Air Suspension FAQ (Good)!
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Air Suspension FAQ (Good)!
What is the difference between manual and fast bags?
The difference is in the valves. Manual kits use manual pneumatic switches. These switches are slower than electric valves. Manual valves include the gauge, switch, and valve together. This requires the air line to be plumed directly to the switch. The switch assembly would need to be mounted in a place that would allow air to exit the system and all the hoses to be plumed. Air is release direct from the switch.
Electric valves or fast bag valves use electric switches and gauges. The valves can be mounted in any location. The switches and gauges can then be mounted in a suitable location and only need the wires ran from the electric valve. Electric valves can also be used with a remote control, Playstation style controller, or 10-switch pre-wired box allowing for seesaw, all up, all down, etc., with a flip of the switch.
What are air struts or strut bags?
Most front wheel drive cars use McPherson struts. Most struts are a combination shock and coil spring. Air struts are the same except the coil spring has been replaced with an air bag. This allows the McPherson strut equipped car to have the capabilities of the air bag suspension.
Are air bag suspension reliable?
Yes. If installed and maintained properly, an air bag suspension system will last as long as any other suspension component.
I heard strut bags can twist and bust. Is this true?
While it is true that early strut bag systems where not very good, today's air struts are much better. The new air strut systems will turn with the strut assembly and not bind up.
What do the air bags replace?
On most vehicles the air bags completely replace the springs and shocks. Some vehicles can still use their shocks.
What are air cylinders or air rods?
Air cylinders where designed for vehicles that may not have a place large enough to mounts an air bag. Hondas need to use air cylinders because the strut tower is not wide enough to use an air bag.
How is the ride quality?
It depends on your vehicle. If you are using really low profile tires or no shocks, you could have a rough ride. Most ride problems are from not having enough air in the bags. If the ride quality is poor, just put more air in the bag.
Air cylinders will ride rough. If you have air cylinders and are experience a rough ride, install a set of air accumulators. That will help your ride.
What are air accumulators and how do they work?
The problem with air cylinders is that they do not have any give like bags. When you hit a bump the air has no place to go. Air accumulators give the air a place to go. When you hit a bump, the air goes from the cylinder to the accumulator. The air then returns from the accumulator back into the cylinder when you are driving normal. The accumulator also is filled with nitrogen gas like a shock. This allows the accumulator to give a smoother ride.
The difference is in the valves. Manual kits use manual pneumatic switches. These switches are slower than electric valves. Manual valves include the gauge, switch, and valve together. This requires the air line to be plumed directly to the switch. The switch assembly would need to be mounted in a place that would allow air to exit the system and all the hoses to be plumed. Air is release direct from the switch.
Electric valves or fast bag valves use electric switches and gauges. The valves can be mounted in any location. The switches and gauges can then be mounted in a suitable location and only need the wires ran from the electric valve. Electric valves can also be used with a remote control, Playstation style controller, or 10-switch pre-wired box allowing for seesaw, all up, all down, etc., with a flip of the switch.
What are air struts or strut bags?
Most front wheel drive cars use McPherson struts. Most struts are a combination shock and coil spring. Air struts are the same except the coil spring has been replaced with an air bag. This allows the McPherson strut equipped car to have the capabilities of the air bag suspension.
Are air bag suspension reliable?
Yes. If installed and maintained properly, an air bag suspension system will last as long as any other suspension component.
I heard strut bags can twist and bust. Is this true?
While it is true that early strut bag systems where not very good, today's air struts are much better. The new air strut systems will turn with the strut assembly and not bind up.
What do the air bags replace?
On most vehicles the air bags completely replace the springs and shocks. Some vehicles can still use their shocks.
What are air cylinders or air rods?
Air cylinders where designed for vehicles that may not have a place large enough to mounts an air bag. Hondas need to use air cylinders because the strut tower is not wide enough to use an air bag.
How is the ride quality?
It depends on your vehicle. If you are using really low profile tires or no shocks, you could have a rough ride. Most ride problems are from not having enough air in the bags. If the ride quality is poor, just put more air in the bag.
Air cylinders will ride rough. If you have air cylinders and are experience a rough ride, install a set of air accumulators. That will help your ride.
What are air accumulators and how do they work?
The problem with air cylinders is that they do not have any give like bags. When you hit a bump the air has no place to go. Air accumulators give the air a place to go. When you hit a bump, the air goes from the cylinder to the accumulator. The air then returns from the accumulator back into the cylinder when you are driving normal. The accumulator also is filled with nitrogen gas like a shock. This allows the accumulator to give a smoother ride.
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Rep Power: 0 Thanks. I was surfing the net for info on air suspension, and I found it. Great addition to the "general" FAQ if you ask me[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]
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Are you planning on getting airsuspension? That is what I'm trying to get but CIVICONBAGS says he has airbags and his cars ride quality sucks. I am waiting to see if one day I get an a car with airsuspension and see how it rides.
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Rep Power: 0 I dont know TOOLOW....
From my understanding, I think that air accumulators only go with air rods because the air has no where else to go where as with bags, the air can move and and such......
From my understanding, I think that air accumulators only go with air rods because the air has no where else to go where as with bags, the air can move and and such......
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Rep Power: 0 Well I saw a 2k2 civic on airbags. I asked him if they were bags or rods and he told me bags. When he was driving his car looked as if it had blown shocks. It was too bouncy. I went to the place where he said he got them installed and the guy there told me that the airbag kit had just came out for the 7thgen and that the car I saw was the first to have it. I forgot to ask him what company made it but he told me that if I got the kit it would ride better than factory. From what I saw it was bouncy. Now I am having second thoughts on airsuspension. BTW he quoted me $2600 total installed. They were actually airbags with a strut.
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Rep Power: 0 got cylinders on my prelude it rides better then factory. Ride quality depends on if its a FBSS system or a FB system size of line u are running and the cylinder quality. got mine from www.the-hack-shack.com 1 year ago. I wouldnt suggest their kit anymore its to massed produced now. CLICK TO SEE PICS thats my lude sits low dont crack my kit or nething any more got a civic for daily tho [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
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Rep Power: 0 Hey error, why would it matter if its fb or fbss. Shouldn't it ride the same? I heard bags ride better than cylinders. So if I get the bags or airstruts for my car it should ride good enough for a daily driven car? Do you have accumulators on you car.
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Rep Power: 0 ok first of all bags on FWD doesnt work to well. Sturt bags give u know drop and ride like booty. U need shocks with bags or it will give u a horrible ride. I have no accumulators it rides fine. Bags pop and go bad cylinders last for years if not abused. cylinders are faster and full bolt on. EAI and hackshack are the same thing.
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Rep Power: 416 how does air cylinders actually bolt on the car? cause i know with an airstrut that replaces both the shock and spring... from my understanding air cylinders go INSIDE the spring??? or do air cylinders replace both spring and shock as well? if it does go inside the spring, the spring limits the lowest ride height right? meaning you would have to get really really low springs in order to slam the car. this just doesnt sound right to me but also it replacing both spring/shock doesnt sound right either.
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Rep Power: 0 The cars I have seen with air cylinders just have air cylinders. It replaces both the shock and the strut. The kit that I saw on the white civic in my town had airbags with a strut. He said AIM made the kit and that it just came out for our cars.
The Standard One
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Rep Power: 416 if it replaces both shock and spring then does it come with that arm that hooks up to the tie rod? or would we somehow have to hack our stock struts in order to put those on our car? that other guy did say it was just a bolt on installation so hacking the struts wouldnt make it a bolt on...
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Rep Power: 0 well prelude is double wishbone. Ive been to a shop where they were installing air on a GS400 and he had to hack up the struts. Dont buy from AIM their fittings are really bad and so are their cylinders. But i think if you go with the strutbags u dont have to hack up the struts. But i think they have started making brackets for MC Phearson sturts full bolt on cylinders.
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Rep Power: 0 Hey error, so how is the ride with the cylinders without accumulators? Is it bouncy like hydros or what? Is it good for everyday driving and do you think it rides better than with Konis and Ground Control? That is what I currently have.
BTW what did you pay for your setup?
BTW what did you pay for your setup?
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Rep Power: 0 Dude it rides better then my 02 civic. thing is so bouncy its a dream when i drive the lude too a show. i got my setup 1 year ago for 1500 shipped then i upgraded to a Viair 450 100% duty compressor, 10 switch box, and another 5 gallon tank. so over all id say like 1800 for the setup. Did the install my self in 1 day as well as 2 other Hondas i have bagged. Havent done a new civic yet havent been asked to either. Hydros have no give, air gives, hence making a softer smoother ride.
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Rep Power: 416 i would think there isnt any maintnence such as greasing things or anything like that. but as with everything i'm sure things fall apart or break every now n then. but ya for the most part, it should last just as long as the car would last...
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Rep Power: 0 I GOT ONE THING TO SAY..............SCREW AIR....GET HYDROZ My Buddies Accord on DroZ...
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Rep Power: 0 Hope this helps anyone who wants to get air rides for their car. Just this past weekend I watched a shop called Ultimate Auto Boutique(sp) www.uabcustomcars.com install some air rides on a 2k1 2dr civic. The kit came from hack shack and retails around $2500. The kit includes rods for the front and bags for the rear, 3 gallon tank, 10 switch box, and the smallest compressor. This kit is a front, back, side to side kit. Like people have been saying this is a McPherrison Strut (sp) and does use rods in the front and bags for the rear. The install took about 3 days but it can take up to 13hrs if you dont want to take a break. When the kit was finally installed we wanted to see how low it would rest. The rear of the car was tucking the 17's and the front was still high, if you have coilovers and put them all the way down depending on the coilovers, thats how high the front is, about a finger gap in the front. The kit rides like a caddy and as posted before the kit looks like it has blown shock, thats only the back because it is on bags in the rear, the rods dont ride like that. There is talk about modifying he front rods to go lower but that is gonna take some time and I will post up if I hear anything. If anyone has any qestions about this set up call Ultimate Auto Boutique(sp) their number is on their site and ask for Brooks, he is the one who did the install. Tell him twin sent you.
