What is Air Ride Suspension? | Revv.ly Glossary

What is Air Ride?

Oh, this is brilliant--right, so imagine you could have your car slammed to the ground at a show, looking absolutely mean, and then at the push of a button it rises up like some sort of automotive phoenix and you can actually drive home without destroying anything. That's air ride, and once you experience it, you'll wonder why anyone does anything else.
Air ride suspension replaces traditional springs with air bags--essentially tough rubber bladders that inflate and deflate to change ride height. Combined with a compressor, tank, and management system, you get infinite adjustability on the fly. Stuck in traffic? Air up and relax. Pulling into a show? Dump it to the ground. Speed bump ahead? A quick button press and you're over it without drama.

How Does It Actually Work?

The system consists of several key components:
Air Bags (Struts) -- These replace your coilover springs or sit alongside your dampers, depending on setup. They range from basic double-bellows designs to sophisticated sleeve-style units. Quality matters enormously here--cheap bags fail, and failures at low heights can leave you stranded.
Compressor -- Pumps air into the system. Better setups run dual compressors for faster fill times. The compressor lives in your boot or trunk, usually mounted to a tank.
Tank -- Stores compressed air so you're not waiting for the compressor every time you want to adjust. Bigger tanks mean more adjustments between compressor cycles. Common sizes range from 2-5 gallons.
Management System -- The brains of the operation. Basic setups use paddle valves for manual control. Modern management uses electronic valves controlled by digital displays or smartphone apps. Fancy systems add ride-height sensors for automatic preset heights.
Lines and Fittings -- Everything connects via air lines, typically DOT-approved for safety. Fitting quality matters--air leaks are annoying at best, dangerous at worst.

The Brands Worth Knowing

Air Lift Performance -- The dominant player for enthusiast use. Their 3P and 3H management systems are everywhere, and their bag designs cover most popular platforms. Good quality, excellent support.
Airbag Man -- Australian company with strong coverage of Japanese vehicles. Particularly popular in stance communities.
Universal Air -- Budget-friendly entry point. Functional but with fewer features than premium options.
AccuAir -- Premium management systems with smartphone control and height sensors. Luxury pricing but luxury features.
Bag Riders -- Excellent resource for components and complete kits, especially for VW/Audi crowd.

Why Choose Air Over Coilovers?

The versatility argument is compelling:

• Daily Driveability -- Run comfortable heights for commuting, drop for photos or shows
• Practicality -- Navigate steep driveways, parking garages, and speed bumps without scraping
• Adjustability -- Fine-tune height at each corner for perfect fitment in any situation
• Ride Quality -- Air naturally provides progressive spring rates, often smoother than stiff coilovers

The Counter-Arguments

Fair play to the static crowd--air has downsides too:

• Complexity -- More components mean more potential failure points
• Cost -- Quality air setups cost more than mid-range coilovers
• Weight -- Compressor, tank, and management add weight, often in the trunk
• Purist Perception -- Some view air as "cheating" the stance game

Installation Reality

This isn't a Saturday afternoon project. Air ride installation requires:

• Suspension disassembly and reassembly
• Electrical wiring for compressor and management
• Air line routing throughout the vehicle
• Often, trunk fabrication for clean component mounting
• Proper setup and calibration
  Budget for professional installation unless you're genuinely experienced. A dodgy air installation is dangerous.
  Find fellow air riders on Revvly--share your bag setups, preset heights, and management configurations.
  Related: Coilovers, Static, Stance
  Popular Air Ride Platforms: VW Golf MK7, Audi A4 B8, BMW F30