Helper Springs

When a vehicle sags, squats, and sits low at one end, a variety of problems can ensue. When towing a large trailer or carrying a heavy load in a truck bed, weight distribution becomes biased to the rear. This can cause the headlights to point skyward instead of illuminating the road ahead, so you may not be able to detect obstacles or see road signs clearly in darkness. The front tires steer the vehicle and bear most of the braking burden. With a rearward weight bias, traction for steering and braking will be reduced at the front wheels, which can make driving dangerous.

If the vehicle is used regularly for such tasks, cargo coils or heavy-duty leaf springs can be installed. However, when the vehicle isn’t towing or is driven unladen, the ride quality with these springs may be too harsh. For leaf spring vehicles, an add-a-leaf kit is another alternative. Add-a-leaf kits are the economical way to increase spring rate and load capacity without replacing the entire spring. But while this choice will enable your truck to carry more weight, it will also result in a somewhat stiffer ride. An add-a-leaf kit is a good choice if you regularly haul heavy loads, but it can also be a cost-effective choice if you want a modest increase in lift. Add-a-leaf kits are also available for the front leaf springs on many trucks.

However, if you only occasionally tow or carry heavy loads, helper springs are the answer. They work with your existing coil or leaf springs, to level the vehicle and provide a smooth ride and optimal handling when hauling cargo or towing. We offer air springs, secondary leaf and coil spring, and micro-cellular urethane helper springs. Secondary leaf springs are available in a wide range of load support ratings. They’re manufactured from heat treated spring steel for maximum strength, and can be adjusted independently to accommodate uneven side-to-side loads. When weight at the rear of the vehicle increases, load assistance takes place gradually as the main springs compress. During normal unloaded driving, they have no effect on the main springs, and don’t cause any ride harshness.

The patented urethane helper springs we offer are available for both coil and leaf spring vehicles. Manufactured from a proprietary closed micro-cellular urethane, they’re durable and maintenance-free and come in a several densities/capacities, so you can get the springs that are right for your vehicle and application. These helper springs will level your vehicle when loaded, provide a smooth ride, even over rough and uneven surfaces, and give you greater control for safe driving. We also have coil spring helpers that attach to the axle and provide load carrying assistance without detracting from ride quality when the vehicle is unloaded, as well as variable rate load control springs that install over the shock absorbers. These are available in several load capacities.

Our helper air springs supplement your factory springs and install on top of the leaf springs or axle, or fit inside the coil springs. They come in vehicle specific kits that can provide from 1000 to up to 7500 lbs. of load support. Air springs can be adjusted to the load within the range of their rated capacity, so you can level your vehicle for optimal headlight aim, steering, braking and control, and get a comfortable ride. They can also reduce body roll and trailer sway, improving vehicle stability even in cross winds. The air springs are inflated via air lines and Schrader valves, and can be set up to fill in pairs or individually. However, to get the most benefit from your air springs, install an on-board air compressor system.

We have complete systems that include the compressor, air springs, and everything needed for installation, as well as compressor systems that can be used with any brand air springs. Instead of having to find a source of air when you want to pump up your air springs, with an on-board compressor system you can adjust air pressure with the touch of a button in the cab, or wirelessly via hand-held remote control. In addition to convenient operation, wireless control systems are easy to install and some include user-defined memory buttons and diagnostic capabilities. The ultimate compressor setup is our automatic leveling control system which includes sensors that signal the compressor to inflate the air springs when a change in ride height is detected, so you get a smooth, level ride automatically.