Tech Corner: Tips for An Easy Air Suspension Installation

The addition of air ride sounds almost mystical. I mean, it’s a system that literally changes the vehicle’s stance and capabilities with the flip of a switch. Understandably, this on-demand characteristic might have you thinking that air suspension installation is difficult. But, in all truth, it’s relatively simple. Since we recently spent some time covering the benefits of air suspension, we thought it was about time to tackle the topic of installation.

The components included in an air ride suspension can vary depending on the vehicle, but, usually, the system includes air shocks, air lines, wiring and a wiring harness, a compressor, and a height sensor. Lifts and bags for lowering vehicles will be similar, but with bellows rather than shocks.

As always, I recommend that anyone who is uncomfortable with the process consult a professional. Though, with moderate skills and an average-sized tool collection, this is something you can do yourself.

Let’s break it down by component, with some helpful tips and tricks to get you rolling.

Shocks

Performance

Setting up a performance-oriented vehicle with an air suspension system is surprisingly straightforward.

To install the shocks themselves, you follow the same procedure as you would for a standard shock/strut replacement. This is because air ride shocks are designed to bolt right in place of the factory equipment.

Ridetech is a brand to watch, as they cover a variety of applications in the performance circuit. This includes pretty much everything from Corvettes and street rods to classic trucks. For import performance, Ksport is an excellent alternative.

There are two things you need to look out for, though. First, make sure there’s nothing that can jeopardize the air bellows on the shock absorber once installation is complete. Bolts and sheet metal edges are what you need to look for here. If anything like this is present, take the time to grind off any edges or shorten hardware as needed. Secondly, before hanging the new air ride shocks in place of the factory equipment, secure the air line fitting to the unit. Getting it on there when the shock is bolted down can prove to be a frustrating experience.

Off-Road & Towing

For off-road trucks, an air suspension installation is more extensive. It requires more than simply popping a single unit in place of the factory shock absorbers. The installation will feature shock absorbers paired with air bellows, but they are separate units. Now, this process can be somewhat simple or very in-depth depending on application and lift height. The process does involve incorporating an air bellow into the chassis with the use of custom bracketry. But much like a traditional lift kit, the geometry of the suspension can be affected to various degrees. That means, relocation of the factory suspension components should be anticipated.

For off-road applications looking for an air ride solution, AiRock by Off-Road Only is worth checking out. These guys make off-road-specific air suspensions for a variety of applications that will perform in any and all settings you throw at them.

Load-assisting air bags install in a similar method as those used for a lift system, but are not intended to be used as a full-time means for increasing ride height. Instead, these are used to correct ride height when the suspension is under load. Installation of these units does vary from application to application but all processes are very similar. The job entails installing a bracket to mount the bellow between the axle and the frame of the vehicle. Tried and true brands in these situations are AirLift and Firestone.

Street Rides

Air suspension installation of lowering systems are similar to load-assist systems but will have bags on all four corners. This sort of system is very popular on sport compact vehicles, rat rods, and slammed trucks. These kits are installed very much the same to the rear as a load-assist kit, but the front will require aftermarket bracketry to install the bags.

With that said, springs, shocks, and other suspension components will need to be incorporated, as when the bags are not filled with air, the suspension will sit lower to the ground. This installation process varies greatly across vehicles and in many cases may require custom work to operate properly.

Once again, we are going to turn our attention to RideTech. (See a pattern emerging here? These guys know air suspension.) With application-specific product, plus everything you will need to fashion a custom kit, you can essentially make an air ride suspension system for virtually anything.

Air Management, Plumbing, and Wiring

Air management systems will change in shape and size depending on the application. Additionally, plumbing and wiring installation will vary in terms of the lengths of wiring, air lines, and fittings used. Though, for the most part, it’s going to be very straightforward when it comes to hooking up to a power source and connecting the lines. In many cases, the kits will have pigtails and predetermined power sources to hook up, making your life much easier.

The part you need to be very careful about is routing the wiring and air lines. You will be setting this up under the vehicle. You will need to take the time to pick the safest route possible in order to avoid pinching, tearing, or harming the lines and wiring in any way.

Compressor

With an air ride lift kit or performance air ride system, a fairly large on-board air compressor is necessary to run the system. With a pickup truck or off-road application, finding the right location for this tank is easy, as cargo space is more abundant. Under the rear seat or in the bed of the truck are two popular locations for owners to permanently mount their tanks and compressors.

With air ride lift systems, the tank can be considered large. This makes it more difficult to decide which area you will be permanently taking space from, as it will reduce how much bed space or under-seat storage space is usable. With load-leveling systems, the tank and compressor are much smaller so it’s almost always a better solution to mount the compressor under the rear seat as very little compromise is to be had.

Performance applications almost always result in sacrificing trunk space in this procedure—it’s either that or give up precious cabin space. This solution is viable, but many find that the large tank and compressor can be unsightly or awkward to work around. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for the assembly to be mounted to the original trunk floor and a custom floor to be fitted over it to keep a clean, OE-look and feel.

Controller

An air compressor, tank, and lines are cumbersome to work around but since they’re mounted out of the way of plain sight, you have a little less weight on your shoulders. When it comes to placing the controller during an air suspension installation, the pressure is on.

This is something you will have fitted to the dash of your vehicle and will be the first thing everyone notices upon entering the cabin. All applications are different, but you want to find a place to mount the controller that is as easy to operate as it is appealing to the eyes. My tip here is look for factory cutouts in the dash or openings that are within arm’s reach of the driver. This will make for the best of both operation and looks.

An air suspension installation doesn’t have to be difficult. But depending on what you’re looking to get out of it, it can get tricky. Remember to take your time and, as always, ask for help when you need it.