The UK's main Air Suspension Specialist and Distributor for most major brands. Kits for a vast range of Cars, Vans, Pick-ups and Motor homes, plus huge range of components.
AirRide will be taking a summer break from 12th August until 25th August. Please feel free to email your enquiries and we will deal with them on our return. Technical enquiries may be responded to for existing customers but please put TECHNICAL in the subject line to make them stand out from the hundreds of sales enquiries we get daily.
Many clients want their vehicles low and look at the options. Lowering springs used to be common but with stricter MOT’s failing these springs, and more discerning clients expecting better performance the market has changed towards coil overs. A coil over set up allows a vehicle to go low, and have a sportier stance, but uprated springs, and dampers come at a price. Firstly anything from £500-£1000, and secondly ride quality is almost always compromised. Plus it take 30 minutes to adjust the ride hieght which is not very practical if you find a speed bump in your way!! lol
So how does this compare to air suspension? A coil over setup is not usually better in any aspect. Air can beat a coil over for comfort, it can beat it for drop and it can match it for handling. The only aspect coils overs beat air is on price and for the reduced price you have to put up with a poor ride quality. About 1/3 of all our customers tried saving cash by going coil overs but could not put up with the poor ride quality, and switched to air. It is of course a false economy to pay out twice. Buy once and buy right. Buy Air.
We have just finished designing and developing a new bolt on kit for the Ford Fiesta Mk6. The Mk6 is also known by some as generation 5, and we are talking about Fiestas from 2002-2009. Currently in testing full details will be coming soon. This kit allows significant lowering of the vehicle and a fabulous ride in combination with awesome handling. Video, pictures and details to be announced shortly.
AirRide has for the past 6 years had air suspension kits available for the Volkswagen T5 Transporter. This popular van does however require a number of different air suspension solutions. some clients want lowrider custom vans (we have kits for that). Others want load support for commercial vans carrying cargo (we have kits for that), some want wheel chair access vehicles requiring low vehicles with a soft ride (we have kits for that), and others still require heavy duty support and stability control for heavy duty high motorhomes ( we have kits for that too). The latest twin bag rear end kit (4 total) is perfect for large T5 based motorhomes.
We don’d make just one kit for the T5 – there are so many differing requirements that a single kit would not satisfy everyone’s requirements. We actually have 4 different rear end solutions and two front end solutions, for a possible combination of 8 different bag/bracket kits. There are also a huge range of controller options, tank options and compressor options. Clients really are able to have exactly the kit they want and need for their T5. We also offer T4 kits in many options.
We supply our kits worldwide and in any combination you need to meet your requirements. Please call or email for more info.
The Designers at AirRide have been very busy this summer with a whole host of new kits having been developed including not one but two for the Nissan NV200 van.
The Nissan has been approved for Taxi service in New York and London so expect to see many of these vehicles on the road soon.
Two kits are available. A basic load support kit ideal for motorhome conversions with massively increased weight (left) and a Limo kit with smoother ride and the ability to lift for additional loads, or towing (above). The load support kit works in addition to the rear leaf springs and the Limo kit replaces the suspension with airbags. More details on the relevant page in the Van and motorhome section or by clicking here.
We supply kits for all manner of vehicles from Motor homes, to cars, vans and motorcycles. We supply parts and kits all over the world and people often ask us how difficult it is to fit? There are different kits for different application and the work involved to fit them varies dramatically.
Motor Home and van kits tend to be load support “assistance” kits. Usually no suspension is removed and the kit works in addition to the existing suspension. These kits are usually less than half a day and pretty straight forward to fit. The brackets tend to bolt in place of the bump stop, everything is usually spanners and sockets and usually no holes to drill (T5 is different). This is very simple and well within the ability of the average diy mechanic (provided you are safe about working under the vehicle).
Car kits intended to run as low rider type vehicles are a little more complex. Here the suspension replaces the front front and rear for a low stance. If you are able to remove, rebuild and refit a front strut safely and the same with the rear springs and dampers (shocks) then you can probably deal with the mechanical side of things. If you can fit and wire an amp you can probably deal with the electrical wiring and plumbing for the install. It takes a little time but in general none of the tasks are terribly difficult so long as you don’t rush.
We often get asked about the speed of operation of the full kits we supply for cars and small vans. The speed does depend upon the weight of the vehicle and also the pressure of the compressor and tank. The following is a rough indication.
We have 3 speeds of operation – FAST (1-2 seconds) MEDIUM (3-5 seconds) and SLOW (15 seconds or so). All times rough and all times are full four corner full lift (from fully down to fully up), although this is not something you often do in practice very often.
Fast and Medium kits use solenoids (1/2 inch with 1/2 inch hose for fast and 3/8 with 3/8 hose for medium). All our kits comes with a 200psi compressor and 200 psi aluminium tank as standard. This gives 33% extra energy over traditional and rust prone steel tanks offered elsewhere which are usually only rated at 150psi. Medium and Fast kits are not rated as safe to adjust whilst driving – you should stop to adjust. Slow kits do not use solenoids but are rated as safe to adjust whilst driving. It is acceptable and possible to fit tandem controllers (fast for shows/cruises/playtime and slow for everyday driving).
We can supply kits for any vehicle. If you do not see you car listed then please email and ask.
We have a new video showing a very complex air installation on the Humberside Fire and Rescue icar. This vehicle is used to educate young drivers and features multiple controllers including a custom built computer, along with multiple air sources including Fire Brigade BA cylinders for maximum play time and a nice simple ICE install. The install takes up all of the boot and is an example of the most sophisticated end of the scale for air suspension.
Here at AirRide we specialize in bringing you great air suspension products at competitive prices, and we are pleased to announce that we are now distributing all AirLift products along side our own AirRide kits.
AirLift is an American company that has been dominating the marketplace since the early 1940’s.
We currently have a limited special offer on the digital AirLift kits, Many qualify for free fitting. (That’s a saving of £750!!!) Please see our terms and conditions page here and contact us for availability.
Most AirLift kits are bolt on, and all come with a 1 year manufacturers guarantee.
Have a look at the huge selection of kits we offer, and if you don’t see what you are looking for please get in contact. We will be happy to help.
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