Adjustable/Airbag Shocks/Coilovers For Winter?
Adjustable/Airbag Shocks/Coilovers For Winter?
Okay so i just bought motordyne ART pipes and exoticspeed R1-T exhaust, now its time for suspension.
Basically i live in colorado, and today the snow was so bad i had to get a ride to work form a friend.
My question simply is what type of setup could i run where i can raise the height of my car(for snow and stuff) then lower it come spring time?
IDC if ita airbags or coilovers etc.
Thanks for your input
Basically i live in colorado, and today the snow was so bad i had to get a ride to work form a friend.
My question simply is what type of setup could i run where i can raise the height of my car(for snow and stuff) then lower it come spring time?
IDC if ita airbags or coilovers etc.
Thanks for your input
Are you on OEM height right now? Do you wish to stay at the height you're at? How much more clearance would you need?
If you want immediate adjustment without having to take off the wheels then coilovers would not be ideal. Say if you want to raise it up during the snow season and lower during sunny seasons then coilovers may work. I don't think you'll be at OEM height though with coilovers.
With an air suspension setup you can go up higher than coilovers. You can use OEM shocks however you won't have as stiff of a suspension as coilovers would provide. You can buy coilovers and put bags over them, that way you can adjust dampening and have a better and not as bouncy ride. You can also get Tokico shocks or any shocks that provide dampening, that way you don't have extra springs leftover. However with the coilovers you can set the ride height with the perches that come on the shocks.
Depending on how much you need you can also go with a cup kit. There are a few out there but I believe the least inexpensive would be the Platinum VIP one. Cost is about the same as air suspension, it does not allow to raise up as much either. It's meant to be driven with the mini bags deflated so you're using 100% of your coilovers (forgot to mention you'd need those, not sure if they would work on OEM shocks. They will allow you to raise the car up 2-3" and you can drive up like that, but the main purpose is to be able to ride low and raise up only when needed (speed bumps, driveways, etc).
The thing with air suspension is that your alignment will never be in spec. Once you set it and the moment you raise or lower it, it will throw off your alignment since it's driven by air. The amount of PSI will tell you where you're at so even a few PSI difference will have an effect. It may not be major but it's not going to be like riding on coilovers and having a perfect alignment. There is an auto-leveling option with air suspension but you're looking at another $800 give or take. It has 3 pre-sets generally, but I'm not sure if it will give you the exact same PSI every time you set to a specific level.
If you do go with air suspension I would highly recommend getting a FBSS setup rather than a FB only. Reason being is that with the SS addition you have even more even flow of air and the ride will not be as bouncy.
With the cup kit setup, you're alignment will be in spec every time the mini bags are deflated. When they are up, it will change, but at least when deflated it's always in spec, hence the reason why it's meant for driving at a desired height and raising when needed.
The first thing to determine though, are the first three questions in this post and then go from there.
If you want immediate adjustment without having to take off the wheels then coilovers would not be ideal. Say if you want to raise it up during the snow season and lower during sunny seasons then coilovers may work. I don't think you'll be at OEM height though with coilovers.
With an air suspension setup you can go up higher than coilovers. You can use OEM shocks however you won't have as stiff of a suspension as coilovers would provide. You can buy coilovers and put bags over them, that way you can adjust dampening and have a better and not as bouncy ride. You can also get Tokico shocks or any shocks that provide dampening, that way you don't have extra springs leftover. However with the coilovers you can set the ride height with the perches that come on the shocks.
Depending on how much you need you can also go with a cup kit. There are a few out there but I believe the least inexpensive would be the Platinum VIP one. Cost is about the same as air suspension, it does not allow to raise up as much either. It's meant to be driven with the mini bags deflated so you're using 100% of your coilovers (forgot to mention you'd need those, not sure if they would work on OEM shocks. They will allow you to raise the car up 2-3" and you can drive up like that, but the main purpose is to be able to ride low and raise up only when needed (speed bumps, driveways, etc).
The thing with air suspension is that your alignment will never be in spec. Once you set it and the moment you raise or lower it, it will throw off your alignment since it's driven by air. The amount of PSI will tell you where you're at so even a few PSI difference will have an effect. It may not be major but it's not going to be like riding on coilovers and having a perfect alignment. There is an auto-leveling option with air suspension but you're looking at another $800 give or take. It has 3 pre-sets generally, but I'm not sure if it will give you the exact same PSI every time you set to a specific level.
If you do go with air suspension I would highly recommend getting a FBSS setup rather than a FB only. Reason being is that with the SS addition you have even more even flow of air and the ride will not be as bouncy.
With the cup kit setup, you're alignment will be in spec every time the mini bags are deflated. When they are up, it will change, but at least when deflated it's always in spec, hence the reason why it's meant for driving at a desired height and raising when needed.
The first thing to determine though, are the first three questions in this post and then go from there.
Wow let me start by saying d@mn you rock. Best reply ive seen on here haha.
Currently im stock ride height, id like to drop her about an inch front and rears for spring/summer. Anything above stock ride height would be ideal clearance for winter.
So based on your post i should look at airbags? You answered my main question of what the major differences are between coil overs and airbags are
Un-even tire wear isnt too huge of a deal for me, i always buy cheap summer tires and spend big for winter.
Currently im stock ride height, id like to drop her about an inch front and rears for spring/summer. Anything above stock ride height would be ideal clearance for winter.
So based on your post i should look at airbags? You answered my main question of what the major differences are between coil overs and airbags are
Un-even tire wear isnt too huge of a deal for me, i always buy cheap summer tires and spend big for winter.
No problem. Was bored at work and I like being helpful lol.
With coilovers I don't know if you can have the same ride height as stock, you'd have to look into that and it varies on each coilover setup.
I'm not sure how the air bags can hold up in the winter as well, you'd have to ask the manufacturer about that when it comes to whether parts of it can freeze.
It comes down to personal preference. My preference is a cup kit, but that's because I want to ride as low as possible all the time and I don't have to ever worry about snow. Plus with my negative camber, I need the toe in spec. I doubt you're running an aggressive wheel setup so you don't have to worry about too much rebound, another reason why I'd choose a cup kit for my application.
You would be good to go with air suspension and there are a few out there. Ones I know of are UAS (Universal Air Suspension), Air Runner, and Air Zenith. UAS will cost cost around 2k, Air runner another grand on top of that and Air Zenith, I'm not sure at all, but I believe Strafe (vendor here) sells them. Install cost will probably be the same for all and the cost depends on who does it. I've known of people getting them installed from as little as $600 to as much as $1,200. If you were in So Cal, UAS does the install for $1,000.
Basically, no matter which road you choose you're looking at an easy 3k with install. If you want better dampening, then you're looking at closer to 4k with better shocks (with install). If you want the auto leveling kit, you're looking at about 5k.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that K-Sport also makes an air bag kit.
I will throw out another option, nobody has done it yet, but there is hydraulics. Not the old school lowrider type but the one made by Hyrdohaulics is specifically designed for luxury vehicles. You can message the guy in the link below and he can provide you with info. He has it on his Benz and likes it. I've thought about this route as well, but figured I'd stick with the cup kit still lol.
http://www.vipstylecars.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=22395
With coilovers I don't know if you can have the same ride height as stock, you'd have to look into that and it varies on each coilover setup.
I'm not sure how the air bags can hold up in the winter as well, you'd have to ask the manufacturer about that when it comes to whether parts of it can freeze.
It comes down to personal preference. My preference is a cup kit, but that's because I want to ride as low as possible all the time and I don't have to ever worry about snow. Plus with my negative camber, I need the toe in spec. I doubt you're running an aggressive wheel setup so you don't have to worry about too much rebound, another reason why I'd choose a cup kit for my application.
You would be good to go with air suspension and there are a few out there. Ones I know of are UAS (Universal Air Suspension), Air Runner, and Air Zenith. UAS will cost cost around 2k, Air runner another grand on top of that and Air Zenith, I'm not sure at all, but I believe Strafe (vendor here) sells them. Install cost will probably be the same for all and the cost depends on who does it. I've known of people getting them installed from as little as $600 to as much as $1,200. If you were in So Cal, UAS does the install for $1,000.
Basically, no matter which road you choose you're looking at an easy 3k with install. If you want better dampening, then you're looking at closer to 4k with better shocks (with install). If you want the auto leveling kit, you're looking at about 5k.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that K-Sport also makes an air bag kit.
I will throw out another option, nobody has done it yet, but there is hydraulics. Not the old school lowrider type but the one made by Hyrdohaulics is specifically designed for luxury vehicles. You can message the guy in the link below and he can provide you with info. He has it on his Benz and likes it. I've thought about this route as well, but figured I'd stick with the cup kit still lol.
http://www.vipstylecars.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=22395
If you want airbags or cupkit prepare to pay thousands... if you aren't willing to pay in the thousands, go with coilovers and just deal with adjusting it when you want to change. OR just set it to a height and learn to drive a lowered car.
The issue he has is with snow and he needs it higher than OEM.
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higher than oem he really bought the wrong car or needs to spend the thousands he would spend on an air ride on a winter daily driver. It isn't unreasonable considering a coilover and cup kit will probably run him over $4k without even including camber/alignments/and on the cheap side of coilovers as well.
Plus some people have posted problems with air rides in the cold
Plus some people have posted problems with air rides in the cold
Yeah, the issue with air ride is why I mentioned to contact the manufacturer. Air suspension is probably better to go since it will get him up higher than a cup kit. With OEM shocks at the sacrifice of not having any dampening it'll cost roughly 3500. Alignment wouldn't really be needed unless the plan is to drive at a height other than OEM height. Either way it's a hefty price to pay.
i am here in colorado also and it felt like -41 degrees with the windchill... it was god awful...
I am running BC coilovers. the problem with lowering and raising your height is what everyone mentioned before your specs with never be in line. you're going to pretty much have to get an alignment after you change the height every time or youre going to get uneven tire ware.
got the coils for 1k
then full camber kit for 500
and installed everything myself.
I am running BC coilovers. the problem with lowering and raising your height is what everyone mentioned before your specs with never be in line. you're going to pretty much have to get an alignment after you change the height every time or youre going to get uneven tire ware.
got the coils for 1k
then full camber kit for 500
and installed everything myself.
Yeah, the issue with air ride is why I mentioned to contact the manufacturer. Air suspension is probably better to go since it will get him up higher than a cup kit. With OEM shocks at the sacrifice of not having any dampening it'll cost roughly 3500. Alignment wouldn't really be needed unless the plan is to drive at a height other than OEM height. Either way it's a hefty price to pay.
as far as i know ALL coilovers give you a drop immediatly. even if you put them at there highest setting.
as for air ride. you will be able to get higher than stock. as far as parts freezing because its so cold...the compressors and bags will be fine. the only things that MIGHT freeze is the valves. but for that, you would just need to go to a local truck store *big rig store* and get air tank anti freeze. truckers have to use it since there brake systems run off of air. this will solve any freezing problems you have. other than that. there is nothing wrong with running air suspension in the winter. hope that helps make your decision.
as for air ride. you will be able to get higher than stock. as far as parts freezing because its so cold...the compressors and bags will be fine. the only things that MIGHT freeze is the valves. but for that, you would just need to go to a local truck store *big rig store* and get air tank anti freeze. truckers have to use it since there brake systems run off of air. this will solve any freezing problems you have. other than that. there is nothing wrong with running air suspension in the winter. hope that helps make your decision.
Yup, totally depends on the individual and barely anyone realizes the costs before they get set on buying something as nice and convenient as bags or cup kits. I would love to get my hand on cup kits but at the price of like ~2.5k for just rears and 3.2k for front and rears while having to send in my coils to get fitted is extreme for anyone who is non-show or potentially race.
i REALLY hope people are not paying 5700 dollars for air ride on there cars. thats a HUGE rip off.
Currently this winter is almost done so im saving for spring/summer to install. Looking to spend about 4500 or so... perhaps i should save more. But im looking to keep my G untill she dies of old age. So the investment will be good since i dont want to sell. Plus anything that makes deep snow drivable is well worth it.
This is dumb, but whats a "cup kit"? Im not a novice with cars but suspension is my weak point.
This is dumb, but whats a "cup kit"? Im not a novice with cars but suspension is my weak point.
Cup kit looks like this:
Basically it's a little air bag that goes over the coilover to raise it, I believe about 2-3". When little bags are deflated you are using 100% coilovers. You can drive with them up but the purpose is to drive with it down, basically on your coilovers. You have to make sure you get a coilover that will fit it and one that will give you the height you need. The cost is less, especially install cost.
Basically it's a little air bag that goes over the coilover to raise it, I believe about 2-3". When little bags are deflated you are using 100% coilovers. You can drive with them up but the purpose is to drive with it down, basically on your coilovers. You have to make sure you get a coilover that will fit it and one that will give you the height you need. The cost is less, especially install cost.