Kits for classic cars is something we get enquiries about nearly every week. We have good news and bad news: the good news is that it's possible. The bad news is that, unless it's a Merc from the 1960s onwards, it's very unlikely to be bolt on.
For most classic cars we can supply universal parts. There are kits for some classic American cars that we can import from the US, but they tend to involve at least some fabrication as this is what our cousins across the Pond are accustomed to. Also, American pricing for air suspension parts is in an entirely different league as many of you have discovered yourselves...
When we say 'universal' we don't mean 'will magically bolt onto every vehicle'. No, it's universal as in 'won't fit any vehicle directly'. Universal kits will require fabrication by the customer or their installer. YOU, the customer, need to tell us what you need. Now, this is the bit where a misunderstanding tends to occur. The typical reply tends to be: "I need bags and other parts to put my car on air."
That’s like phoning up a garage and saying you need a new tyre instead of asking for price and availability on 185/65 R15. Airbags, just like tyres, have sizes. So, for us to supply the bags, we need to know how much available space the vehicle has for airbags: the outer diameter of the front spring and clear area around the front spring. Also, all airbags require at least a 1-inch clearance all the way round. Any less and the bags will likely touch, fail and need replacing (not a warranty issue!!).
To sum this up: you need to tell us exactly what you need from us to get you started and then fabricate the rest yourself/have your installer to do that for you.
We’ve mentioned it in another post, but we’ll mention it again… Designing an air suspension kit involves far more than just putting parts together. It requires a certain amount of engineering and trial and error. On some vehicles, clearances are really tight, and it might be tempting to use a smaller bag that is easier to fit instead of the bag that is right for the job – don’t do that as it renders the whole project pointless when it has a terrible ride quality. Choose the right bag for the job, not the easy bag for the install.
Another common mistake after wrong parts and installation errors is skimping on quality. Yes, air suspension is expensive to set up but if the cost is a turn off then it’s better to leave the car as it is than buy cheap, unreliable parts. When air is the sole suspension of a vehicle you absolutely need the best quality parts. We’ve had an increase in enquiries recently where people complain that their compressor has failed or their manifold/remote is not responsive anymore. Just because the (cheaper) compressor or controller looks similar to that of a reputable brand it doesn’t mean they’re the same quality! To draw a comparison: Apple users know full well that they pay a lot for the brand but, in return, they’re getting great products and excellent customer service. It’s the same with air suspension parts: buy the original, buy quality. Don’t try to save money going for a knock off or, even worse, a knock off of a knock off – sooner or later any savings will be eaten up by repair bills and the cost of replacement parts.
OK, back to the main topic….
Please note that air suspension is not a magical solution to all problems and no kit can do everything. Therefore, it must be decided from the very beginning what is the main thing you want air suspension to do. Is it to improve comfort? Slam the car to the ground? Increase clearance to avoid speed bumps and tackle steep driveways? All these requirements can usually be met, but not at the same time or by the same kit.
As for controlling the ride height, air management packs are not vehicle specific so any can be installed – whether it’s the Manual Paddle Controller or the 3P Digital Controller pack is a preference thing, just as having 1 or 2 compressors.
The universal parts for cars are available here.
Need more information? Please call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK
We are happy to offer you a quote but you need to supply information on sizes, designs and pictures. Don't expect us to be able to put a package together for a 195x model xyz without some input from you.