Introduction
Within the aftermarket arena, Timbren SES helper springs were originally designed as a viable alternative to metal spring helpers and airbags. Metal spring helpers for leaf springs – not to mention certain rubber helper designs for coil springs – work well as an assist.
While each aftermarket product has its place for certain suspension applications, the Timbren SES suspension enhancement system has become a worthy competitor with an airbag suspension, i.e., products like Firestone and Air Lift.
For over 50 years, people looking for a suspension helper spring for their truck or SUV have wondered what upgrade to choose: Timbren SES vs airbags. They are familiar with airbag systems, but not with Timbren SES.
At first glance, the Timbren SES helpers look very similar to an airbag system. But once you’ve taken a closer look, you will undoubtedly discover some remarkable differences as well.
The following is a short comparison between Timbren SES and an airbag system. Hopefully, you will be able to make a more educated choice between the two.
Similarities
Besides the obvious visual resemblance, what other similarities are there?
Load leveling: Both Timbren SES and the airbag system will improve vehicle handling and its overall performance by reducing suspension sag. Keeping a truck level gives you 3 things:
- Reduced body roll and sway
When a truck is sagging too far to the left of the right, body roll and sway immediately becomes a factor.
- Improved steering
If a truck or SUV is sagging in the back end, your steering is compromised. This makes it dangerous to safely navigate rough terrain, curves and bends in the road.
- Better control
It goes without saying that a level vehicle gives you maximum control reducing the need to ‘white knuckle’ it and lower your speed.
Ease of use: Timbren SES upgrades have always been easy to use. You just set it and forget it. Although airbag systems have not always been simple to operate, recent technical advances with airbag suspensions have made it much easier to use.
Ride quality: In general, both airbags and Timbren springs are designed to improve ride quality in both loaded and unloaded situations.
Warranty: Both Timbren SES and airbag systems (Firestone/Air Lift) come with a Limited Lifetime warranty.
Differences
Technology: Fundamentally, a Timbren SES system uses Aeon® hollow rubber springs. They do not use compressed air like airbags. When the load is applied, the shape of the spring begins to expand.
However, airbags are… well, rubber bags designed to hold air. The bag expands just like a balloon as air is forced into the rubber bladder.
Installation: Both systems are relatively easy to install. But if you tried to install an airbag system and then follow up with a Timbren kit, you would be struck by two things:
- The airbag kit has a lot more components than the Timbren SES kit does.
- The average airbag kit takes about 3 hours to install; the average Timbren kit takes less than an hour.
Adjustability: The most obvious difference between Timbren SES vs air bags is the manner in which they adapt to various road and load conditions.
Airbags can be manually altered to maintain ride height and, to some degree, driver preference. Needless to say, this makes them quite adjustable.
Timbren rubber springs, on the other hand, automatically adjust to variable loads and road conditions. In other words, these rubber springs are self-adjusting. It’s the progressive spring rate built right into Aeon® hollow rubber springs that enables them to adjust automatically.
Maintenance: With Timbren SES, the hollow rubber springs require zero maintenance. Any tweaking or adjusting is done during installation.
On the other hand, airbag maintenance must be performed as often as required to ensure the airbag doesn’t dip below 5 psi. (This is to make sure that the airbag isn’t damaged.) Also, because it’s air that’s doing the heavy lifting, the bladder that holds the air may start to leak which would dramatically compromise the effectiveness of the entire system.
Price: Even though we’re comparing price, we are not going to make any judgments regarding cost vs value. (Sometimes a product that costs more is considered to have greater value which, of course, isn’t necessarily true.)
Timbren SES kits are priced somewhere between $225.00 and $500.00.
Airbag kits are priced somewhere between $300 and $1000.00. (Don’t forget: there are more things to buy, like on-board air compressors and other related accessories.)
Summary
This short comparison examines the similarities and the differences between Timbren SES suspension upgrades and airbag suspension kits.
Similarities:
- Load leveling
- Ease of use
- Ride Quality
- Warranty
Differences:
- Technology
- Installation
- Adjustability
- Maintenance
- Price
It’s fair to say that airbag suspension kits bring to the table things that Timbren SES kits do not. And Timbren kits have certain advantages that airbags lack. Hopefully, this article has brought some clarity to the question, “Should I purchase a Timbren SES suspension kit or an airbag kit?” Only you can decide.
So, what is your preference?
