Anyone running AIR suspension?

[Faceless]

Hello,

My Leon is currently riding on Eibach Sportline springs, however I'm looking for a more complete suspension setup, rather than a combination of aftermarket + factory components that I have on there now.

Ideally a setup that can be custom setup, both ride height plus rebound.
I have looked at Coilover packages, which I'd had on past cars too, but thought air suspension might be an interesting and more custom way to go.

Anyone running such a system? Advantages / Disadvantages? Cost?

Thanks.

 

[Noel McQ]

Have been toying with this idea myself lately. For a decent kit your talking maybe the guts of £3k! advantages are being able to go lower than most! havent heard any disadvantages from people who have it done bar the cost of actually doing it!

 

[Al]

Depends if you want the car to go round corners well or if you want to achieve a certain "look".

Good coilovers cost less than half what air does. Pro's of coilovers include handling, adjustability (KW V3's or Bilstein PSS16's).

The only benefit of air suspension I can see is that you can raise the car to go over speed bumps or floods.

Really down to the individual at the end of the day.

If you want good handling (like racing cars have) and a nice drop, get coilovers. If you want to take loads of close up pictures of the wheels sticking out past the arches and tyres that are stretched to stay in the arches, get air

 

[Faceless]

Cheers Al, appreciate all your feedback. Yes, am aware of the difference in price between Coilovers and air ride suspension kits. Plus there's so much more hardware involved too.

Aim is to go lower than now (but still practical for the road), or even lower depending where Im driving (offroad - track conditions for example), plus am sure the air ride will offer much more comfort over my current configuration (crashy FR ride), plus even better than the Coilover kit too, due to the method of damping employed.

I've also been looking at the chassis and other components of the car, to anticipate what extra strengthening might be need, to take the abuse of the 'sudden' up/down movements of the shell.

Know someone who ran an original VW Beetle on air ride suspension. The car was effectively written off over a 6 month period, as the chassis literally disintegrated, from all the punishment. He might have been a bit "enthusiastic" in using the air ride though. Plus granted, a modern car should be that much stronger, but want to ensure I cover all aspects.