Air Suspension 101

The myths, pros, cons, expert advice & reasons to buy air over coilovers

Compared to a more conventional coil-spring suspension, air suspension systems are made up of a lot more stuff. Besides the air springs, there's the compressor, reservoir tank, lines, and some sort of controller. Here, Boden AutoHaus fabricated stainless-steel lines from scratch-just one part of the process that can make a higher-end air suspension install cost well over a grand and take up to a month to complete.

Like any suspension, air springs are based off of the same sort of shocks you'd find wrapped inside of a set of coil springs. The big difference is the rubber bellows.

Not every air suspension installation has got to be its own sideshow. Here, Boden AutoHaus tucked many of the components inside this M4's hidden trunk compartment.

AirREX's digital controller responds to wireless commands, allowing you to raise or lower your car from just about any place. The LCD screen also displays all sorts of important information, like air spring pressure and reservoir pressure.

Electronic management systems are based off of electronic manifolds that distribute air pressure, individually, to each spring.

Typically, a reservoir tank is integrated into the system, which allows for instant ride-height adjustments without having to wait for an air compressor to do its job.

Like any suspension, the shocks are at the core of how good an air suspension system will handle. Even the best air springs will never make a set of lousy shocks good.

Most higher-end systems feature adjustable shock damping, which allows for further fine tuning once ride height has been established. This, combined with the ability to change an air spring's rate, makes for a highly versatile suspension.

Function and Form's unique modular system allows easy upgrading from its coil-spring suspension to its air-spring suspension without having to change shocks.

Function and Form's modular system is based off of air springs that thread directly onto the company's existing shock bodies.

Air Lift offers some of the industry's most thorough air spring systems around. Its '12-'15 <a href="https://tat-2-heaven.com/cars/honda/civic/">Honda Civic</a> kit includes everything you need, with electronic or manual air management options.