Anyone ran or run it? Looking into it for my vrs but ubsure what I really need? Daily cr170 so want keep the comfort and run low hence no coilovers eapecially where I live in the middle no where. Familiar with air systems but on busses and trucks... So little out my depth!

Nick P may well be the person to have a word with.

Any struts from the mk5/mk6 golf range, new audi a3 model, seat Leon mk2 ect, will fit, obviously they need to be 55mm front struts.

It comes up very oftern second hand, and 99% of the time they are always airlift struts, there one of the market leaders and their equipment speaks for its self.

And most of these kits will be complete so you shouldn't have to buy anything more than some new air line and fittings, be careful of perished and worn air bags from rubbig etc of buying second hand, these can go pop, and not always while your stood still.

As with anything, the more you spend the better you get.

Struts will be your main outlay if your building a kit your self, then there's comps, tanks and management, not to mention, guages (depending on maganment) lines and fittings etc etc

Management is pretty simple to be fair, you have manual, 2 way and manual 4 way by use of paddle switches, so its basically a valve that lets air into the front struts and rear struts (2 way) or one paddle valve for each strut individualy (4 way) along with that you'll need guages and then you'll need to speak to people about what thickness lines to run, too big and the car will rise and fall too quick and its hard to get it where you want it, too small and it will take a life time to rise and fall, but its all about personal preference.

Then for a little more you can go electronic solenoid, very much the same as above with regards to 2 and 4 way, how ever instead of manualy opening the valves an electronic solenoid opens and closes to allow air into the struts, depending if you want to go 2 or 4 way depends how many solenoids you'll need. This ks a very quick way to get on air, they open very quickly so they make fine adjustment very easy but you still need gauges to set your ride heights.

Then there's pressure based automatic systems like airlift v2, this is a good system that has 8 presets, rise on start features, nit to mention a whole host of other things. But as mentioned its pressure based so it wont manually adjust for weight etc.

Then there height based auto matic systems that work alot like the above but they have sensors that automatically adjust the vehicle height depending on how much weight is in the vehicle, so you set a height for you just you, then if you have 3 mates jump in, it will add more pressure to get the car to the same height with the extra weight, all by its self. Accuair something, cant remember right now.

Both of the above systems have their own manifolds and controllers so no need for guages and switches etc...

However you can add these management systems at anytime so you could go for a paddle set up and upgrade in the future, just bear in mind about you line sizes as you wouldn't want to re run all your lines if you were to upgrade.

Take time running your lines, and make sure there secured propperly, i used braided leader line on my fronts sk the could flex just like the braided brake hoses and they wouldn't split, id also recommend running the lines inside the cas as much as possible to avoid any of them freezing up during winter months.

Compressors are straight forward and wiring diagrames are all over the net, but most of the automatic management systems come with their own looms so make wiging comps up easy.

Research is key to see exactly what kit will be best for you, but what ever you do, don't try and save money, this stuff holds your car from the road, so its not something to scrimp on, you may also need a chassis notch to avoid and banging if driving low.

Hope that's a little helpful mate.

Jon

Edited 21 January, 201412 yr by _redders_

Thats sound mate. Pretty much all I needed!

With regards to compressor size im gathering larger is just a quicker air build?

And yes nick p may be the man to speak to as his sat immense. Works no issue and fitting etc as I work with hgv air all the time just to be honest bigger stuffs easier to work on!