|
|
|
Technical - Frequently Asked Questions |
What is an airbag or airspring?
An airbag and an airspring are exactly the same thing. It is a spring constructed of rubber and a high strength fabric. Numerous styles, sizes, and capacity ratings are available. The load capacity and ride height of a vehicle vary due to the air pressure in the airspring.
Are these airsprings durable and safe?
Our airsprings are made to our specifications by Firestone, the world's largest airspring manufacturer. They are used on large semi-trucks, off road equipment, luxury cars, and also in industrial machinery, conveyer systems, and load stabilizers. We recently sold an airspring to replace a unit that had been in service for 17 years! (The endplate had rusted out!) Failure can happen, but it is extremely rare. We require that the vehicle have at least two inches of ground clearance when the airspring is fully deflated. This helps prevent a major problem in case of a system failure.
How much ride height adjustment will I have?
Depending on the weight of the vehicle, suspension type, and airspring selection, usually four to five inches in the front and five to six inches in the rear. We typically set an airspring suspension to ride within two inches of the stock ride height.
How long does it take to raise the ride height?
Again it depends on several factors. A 4 way RideProŽ system can raise the ride height in as fast as two seconds. A BigRedŽ MAX system can raise your car in under one second!
What about varying loads such as people, luggage, trailer, etc?
Simply increase the air pressure until the ride height and ride quality are satisfactory. When the load is removed, release the air pressure to restore your ride height.
How is the ride quality?
Wonderful! If you closed your eyes, you would swear that you were in a new luxury car. The ride quality can also be adjusted from inside the vehicle to suit your taste (try that with a coilover or leaf spring!)
How difficult is the installation?
This varies greatly from vehicle to vehicle. Most installations can be accomplished with a bare minimum of fabrication - some can even bolt-on.
Can you install the kit for me?
We have a network of recommended installers throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Do you make a system for my car?
We are continually developing new systems. If we don't make a system for your specific vehicle, we can probably assist you in adapting one of our existing systems. There are very few vehicles that are not compatible with an air ride suspension.
What happens to the front wheel alignment?
The vehicle is aligned at ride height. That is the height that you want the car to go down the highway. Take note of the air pressure at this point. Whenever the system is returned to this pressure your ride height and alignment will return also.
Can I drive the car 'slammed' with no air in the airsprings?
Yes, but the ride quality is zero. You should probably reserve this for parking and fairgrounds cruising. It won't hurt the airsprings, but it may hurt your back!
Caution: If you are going to drive the car 'slammed' pay very close attention to ground clearance and tyre clearance. There is a lot of difference between laying the oil pan on the ground and dragging it along the ground!
|
|
