Lyubomir Kiprov
11.07.2024 год.
In this article, we are about to talk only in regards the aftermarket air suspension. Each air suspension consists of the following main parts:
  • Air Tank
  • Compressor
  • Controller (Analog/Digital)
  • Bags
Most companies offer these items as a kit. In addition to it, you can also order shocks.
When do you need coilovers?
If you have coilovers on your car, in most cases you won't need new ones. Bags are used to replace the springs. There are two important things to keep in mind:
  1. In the case there is an oil leak from your coilovers, most installers will not agree to place the bags, as this would cause dissatisfaction with them
  2. To make sure the bags will fit your coilovers, measure the radios above and below the spring, otherwise no one is going to risk replacing the springs them with bags, so as they may not fit
silvercoil
Types of management systems
Management systems vary according to the functions they have. There are 3 main groups:
  • Manual Control - With this system, you manually control how much air goes into the bags. This is done with a button - hold up, air enters, hold down - air exits
  • Pressure control - With this system there are sensors in the controller that monitor the pressure in the bags and you can adjust several settings via a mobile app. By pressing any setting, the controller automatically inflates/deflates the car according to the set pressure. 
  • In case you load the car, the pressure sensors will read the set pressure and they will not lift the car.
  • Height Control - With this system, height sensors are installed around the coilovers, which monitor the height of the bags. You can adjust the height through a mobile app, so by pressing any setting, the controller will automatically inflate/descend the car according to the height being set. 
    In case you load the car, the height sensors will detect that the car has lowered and they will raise it.
Height control is the most difficult to install and the most expensive. For this reason, we will look at the different sets with their functions in the other two groups
Manual based
Any control that does not include a digital controller falls into this group, namely:
  • EasyFit font>
  • VU2
  • VU4
The EasyFit system comes with a gauge, with two arrows, around which there are two buttons. The way it works is to lift the 2x2 bags or in other words front-back. The arrows show the pressure of the bags (2x2) in the front and back, respectively. You hold the left button up - inflate the front bags. You hold the left button down - lower the front bags. The right button responds in the same way to the rear bags.
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vu4
VU2/VU4 are analog controllers that can be controlled via a WiFi module (remotely). Think of it as a TV remote. You press and hold channel 1 and the car goes up, you press and hold channel 2 and the car goes down 😀.
The difference between the two controllers is as follows:
  • VU2 - raises/lowers the car 2x2 - front/back
  • VU4 - you have independent access to each bag. You press and hold channel 1 (the remote), raise only the front left bag. You press and hold channel 2 (the remote), raise only the front right bag.
Pressure Based
Pressure management kits come with a digital controller and include:
  • Independent access to each bag or in other words you can inflate/deflate the bags individually.
  • Remote with display - shows the pressure in each bag. You have hot buttons that allow you to use preconfigured pressure settings. You go to the supermarket, the car is on the ground. You go back and press one of the quick buttons - the car rises automatically. You don't have to hold and wait for air like with manual systems.
  • Mobile application with built-in module - shows the pressure in each bag. You have hot buttons that allow you to use preconfigured pressure settings.
    You have the option to set when the car is turned off whether it falls to the ground and when it is turned on, it rises by itself.
    You have the option to set the pressure under which the compressor starts to fill the air tank. This way you have less compressor depreciation.
Water Trap
The water trap is a part that is ONLY needed in the case of a digital/analog controller. With EasyFit it is not NECESSARY.
When the car is inflated/deflated, the compressor fills the air tank with air and therefore condensation occurs. This condensation is not desirable to enter the controller. For this reason, a water trap is installed to the bottle, which collects the condensate and prevents it from entering the controller.
Air tank, compressor and air lines
Air tanks vary in the volume of air they can hold. The bigger the tank the less the compressor will work when you play with raising/lowering the car. Not every car can fit a 5 gallon tank, so you can fit a smaller one, no problem. Keep in mind that the material of the bottle should be aluminum so that it does not rust.
Each tank has one outlet on the left and one on the right designed to be connected to a compressor. In other words, you can put 2 compressors on one air tank. In practice, you don't need two, but the car will lift one idea slower. Also, when the compressor is running, it gets quite hot. That is not a problem, but it would be convenient to have a friend to help him with his work.
Air lines com in 2 standards:
  • 6mm or 1 /4
  • 10mm or 3/8
< span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">These are units relative to European / American standard. 1/4 lines are smaller in diameter and therefore move air through them more slowly. There is no other difference.
Air suspension maintenance
The only maintenance that needs to be done at about 6 months is to remove condensation from the water trap. There is a valve at the bottom that is pressed and the condensation drains out.
The bags have the potential to burst if there is friction between them and the tire. For this, pay attention when you install the system in a fully lowered state whether your tires will rest on the bags.