Ups & Downs Of Air Ride!

First of all Bdyman, I think you could really help me out, because I want to do exactly what you're doing right now, I want AIR! Psssshhhhhhhhhhh!!

What all do I have to plan for, replacement struts, air compressor, and valve lines? that's all that it looks like, but what about controls? The remote 150dolllar kit looks great! and the 1,000$ 2-3 second compressor system looks great too!

What are those clear switch boxes and what does each switch do? how is the air ride system operated? What else do I need?

An additional battery? I want one anyways, planning it for the trunk, don't know the best kit for it yet.... why does silent have like 6 batteries in his trunk, is that for juice?

Juice is hydraulics right? why is air better? can air be operated while the car is in motion? does the tank need to be refilled? can I fit 20"s If i change to air struts? should I even consider them or will 18's be best for the layed out look, will twenties tuck? will 18's tuck? etc?

I've heard to stay away from some kits, but I'm looking for detailed advice! the product info I keep seeing on the differetn retail sites doesn't answer my queastions at all....

[bdyman]

lol.....pppssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

ok anyway.........our cars can fit 20`s but with modification to the strut tower not worht it in my opnion
you want to lay the rocker panel on the ground you would have to do a body drop and that is way costly and allot of work again in my opinion not worth it

i have 18`s and the car does tuck with them on, no problem
http://airride.com/ the best out there that`s what iam using
all those extra switches are to control different points of the car up and down side to side all that stuff
hydro`s is what marc has and what your seeing are the pump`s and the batteries that run the system
hydro`s not really good on a daily driver more a show thing
i run a 2nd battery on the air ride system`s i have installed in the past ya the alternator works harder to keep up 2 batteries but go to mralternator.com he has one for the v6 and it`s kinda like a fail safe thing too if one battery goes dead ya have a 2nd one to run the car off of
in my own opinion all thos extra switches are not needed just a simple 2 switch up and down are good for me to me all that extra stuff is just to much

so my suggestion to you is to go with airride.com there stuff is the best out there and the compressor system`s are so simple that a monkey can install it
the arc2000 compressor system is what i got and they have more so you can control all 4 wheels from inside the car with a small led display and 4 small button`s
i hope that helped ya out a bit on your quest to join the rest of us on air
pppssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
nukkah!!!!

[ptrudel]

man...all this talk about air ride is makin me wanna have it keep us updated on the project hobbes

[bdyman]

so why don`t ya buy it then :thumbsup:

[ptrudel]

illegal in canada...and i'm dirt broke...and im savin for an S/C

Illegal in Canada? Not here in MB.

[ptrudel]

its in the traffic act somewhere...i'll dig it up

[bdyman]

your kiddin!! that`s crazy
why would altering your suspension be considered illeagal??
god iam glad i live in the states, i couldn`t take laws that would stop me from modifing my car
that`s crazy!!

why would altering your suspension be illegal?

do you want some kid driving down the freewa going 80mph on springs he cut in half to lower his ride??

or some kid in a 83 civic with a 5" drop with no alligment whatsoever in the lane nex to you?? i wouldnt...

although will these laws prevent this? no sir...

Originally posted by bdyman@Aug 20 2004, 10:57 AM
your kiddin!! that`s crazy
why would altering your suspension be considered illeagal??
god iam glad i live in the states, i couldn`t take laws that would stop me from modifing my car
that`s crazy!!

make sure to hit some switches in front of a cop and see what happens...
if u go with air, make sure you have atleast a 5 gallon tank, and a compressor that is 100% duty cycle. i'd go with a 9 gallon, but a 5 gallon will work.

it's not illegal here in Canada but it is illegal to use it in traffic is what the traffic act means...ie. at stop lights or while driving... you can use it only while your car is parked ( off the road of course) ... I have 3 friends with air (cavalier, suburban, 1500 chevy P/U) my friend with the cavalier has been warned about it a couple times for using it @ stoplights(one time a bunch of chicks pulled up beside us he jacks the rear end then drops back slooooow :huh?: ) funny thing the cop was in thier lane couple cars back...flashed his cherry's and pulled him over....just a warning no ticket

I found a great resource....here, might be of use to others here.... Looks like the most expensive part is the big red electric valve system.. excluding the actual air struts of course!

I learned alot though! Moisture traps and whatnot.....