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Technical - Caring for your Air Suspension System |
After the purchase of your new Air Ride suspension system, you may have a few questions arise. Here is a selection of the most recently asked questions.
I don't have motor or trans in my car yet. How will I know where my ride height will be?
That's the beauty of the air ride suspension! The final weight of the car will be compensated for with the final air pressure. For example, if your car weighs 1000 pounds on the front with no motor or trans, it may only take 50 pounds per square inch of air pressure to get the car to ride height. When you install the drivetrain, the weight may go to 1700 lbs. Then the air pressure may go to 80 psi at ride height. Ride height is ride height, no matter what the weight.
Should I put the rear airspring in front or behind the axle?
The airspring will offer slightly more travel in front of the axle and offer slightly more load capacity behind the axle. If towing capacity is an issue, place them behind the axle. If ride height adjustment is of more importance, put them in front. The difference is not that great so usually you can just place them where there is the most room.
Do I have to run a tank and compressor?
A compressor and tank are highly recommended on a full air ride system. Theoretically, you can just inflate the airsprings to a specific pressure and go down the road. But without the compressor system, you give up the ability to fine tune the system for the best ride quality.
You may also lose the ability to compensate for extra passengers, luggage or other loads. A 2 gallon tank is usually enough for most cars to achieve ride height one time before the compressor kicks on. A larger tank or multiple tanks will speed up the rise time. Some of the truck guys even prefer multiple compressors.
What about air transfer when cornering?
It can range from undetectable in a light car with good shocks and a swaybar to being a major problem in a tall heavy car with soft shocks and no swaybar. If you have any doubts install a 4 way control system that will prevent any air transfer. The only compromise is a little extra cost and the benefits are many including better handling, faster rise time and simpler plumbing.
Why does my car lean?
There are several reasons why a vehicle could lean. Unequal weight, binding suspension component, unequal mount installation and a twisted frame are just a few things to look for. The inherent softer spring rate of an airspring may allow a vehicle to lean which did not lean previously with a mechanical spring.
Swaybars tend to improve this problem. Sometimes the ultimate solution is to install a 4 way control system to compensate for the lean. This is the equivalent to cranking up a coilover on one side or the other to level the car (Ask any professional car builder how many times he has done this!)
Why doesn't my car ride any better than it did before?
Although an air ride suspension will supply the best ride your car can achieve, it can't perform miracles. Play with the air pressure in small increments. Don't be afraid to crank some air into it! It is far more common to have too little air pressure than too much.
The installed heights of the airsprings are a starting point for tuning. You may find that your car rides better half an inch higher or lower than the published installed height. Also, give the vehicle some time to 'break in'. Any new suspension will need 1000 miles (over 1600 kms) to loosen up and ride well.
Why does my car leak down overnight?
If your car leaks down, spray the connections with soapy water to find where the air is going. Start at the control panel and search until you see bubbles. Be sure to do all the connections as there may be more than one leak.
A leak that takes more than 3 or 4 days to leak down is especially tough to locate. Try over-inflating to 100 psi to find these leaks. The airline connections are normally trouble free, but the more they are disassembled, the more prone they are to leakage.
How can I get my car up faster?
More or larger tanks, larger airlines, more or larger air valves, more compressors, higher pressure will all make your car rise faster. The compromises are cost, complexity and durability of the components.
How much air pressure should I run in my car?
Weight, type of suspension, size of airspring, and even how the airspring is mounted are contributing factors as to how much air pressure you should run. The most important dimension to be concerned with is the installed height of the airspring. Inflate the system until the airspring is at its recommended installed height. This usually means raising the car three to four inches from being bottomed out. You can then adjust the air pressure in small increments to find the best ride quality.
What about the front end alignment?
After adjusting the air pressure as outlined above, align the car at that ride height. Make a mental note of the air pressure on the gauge. When you return the car to that air pressure, the alignment also returns. After driving the car for a few hundred miles, you may want to recheck the alignment, especially if you have selected a significantly different air pressure than the original alignment pressure.
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