vehicle was designed to work a certain way. When you start changing that is when you run into problems, at my shop, most of the modified cars with problems it turns out that the modification, or incorrect installation were the cause of the problem.
I was originally going to put in coils from a 350 but in this case i thought "why not give it a try" they were free after all, and if they do suck then i Would just deflate them.

Nov 26, 2009 | 07:12 PM

Mr. Finch

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Quote:

Originally Posted by danr1

As far as how much air to use really only you can answer that, put the blade on and add air until the front wheels have a slight positive camber to them.

cheaper, same goes for 3/4 ton truck front ends........

After I originally posted here I thought about doing that, just deflate the bags, lift the plow and add air till the truck is about level (it doesn't drop too much right now)
I just don't whant to put in too much, go over a bump and hear BOOOOOMMMMM!!!

my dad had that happen in his chevy stepvan, it felt like the wheel fell off with how far it dropped.
I quess I will do your sug. and just play with them for a while till I find the right psi.

Nov 26, 2009 | 07:56 PM

danr1

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From: Sand Lake, MI

I quess I will do your sug. and just play with them for a while till I find the right psi.

Yea that's going to be your best bet.

I wouldn't think you'd find they suck, not at all, air bags gotta be the way to go. At least if they are similar to the models I seen, I gotta believe they are. Only difference is yours being contained inside the springs where on a 3/4 ton there are not. They did install inside the coils right? I tried googling for them but didn't have much luck, quickly had me jumping page after page with no real end in sight so I gave up pretty easy!

With the roads around here I wouldn't mind full air bag suspension system front and rear, 4 link deal, gotta be a soother ride.