Ram 1500 Air Suspension & Air Helper Spring Guide

This guide is for Ram 1500 owners in Canada shopping for air suspension: a rear air suspension kit, an air helper spring kit, or a replacement air spring bellow. The choice depends on your truck's years, any exclusions in the title, and which kind of part you need.

Pacbrake and Firestone describe air suspension the same way in their listings: inflatable air springs are used in place of, or alongside, steel springs, and changing the air pressure changes how much load each spring supports and how high the vehicle sits.

What to check first on your Ram 1500

• Years. The titles in this guide run 09-26 or 19-25, and some Firestone titles name no years at all. From 2019, Ram sold the Ram 1500 Classic alongside the new Ram 1500, so if you own a 2019 or later truck, confirm on the product page that your body is listed.
• Exclusions. Read the end of the title. The Pacbrake Alpha HD and Alpha HD Pro titles exclude the RHO and TRX.
• Position. Titles say Rear, Front or Rear, or nothing. Where a title names no position, the product page is where to check.
• Drive and load. None of the titles here names 2WD or 4WD, and none states a load rating. Check the product page for both.
• Trim. Firestone's fitment tables list Ram 1500 trims separately. Find yours in the table.

Kit, helper spring or bellow?

• Air suspension kit. Pacbrake titles its Alpha kits as air suspension kits.
• Air helper spring kit. Firestone titles Ride-Rite and Coil-Rite as air helper spring kits; a helper spring works alongside the factory springs. Firestone's titles also carry the words "Leveling Kit".
• Replacement bellow. The bellow is the inflatable part of an air spring. Firestone titles FR6401 as a replacement bellow, sold on its own.

Pacbrake air suspension kits

Alpha HD and Alpha HD Pro

The Pacbrake Alpha HD Rear Air Suspension Kit and the Pacbrake Alpha HD Pro Rear Air Suspension Kit are both titled for the 09-26 Ram 1500, excluding the RHO and TRX, and Pacbrake lists both in the rear position. Our listings do not spell out what the Pro version adds, so compare the two product pages side by side before choosing.

Alpha SD

The Pacbrake Alpha SD Air Suspension Kit is titled for the 19-25 Ram 1500. Its title states no position and no exclusions, so read the product page and fitment table for both. More from the brand: Pacbrake.

Firestone air springs and helper kits

Replacement bellow

The Firestone Air Springs Front or Rear Replacement Bellow (FR6401) is titled as a front or rear replacement bellow. Its title names no vehicle; the fitment table on its page lists the vehicles it is recorded for, so find your exact year there.

Coil-Rite

The Firestone Coil-Rite Air Helper Spring Kit (FR4185) is titled as a leveling kit and air helper spring kit. Its title names no vehicle or years and no position; the fitment table lists the years and trims, so check yours.

Ride-Rite rear

The Firestone Rear Ride-Rite Air Helper Spring Kit (FR2595) is titled for the rear, for select Dodge and Ram vehicles. Because the title says "select", the fitment table on the product page, which lists the years and trims, is the place to confirm your Ram 1500. More from the brand: Firestone Air Suspension & Helper Springs.

Narrowing it down

Start with the kind of part: a full Pacbrake kit, a Firestone helper spring kit, or a replacement bellow for an air spring you already run. Then read the title for years and exclusions such as RHO/TRX, and open the fitment table for your trim. Each product page lists the years, makes and models it fits, and the vehicle selector filters the full Air Suspension & Helper Springs category. If you are setting the truck up to pull a trailer, our guide to towing basics: hitches, brake controllers and wiring covers the rest of the setup.

FAQ

Will these kits fit a Ram 1500 TRX?

The Pacbrake Alpha HD and Alpha HD Pro titles exclude the RHO and TRX. The other titles in this guide do not name the TRX either way, so check the fitment table on the product page before you order.

What is the difference between an air suspension kit and an air helper spring?

Air springs can work in place of, or alongside, the steel springs. Pacbrake titles its Alpha kits as air suspension kits, while Firestone titles Ride-Rite and Coil-Rite as air helper spring kits. Each product page lists what is in the box.

How much weight can these air springs carry?

None of the listings in this guide states a load rating. The maker text explains that air pressure changes how much load each spring supports, so check the product page for figures before you rely on a kit for a given load.

Do these kits suit both 2WD and 4WD trucks?

None of the titles here names 2WD or 4WD. Check the fitment table on each product page and use the vehicle selector with your exact truck.