I know my back shocks are a bit soft and my front ones will probably become that way this year sometime (had Pedders check done). So I'm starting to do a little research and look at my options before I start spending money.

Has anyone here had any experience with air-ride suspension?

Ride? I believe the ride is suppose to be really smooth, whilst still maintaining good handling characteristics. True?

Cost? I've heard maybe $2,500, but have not had a quote done by anyone.

I like the idea of being able to transform your ride height (at the push of a button) to suit different situations.

I like how the vehicle would always remain level (automatically) no matter how it is loaded with passengers or cargo.

I'd love to hear the thoughts of members who have had experience with these systems. Please educate me :learn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBqLTRqR_FM

Just found this video. Although I'm not interested in a air-bag set-up for making my car jump around, at least I now know you can get them for Magnas. :woot:

I thought aftermarket air-bag suspension was made more for show cars rather than driving comfort?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I thought "air bags" and "air ride" would be two different things.

I thought aftermarket air-bag suspension was made more for show cars rather than driving comfort?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I thought "air bags" and "air ride" would be two different things.

From what I have read "air-bag" suspension, "air-ride" suspension and "air-spring" suspension are more or less the same technology.

I know they are used in hi-performance vehicles, show vehicles, as well as trucks and buses, etc. I think the setup can be customized to suit the application.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uppK8z0lDg Air Suspension vs. Coilovers

I found this info on http://www.hotrod.com


Why You Want One
An air suspension offers at least five major benefits:

Tunability: Air suspensions have a wide tuning range for spring rate and load capacity. Weeks of conventional spring and shock tuning can be painlessly compressed into a few minutes via in-car adjustability. Getting the ride height, load, and rate on a coil spring right on the first try is a hit-and-miss affair, but an air suspension provides a much broader envelope, so precise selection isn't as critical as on a conventional spring.

Handling: Most air springs are progressive. The more they compress, the stiffer they get. Combine this inherent progressive spring rate with in-car adjustability, and the result is enormous performance potential. Tuning for conditions is quicker and faster. In a sophisticated handling application, the air spring should be coupled with shocks adjustable for both rebound and compression and carefully selected antisway bars.

Performance customization: Everyone has his own personal idea of how his car should ride and handle. With an air suspension, these wishes can be accommodated with little or no component changes. By adjusting air pressure and shock valving, you can make the same car be soft and comfortable, firm and tight . . . or anywhere in between. You can drive the car comfortably to the track, firm up the air pressure and shock valving to go racing, then readjust the pressure and valving to return home in comfort.

Stance: Air suspensions make it easy to lower the car so you can look cool. At the far end of the coolness spectrum are spark-throwing minitrucks and lowriders, but today, they represent only a small segment of the market. Far more typical is the guy who just wants to lower his car or truck a reasonable amount for better looks without sacrificing any driveability or durability. Most kits come set up to deliver a normal ride height that's several inches lower than the stock springs. Regardless of how low the car is, air suspensions make it easy to raise the car back up for normal cruising, getting into gas stations, or even rolling onto the trailer.

Load carrying: This is the original commercial application for air suspensions: helping 18-wheelers carry heavy loads while improving driver comfort. Although probably not the main reason for switching over on a pure hot rod, it definitely is one solution for making your dualie tow truck more driveable under varying-load conditions. In fact, some new SUVs now come with air suspensions.

Read more: http://www.hotrod.com/howto/hrdp_0701_air_suspension/#ixzz2u2rDMOfo

I've driven a Magna with airbag suspension in it.
It was a softer ride than my stock Verada, however it felt weird. Not exactly bad, but not what you are used to in term of normal springs.

The owner of that car had spent $7,000 for the system, and had some relatively minor issues that he got fixed.
On top of that there was a lot of hassle and cost with engineering them.

Was it worth it? He says yes, I think he could have just bought a much nicer car for that money.

I've driven a Magna with airbag suspension in it.
It was a softer ride than my stock Verada, however it felt weird. Not exactly bad, but not what you are used to in term of normal springs.

The owner of that car had spent $7,000 for the system, and had some relatively minor issues that he got fixed.
On top of that there was a lot of hassle and cost with engineering them.

Was it worth it? He says yes, I think he could have just bought a much nicer car for that money.

$7,000 ouch! It would be hard for me to justify spending that much on a TJ just for a smooth ride.

I have heard there are bolt on systems available that suit many vehicles. I imagine they would be more cost effective (cheaper) then something you needed to have engineered.

How was it driving over little bumps in the road? Did it eliminate some of it or make no difference?

Regardless of what airbag system you put you'll need to engineer it to make it legal.

The ride was very good. The car had low profile tires on too and there was no hint of jarring or anything, having said that though I've also driven the new 5 series BMW and the ride in that was plusher and certainly was a better handling car.
I know it's an unfair comparison, just saying that airbag suspension is not going to give a better ride than a new German car.

Keep in mind though that when you install airbag suspension they don't come with shocks and so on, it is just a system to replace the springs. You still need to change your shocks that you mentioned are on their way out.

To be honest I really don't think it's worth it. Only "worthwhile" if you are building some show car, but who does this these days, and no less with such an old base to start with.

From what I understand new shocks should get rid of the harshness of smaller bumps (I hate that too, they really jar the ride) yet make the larger bumps less floaty.

Keep in mind though that when you install airbag suspension they don't come with shocks and so on, it is just a system to replace the springs. You still need to change your shocks that you mentioned are on their way out.

To be honest I really don't think it's worth it. Only "worthwhile" if you are building some show car, but who does this these days, and no less with such an old base to start with.

From what I understand new shocks should get rid of the harshness of smaller bumps (I hate that too, they really jar the ride) yet make the larger bumps less floaty.

Yeah I guess it all comes down to money. It's hard to justify that kind of expenditure on an older vehicle. If money grew on trees you wouldn't think twice and just do it.

If the air suspension just replaces the springs, how does that work on a vehicle like my TJ that has struts where the shock absorbers are inside the springs?

It's not so much the age of the car, as if it was a rare item that appreciated in value you could definitely justify spending money on it.
The issue is that it is a very common and average car, and once you spend too much money on it you realize that with the cost of the car + the money invested in it you could have been driving something better in the first place. Things aren't always so black and white but it is simply unfeasible to spend loads of money on it.
Overhauling the suspension is fine though as it adds safety and it is a wear item.

The airbags are cylindrical and the strut goes inside them. They essentially replace the spring and the strut still goes through them

The issue is that it is a very common and average car...


Shhh, my car might hear you, he may get upset. :shock:

I have air suspension in my current car, and the engineering required is staggering. Mine is an Air Spring system with electronically controlled hydraulic dampers. The whole lot moves around, up/down, firm/soft and can adjust to various heights and firmness automatically.

I haven't driven in a magna with this, but with the car I have, the parts for this suspension are phenomenally expensive. I would not go for an aftermarket solution without first replacing ALL the suspension bushes, any worn linkages and then you will still have many teething issues.

Mike

I have air suspension in my current car, and the engineering required is staggering. Mine is an Air Spring system with electronically controlled hydraulic dampers. The whole lot moves around, up/down, firm/soft and can adjust to various heights and firmness automatically.

I haven't driven in a magna with this, but with the car I have, the parts for this suspension are phenomenally expensive. I would not go for an aftermarket solution without first replacing ALL the suspension bushes, any worn linkages and then you will still have many teething issues.

Mike

Yeah it's sounding more and more expensive the more people I talk to about it. As desirable as it is, it is probably not a realistic option for my vehicle unless I win lotto (and still want to do it for fun).

I'm enjoying this topic, even though some forum members probably think it's a little weird.
For many years I've admired the versatility of height adjustable suspension. I do a mix of driving that can include highway and then dirt roads, sometimes rough and bumpy where ground clearance is an issue. While many Magna owners are lowering their vehicle there are times that I would like to be able to raise mine. As already stated the cost and trouble would be excessive, though perhaps still worthy of consideration. There are after all many people who spend more money on making their engine more powerful...

I'm enjoying this topic, even though some forum members probably think it's a little weird.
For many years I've admired the versatility of height adjustable suspension. I do a mix of driving that can include highway and then dirt roads, sometimes rough and bumpy where ground clearance is an issue. While many Magna owners are lowering their vehicle there are times that I would like to be able to raise mine. As already stated the cost and trouble would be excessive, though perhaps still worthy of consideration. There are after all many people who spend more money on making their engine more powerful...

i will trade you my apparently "raised" springs Lol

its an interesting concept and of course mike would have it in the audi.i know for 4wd's they have air bag systems already avaliable aftermarket, but given they run seperate spring its hard to make a setup for the magna.possible but would require dosh.i remember reading about a navara fitted with airbag suspension that allowed it to be height controlled in cabin and very durable off road.

edit. apparently there are airbags avaliable for the magna:
http://www.online4wdaccessories.com.au/241-firestone-coil-rite-airbag-suspension-to-suit-mitsubishi-magna.html

also will mention some foresters have the same setup in the rear to assist with loads

edit. apparently there are airbags avaliable for the magna:
http://www.online4wdaccessories.com.au/241-firestone-coil-rite-airbag-suspension-to-suit-mitsubishi-magna.html



I had seen those but unfortunately they are only good for station wagons. :cry:

edit. apparently there are airbags avaliable for the magna:
http://www.online4wdaccessories.com.au/241-firestone-coil-rite-airbag-suspension-to-suit-mitsubishi-magna.html

also will mention some foresters have the same setup in the rear to assist with loads
The airbags you have linked to Johnny are a different concept to what the OP is asking for. What you have linked to is meant to be inserted into your normal spring/strut assembly to lift the back of the car if you have a heavy load in the back. What the OP is enquiring about is a complete spring/strut replacement with airbags.

I had seen those but unfortunately they are only good for station wagons. :cry:
Worse still, they can't be used with any suspension in which the shock absorber is inside the coil. That rules out the front suspension. So, while they're useful for levelling the rear under load, they're useless for raising the overall height.