Suspension Helper Kits 101
Many times a vehicle's suspension is not quite adequate in load capacity or stability or ride height or handling to do the job we are expecting it to do. In recent years Pickups, vans, and SUVs have been engineered for much more comfortable ride. . . often by using much longer leaf springs or softer riding torsion bars or coil springs for smoother, more comfortable ride. The tradeoff is many vehicles simply don't handle load or towing situations as well as the rougher riding older vehicles did. If the vehicle is driven for passenger transportation and light loads. . . we love the comfort compared to older vehicles we may have had. But if loads are substantial, heavy towing is on the agenda, or the vehicle is modified with additional equipment, the soft riding suspension may not do an adequate job. A suspension helper upgrade kit can help the vehicle suspension maintain a good loaded ride height, improve handling and stability, maintain better loaded wheel alignment (which improves tire life and fuel economy), maintain consistent headlamp aim (no need to see the tree tops at night but very critical we see the road in front of us), improve driving comfort and lessen driving fatigue, and protect springs and other suspension components from excessive wear and tear from loading. The beauty of using a suspension helper kit solution to accomplish these things is that they do it with very little negative effect on the comfortable empty ride we have come to enjoy! Also compared to changing to heavier spring, the installed cost is typically considerably less and compared to changing to a different vehicle to handle the load better, the cost is a lot less. The long term cost is also usually less than "white knuckle driving it" without making the suspension adequate to the job.
Perhaps the front is loaded with a snow plow or winch bumper or the rear now hauls heavy cargo, or has a service box , a crane, sander, dump box, tow truck conversion etc. Or maybe the extra demands are towing stablility and ride height maintenance when loaded. Husky Spring offers several methods of upgrading suspension capacity and loaded handling performance while controlling how much suspension height change occurs when the vehicle is loaded or towing.
The benefits of all options are:
1. Less height change with load
2. Better loaded stability and handling
3. Safer driving
4. More driver comfort
5. Better loaded vehicle appearance
6. Less wheel alignment change with load for better tire wear and fuel economy.
7. Less change in loaded headlamp aim.
All the options we offer are good. They vary in hardware or method of function, cost, capacity, maintenance requirements, time of install, & warranty. Not all suspension helpers are offered for all vehicles and applications of part #s are specific to the vehicle so it is important to look up and choose the product that will do the job you need it to do that is offered for your specific vehicle.
The table below summarizes capability, install time, warranty & etc for the Suspension Helper Kits available at Husky Spring:
|
Kit Type |
Applies to these Suspension Types |
Kit Rating or Range |
Can Increase Unloaded Height? |
Will lessen height change with load? |
Will improve loaded handling & stability? |
Side to Side Leveling Possible? |
Maintenance Required? |
Typical Time to Install |
Warranty |
|
Timbren SES Rubber Helper Kits |
Coil,Torsion, or Leaf Spring |
2000lb to 20,000lb depending on application |
NO |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
< 1 hr |
Lifetime to original purchaser on the same vehicle |
|
Husky Spring Load Plus Leaf Helper Kit |
Leaf Spring, Exc Parabolic |
1000lb |
NO |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
< 1 hr |
Lifetime to original purchaser on the same vehicle |
|
2 Leaf Progressive Series 500 |
Leaf Spring, Exc Parabolic |
500lb-1500lb depending on kit |
NO |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
1 hr |
Lifetime to original purchaser on the same vehicle |
|
3 Leaf Progressive Series 505 |
Leaf Spring, Exc Parabolic |
2200lb |
NO |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
1 1/2 hr |
Lifetime to original purchaser on the same vehicle |
|
Hellwig Pro Series Silent Leaf Helper Kit |
Leaf Spring, Exc Parabolic |
2500lb |
NO |
YES |
YES |
NO |
NO |
1 1/2 hr |
Lifetime to original purchaser on the same vehicle |
|
Extra Leaf Kits |
Leaf Spring |
800-2500lb depending on kit |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES, If different in leaf count left to right |
NO |
2-3 hr |
1 year |
|
Air Lift 1000 helper kits |
Coil with no internal shock or strut |
up to 1000lb |
YES, depending on air pressure |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
1-2 hr |
2 Year or Lifetime If Installed with Compressor/Control Kit |
|
Air Lift Ride Control |
Leaf Spring |
up to 2000lb |
YES, depending on air pressure |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
2-3 hr |
2 Year or Lifetime If Installed with Compressor/Control Kit |
|
Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 |
Leaf Spring |
up to 5000lb |
YES, depending on air pressure |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
2-3 hr |
2 Year or Lifetime If Installed with Compressor/Control Kit |
|
Firestone Coil Rite |
Coil with no internal shock or strut |
up to 1000lb |
YES, depending on air pressure |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
1- 2 hr |
Lifetime for mfg. defects on air spring, 2yr or 24,000 miles on hardware |
|
Firestone Sport Rite |
Leaf Spring |
up to 2000lb |
YES, depending on air pressure |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
2-3 hr |
Lifetime for mfg. defects on air spring, 2yr or 24,000 miles on hardware |
|
Firestone Ride Rite |
Leaf Spring |
up to 5000lb |
YES, depending on air pressure |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
2 to 3 hr |
Lifetime for mfg. defects on air spring, 2yr or 24,000 miles on hardware |
 Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 Air Spring Helper Kit
Hellwig Pro Series Silent Leaf Helper Kit
Timben SES Rubber Spring Helper Kit
Husky Spring Load Plus Leaf Helper Kit  |
Husky Spring sells Leaf Springs, Coil Springs, Add a Leaf Kits, Leveling kits, Suspension Helpers, U-bolts & quality suspension parts supported by our suspension experts.
