AirRide Air Suspension | The Suspension Experts

This graphic illustrates exactly what is needed to make a quality front strut. Starting at the top the best ride quality is always achieved by using the original VW rubber and thrust bearing, so that's what we do.

Next down is our own unique trademark and copyright billet aluminium top cap. This is tough and robust as required on 3 ton plus vehicle. It also has four different seals and fits with the VW thrust bearing allowing the steering to function as VW intended.

Then there is the large volume 7 inch bag with sophisticated waist band for durability.

Lastly and often forgotten - we start with a VW Transporter strut - not a car one which will break. The correct strut is a must on this vehicle. A car strut can usually be seen because the body joints the furniture and has a waisted section where it tapers from one section to another - see dangers with T5 kits.

Note: Anti roll bars are required for legality. Do not remove them and do not cut your hub!

The Transporter is a heavy beast. Standard vehicle vary between 2600Kg and 3000Kg max, with the mighty T32 up to 3200Kg and all vehicles easily re-rated for an additional 200-225Kg. With this sort of weight items designed for a 1200-1400Kg VW Golf simply are not up to the job. Hence they break. Everything we sell for the VW T5 and T6 is designed with durability in mind and based on well over a decade of manufacturing our own conversion kit for this vehicle.

Although the notes on this page focus upon the struts, the rear bags are just as important. Slim 5 inch and 5.5 inch bags that we have seen offered by some will lift and lower but they wont handle or die well. so we don't use them. We use the correct bag for the job - not the easiest to fit.

So why are AirRide front struts so good?

To put it very simply - they work exactly like the originals but with airbag/air springs in place of the coil spring.

Therefore they work exactly as VW intended. Our Struts use the original thrust bearing, bush and fixings so you know it won't fail. The bag used is a large volume one as small car derived bags just don't work on the VW T5 Transporter - a 6 inch bag needs huge pressure to lift the weighty T5.
The top cap is quadruple sealed with 3 O rings and a bush to ensure it never loses air from the moving surface. In order for a strut to function the top which is fixed to the vehicle must remain fixed whilst the lower section turns or lift with the wheel. This is where most manufacturers fail, and some don't even realise the need. AirRide struts have a lovely soft floaty limo type ride when installed.
All struts are powder coated for durability - not spray painted.

For a video of this vehicle driving please click HERE. This video shows varying road conditions at varying speeds.

Cheaper Alternatives.

We hear and read of dozens of people having bought cheaper struts elsewhere because ours are "too expensive". The story is always the same - a long list of complaints about these other "cheaper products", including at least some and often all of the following:-

My strut broke? Often "cheaper struts" use only 17/18mm shafts (from poor quality coil overs). VW struts use a 25mm shafts - almost double the strength and that's what we use - no exceptions and no broken shafts - ever!
My ride is awful and gets worse the further I travel? Again this comes down to using car struts, not transporter struts. The body of most car struts is around 50mm but the VW transporter is not a car and uses struts which are 58mm - it does not sound like much but its a 35% increase in the amount of oil or gas the shock/damper can fit. And that's before you consider the damper is also longer than car dampers. This volume of damping media is what gives the comfort on the vehicle - reduce it for any reason and you reduce the ride quality. If its too low then it can overheat and the ride gets progressively worse.
My struts clonk and bang? - you have torn out your top mount. Cheaper struts manufacturers don't seem to understand that the struts need to rotate when you turn - we use the original thrust bearing/mount on the top. Its as quiet as it was before because its the same as it was before!
I have to change my rubber mounts every few hundred miles? - see above. If you don't change it then you potential have nothing holding your strut on other than gravity!! eeek.
It rides like its on coil overs (badly/harshly/sporty)? The airbag is too small. The damper is also possibly too small. Because many manufacturers are used to working on smaller cars like Golfs some manufacturers use 6 inch bags. Others cannot work on dampers and therefore just buy in cheap coil overs - so they ride like coil overs - something most customers are trying to get away from! This will never handle or ride well on the large and heavy T5. Using car struts is a big mistake - the T5 is not a car.
Its making my back sore? - see above.
I'm fed up with having to take them off all the time for repairs/replacements? I don't want to say I told you so - but there are plenty of cheap ones for sale second hand - I never saw any of ours for sale second hand!
They leak all the time - how can I cure this? This is a manufacturing and or designs fault. Air bags should hold pressure for 6-12 months with no inflation. Some manufacturers unsafely use a plastic push in hose into the strut - that's why some people say it only leaks when it low or they are turning left!!! The plastic push in line is fabulous but not onto a moving strut - the plastic line only seals if left in a fixed position and comes straight out of the fitting for around 2-3 inches. Some manufacturers use very cheaply made fittings which leak, and also advise PTFE thread tape to seal joints. dont use cheap fittings they are a false economy, and never use PTFE thread seal as it invalidates all warranties - use the correct air suspension sealant.
HELP - They refused me an MOT (if correctly carried out!). Tangled hoses, catching airbags, catching tyres, faulty thrust bearings, lose dampers,,,,, all of which we have seen and all of which (rightfully) cause your vehicle to fail its MOT. These can be caused by defective design and manufacture but also sometimes by incorrect installation.

Cheaper struts made from POS imported coil overs with no hose fittings, and no thought as to top mount articulation are always a problem. After 15 years making these products these school boy errors are not ones we make. All our struts are made using the correct VW thickness's of materials, diameters of bodies and shafts and take the original VW thrust bearings, and hose clamps. Search the internet and a few forums and you will see pages and pages of issues like those listed above and which have been reported to us over the years.

What to look for?

What size is the front strut bag? If its 6 inches or less then avoid the kit.
What size is the pressure body on the front damper? It should be 25mm - if it is less you have a car strut.
What size is the pressure tube? It should be 58mm - if it is less then you have a car strut. this can be seen with tapered or stepped section to the body which should not be present on a T5 strut - its 58mm from the bottom to the top (except the last inch hidden by the bag).
Does it come with an armoured front hose? This is a safety item - if its not included why not? Your kit wont be safe without it which means it also wont be road legal.
Does the kit come with a pressure relief valve - if anything goes wrong will the tank pressure be vented off before an explosion can occur? This is essential - if its not included then why not?
Does it come with a tank gauge? This allows you to monitor the pressure and ensure there are no problems - again a safety item.
What size are the rear bags - same as the front less than 6 inches should be avoided.
Is it a 2 circuit system? This means your left and right air springs are conected together - a really bad thing that is unsafe. All our kits are FBSS, 4 circuit independent systems.

We are also able to offer "special purpose" air suspension kits for the VW T5 Transporter. the standard kit listed is designed to prioritise comfort, and drops around 100mm from standard, with a 100mm range. We also offer a Mega-lift kit which drops 100mm and allows 200mm range (100mm lift and 100mm drop) which is ideal for vehicles used for forestry and agricultural uses that need additional clearance now and then. We also offer a Mega-drop kit which drops around 160mm from standard with a 100mm range. Results may vary depending upon model and wheels fitted and are for guidance only. Price for Mega-lift and Mega-drop are around £300 extra from the prices listed below.

The full 4 wheel air suspension conversion kit for the VW T5 Transporter fits all vehicles from 2003 to 2016 (and we also have kits for the T6 2016 onwards). The kit is a simple bolt on conversion requiring only a few holes to be drilled, and can be reversed later if you trade your vehicle in (or lease it) and wish to take the kit to a newer van later. Only the highest quality components are used throughout, and are chosen for reliability over any other factor. The basic non management kit is just the front strut and rear bag kit without any compressor, controller, or management. Various options are available and the most popular is the basic kit which includes a manual controller. Other options include remotes, solenoids and computers. Twin tanks and twin compressors are also available as additional options. This kit has been designed to be diy friendly and is rated for very competent DIY fitment or local garage fitment.