Welcome to AirRide.

Our range of van struts just got bigger! The new Sprinters and Crafters, following the end of the Mercedes and VW partnership in 2017, now have struts on the front. It looks like the Crafters got equipped with front struts instead of the original transverse leaf spring some time before Sprinters made the same step but we don't have exact changeover years yet. Therefore, if you have a 2018+ Sprinter or Crafter, just look underneath to see what suspension it has on the front. If in doubt turn the wheel and send a picture. We are always happy to advise.

The rear suspension is still essentially the same but likely to change in near future. We have several options available depending on your requirements and vehicle specs, from load support to lowering kits.

The new air struts use Boss bags, the toughest and highest capacity bag of its type on the market. They are our personal favourite, and are built on original cores. Suitable for a variety of applications, from commercial vehicles to campers and motorhomes.

Various air management options are available to match the chosen air suspension setup: rear only, front only or front and rear.

We get asked about the Sprinter/Crafter front kit for vans with the transverse leaf spring. We did develop a kit some years ago but it was designed for custom low rider vans with emphasis on the drop, not comfort. It is far too complex  (using a combination of hydraulics and air suspension) for campers and motorhomes and therefore we are unable to supply it. There won’t be another front kit aimed at campers and motorhomes either – any development work takes between 6-12 months of continuous work, trial and error, and costs tens of thousands of pounds. As a small, independent business we need to be really selective about the projects we undertake. As much as we love a challenge and bringing a new air suspension product to the market, if we don’t believe there’s enough demand (we may need to sell 100 kits just to break even on some projects) then it’s not financially viable for us to do it.

Our range of van struts is AVAILABLE HERE.

Questions? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

We've seen quite a few social media posts about this plus seen some interesting examples on the roads ourselves and decided to contribute to the topic.

Look at the two photos. In the first one, it's obvious that the flatbed is inadequate for the size and weight of the vehicle. In the second photo, a lot of people wouldn't immediately see that something isn't right. The car physically fits on the car transporter so what's wrong with it? We tend to perceive cars as lightweight and vans as heavy,  when in reality there might not be that much difference in weight between the two. Cars can easily weigh up to 2.5t, which is over the kerb weight of a Ford Transit. Fiat Ducato vans, although they look much bigger and bulkier, have a payload of only 3.5t. Once you deduct the vehicle weight, there is only enough payload left for a really small car or old car.

One of our staff recently witnessed a VW T4 being carried on a Citroen Relay flatbed, which exceeds the payload by about one ton! That might sound like nothing when compared to the Ukrainian lorry, caught a few years ago, that had managed to be overloaded by a whopping 162 tons, but it is no laughing matter.

Overloading is not just illegal, it's dangerous too! Overloaded vehicles have reduced handling and stability - think of going around corners or passing other vehicles on narrow Norfolk roads, take longer to stop or fail to stop at all, and the extra weight puts pressure on major components of the car transporter: suspension, engine, tyres, to name a few. If it's windy and the overloaded flatbed is travelling fast, the consequences can be devasting for other drivers when the driver of the unstable flatbed loses control and gets blown right into your way. It can happen on the motorway, it can happen on a B road.

There is a common misconception that adding airbags to the vehicle will automatically increase payload. It will NOT. The vehicle needs uprating and air suspension is part of the re-rating process. The quality of the airbags is also of great importance. We've said this before and we'll say it again: beware of cheap kits from eBay/other online marketplaces that claim 4000 kg load capacity, this is not possible in real life. Cheap kits use either counterfeit or lightweight bags, often in combination with thin brackets. Low quality kits with false capacity claims can damage the suspension, making the vehicle unsafe and therefore illegal for road use. If you want to add air suspension for load support or plan to uprate your vehicle, buy quality air suspension which, of course, is what we specialise in.

Whilst the Police and VOSA do not inspect air suspension for quality, they do pull vehicles over for a weight check. Driving an overloaded vehicle is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. If you need to hire a car transporter, don't just go for the cheapest quote. You need to do the maths to make sure that the flatbed that's arrived to collect your vehicle can actually legally carry it.

We've had a great start of the year with many AirLift Performance (ALP) products now having been reduced in price, and one favourite re-introduced (may not be permanent). So many kits have gone down in price!

ALP is an iconic brand that many air enthusiasts aspire to own so it's great to see that they've become cheaper. As a company, we always strive to pass on savings to our customers when we can.

Use this opportunity to browse our website, the full range of ALP products is AVAILABLE HERE.

Can't find your vehicle? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

We get all sorts of enquiries. Our favourite so far has been a customer who asked us how to protect air suspension from mice. If you've ever dealt with rodents then you know they love to chew. Airline is an easy target altough rats can bite through (soft) metal as well!

We've never had a rodent problem with our vehicles but we have had several reports over the years of rodent issues with airline and with wiring, and one customer believed his airbags had been nibbled. So we put together a short guide:

No food

Like any living creature, rodents need to feed. If you have a habit of eating in your car, make sure you dispose of any food wrappers as soon as you're done. Don't leave any leftovers lying around. Vacuum your car or get it cleaned by a professional on a regular basis to avoid crumbs on seats and carpets. If you have a camper or a motorhome, clean the kitchen area after every meal, sweep and/or vacuum the floor on a regular basis. Remove all food items once you're back home and clean your camper/motorhome thoroughly before storing it for winter.  By food we also mean pet food and livestock feed.

Keep it clean

Don't use your vehicle to store random junk, empty product packaging, etc. Check the boot and engine bay if you're not using the vehicle on a regular basis. Don't let rodents get cosy and make a nest. If you're parked in a leafy area, remove the foliage from around your car. Rodents love leaves and use them to build their nests.

Let there be light!

They don't like it. Rodents prefer dark places. This might be a problem if you're vehicle is stored away for winter in a garage so you might need to consider lighting solutions for the garage or inside the vehicle.

Paw patrol

Have a cat? Excellent. Dogs, too, are a natural enemy of rodents. So, if you have pets let them wander round your vehicle if possible. If you're transporting your dog in the vehicle or your cat is curious and likes to jump in every now and then, it will act as a further deterrent to rodents. Our Office Admin once had a cat that loved napping on a warm car bonnet.

Peppermint oil

Natural rodent deterrent. We've heard strories about people spraying hot sauce on their car floor but, personally, we think peppermint oil is a far better option. One of our customers wanted to use it directly on the airline and airbags - this is not something we would do ourselves. The nylon airline will be fine but it is difficult to predict how the peppermint oil would affect rubber airbags.

Need air suspension parts? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

Both the Sales Office and the Workshop will be closing at 5 PM on 14/12/2023 and reopen at 10 AM on Tuesday, 02/01/2024. During this time, phones will be answered by our Call Centre staff. Please note that they cannot assist beyond taking messages.

Any orders placed will be dispatched after reopening in January. All made to order kits will be dispatched once manufactured when we re-open in the New Year.

We know that many customers install products over the festive period so if you require technical assistance then please email us at  ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK using the subject ‘Technical’.  Messages will be monitored sporadically by skeleton staff.

We would like to thank our customers for their continued support and wish you all a Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays!

Newer Fiat Ducato vans, campers and motorhomes need a different kit. This is because the later suspension design has less room between the chassis and leaf spring (near the bumpstop), and existing kits won't fit correctly. If your Ducato is 2020+ you will definitely need the new kit. If your Ducato was first registered between 2018-2020, you might need the new kit. It may also be required on some early vehicles where there is limited space.

We've seen examples where the standard kit does physically fit and has been installed on a vehicle but the bags are too compressed to do anything - meaning the ride quality has actually got worse!

Most sellers only offer one kit for all Ducatos from 1994 onwards. This could be because of a number of reasons. We do air suspension installation and servicing in our Norwich workshop so we spot any differences in suspension design when the vehicles come in. Therefore we're either able to source the parts customers need or modify existing kits. Other companies who sell air suspension in addition to their main business and don't offer installations do not have our level of knowledge. That's why they can't provide tech advice for customer queries before or after the sale: they only have the information that comes in the box. As for eBay sellers... There are some good ones out there but their kits are priced accordingly - just like ours. Sellers of cheap kits are an entirely differernt breed. They're not in the business of selling a kit that will fit your vehicle.  They're in the business of selling lots of cheap kits and it doesn't matter if they get a few unhappy customers stuck with parts they cannot use.

What's in the kit? Two double-convoluted air bags, brackets, bolts and fittings necessary for installation. The basic kit comes with Schrader valves but various on board air options are available.

AVAILABLE HERE

Any questions? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

You can buy the best air suspension kit, quality airline, a top spec compressor and a sophisticated controller but none of that will matter if you don't also buy quality fittings. Low quality fittings cause leaks and leaks make the whole system unreliable and potentially dangerous.  If you buy your parts from us, you can be assured that we only supply products that we would (and do!) install on our own vehicles. Whether it's compressors or tank fittings: if we haven't tested it ourselves, we don't sell it!

Airbags should hold pressure for months, just like tyres. If they don't then you have a problem. Finding where exactly the leak is can be frustrating and time consuming, especially if you didn't install the air suspension yourself or bought the vehicle with airride already on.

Here's what you need to know when looking for fittings:

1. Price. Our fittings start from £7.50 a piece. If someone is selling fittings much cheaper, you got to ask a few questions... Are they selling in bulk? Is there a handling charge and expensive shipping? Are the fittings sent from China and will take weeks to arrive? Or is it simply because they're low quality fittings?
2. Measurements. Fittings should ideally be measured with a digital calliper. British Standard Pipe (NPT), a commonly used set of technical standards, can be a minefield when trying to source air suspension fittings. We've had customers ordering wrong size fittings because they measured the outside of the thread when they should have measured the inside thread. Yes, NPT can be awkward...
3. Size. We get a lot of enquiries about fittings where customers don't provide sizes. There is no universal pack of fittings that will suit all installations. Therefore we really need to know whether the fitting you require is straight or 90 degree, male or female NPT and what size airline it's for.
4. Sealants. Only liquid thread sealant should be used. Do not use tape - you can read more about this in a previous post. PTC (Push to Connect) fittings should seal as soon as airline is connected and not require anything else to secure it. We once had a supplier who suggested using superglue. Ehm... No. Just buy fittings elsewhere and buy quality.

Of course, if you buy the air suspension kit and one of our air management packs we will sort out the fittings for you!

If you're putting together your own kit or need replacement parts then a selection of fittings is AVAILABLE HERE.

If you cannot see what you need, call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

It is back! We know a lot of you have been waiting for this year's AirLift Performance Black Friday sale - many products are now up to 20% off! They won't get any cheaper so if you've been thinking about equipping your car with ALP gear, now is the time to order.

As usual, sales prices cannot be used with any other offer and the sale ends 04/12/2023. A very long Black Friday indeed...

Please contact the office for prices by emailing to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK or call us on 0800 772 0315.

Compressors are among our bestselling products. With so many available on the market we try to keep things simple and only stock one manufacturer: Viair, a trusted and iconic brand. We do have a selection of their products on our website but it's mainly for display purposes. Most of the time we use and recommend the same model: VIAIR 444C.

It's a solid aluminium compressor with a sealed non return valve and braided hose. You won't see any plastic parts that are so common on cheap emergency tyre inflators maskerading as air suspension compressors.

100% duty cycle at 100 PSI and 200 PSI max offers great value for money. Please note that it does not come with an on/off button and requires an external pressure switch. At £238 it is not much more expensive than lower specs, although it is a bit bigger and heavier. Unless you're restricted for space we recommend using 444C when installing/replacing a compressor. As one of our all-time favourite products it's almost always in stock. Other Viair compressors are not but can usually be obtained within 3-5 days.

Sometimes we get asked whether we can supply other manufacturer compressors and the answer is No. If you want a specific compressor by a specific manufacturer you're better off ordering directly with them even if it means paying customs fees. If you do need to replace a compressor and are unsure what to choose simply provide us with the tech specs and we'll do our best to assist.

Any questions? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK.

We understand that choosing air suspension parts for your car can feel overwhelming at times so we've put together this short guide.

What kit should I choose?

This will depend on the vehicle in question. Some cars will have several kits available, others only one. And then there are cars with no bolt on kits available that will require universal parts. Our kits are primarily for lowering the car.  If that's not what you're looking to achieve - get in touch!

If you want to lower your car and there is a choice between a kit from AirLift Performance, TA Technix and AirRide Gold then...

AirLift Performance uses the biggest bags and their 'Performance' kits have 30 level adjustable damping. The 'Slam' kits do what their name suggests.

TA Technix uses small bags and their kits are great for slamming the car to the ground, but they're not very adjustable.

AirRide Gold kits use bigger bags than TA Technix, have 36 way adjustable damping but they're still sporty kits.

AirRide Custom kits are available for a selection of vehicles. They will lower your car but are built with comfort and ride quality in mind. These kits mainly use Universal Air bags and do not include shock absorbers.

Once you've picked the kit for your car, the next question customers ask is...

Do I need air management?

The short answer is: yes, you do. Air management is sold separately, it is not included in the car kits. Our car kits are bags and brackets and, with some kits, also shock absorbers.

Without a compressor, a tank and a controller you would rely on Schrader valves. This solution works well on motorhomes and other heavy vehicles that simply need lifting up but not on cars.  One of the main advantages of air suspension is adjustability: to be able to adjust height and pressure on the go, at the touch of a button. Cars will need regular adjustment to adapt for weight fluctuations (cargo, passengers) and road surface/condition. Having to stop to inflate/deflate the bags via Schrader valves is not very convenient.

What air management should I choose?

Front and rear kits require a 4 circuit management where each corner is separate. Anything else is neither safe nor road legal.

Our air management of choice is the 3P DIGITAL CONTROLLER PACK. It is easy to install, easy to use and what we fit to our own vehicles. Because there are only a few wires to connect going for the 3P pack saves you money on labour costs.

Choosing a compressor and a tank can be confusing because there are so many options available but we've got you sorted. Our compressor of choice is always the VIAIR 444C as it's excellent value for money. Customers sometimes ask whether they need to install 2 compressors in case one fails. With a reputable brand like Viair you don't have to worry about it and one compressor is enough.

Air tank wise, our default choice is the 2.5 GALLON TANK but we can supply smaller or bigger tanks if necessary.

Any questions? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

It is summer (despite the rain and the wind!) and that means staff holidays.

Our Sales Office will be closed between 1st August - 17th August 2023. You will still be able to call and leave a message to our call centre staff who then forward them to us. Calls and emails will take a bit longer to answer.

Our workshop (manufacturing and installations) will be run by skeleton staff. As much as we like visitors, we won't be able to do inspections or repairs that have not been booked in advance.

Orders for in stock items will be processed but might take longer to dispatch. New orders for manufactured items will not be processed until our return on 16th August.

If you require technical assistance for a product you are fitting then please email us at ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK using the subject ‘Technical’. Emails will be monitored sporadically and those relating to your technical enquiries will have priority.

We thank customers for their support and business, and hope you are getting to enjoy your motorhomes, vans and cars this summer.

Like most air suspension specialist we sell a lot of kits, and we also sell a lot of bags. On occasion a customer will come back to us and say that they have a hole in their bag because it touched on something. Most customers are sensible, viewing it as an expensive learning experience and realise this is not a warranty issue. All manufacturers state clearly that it is the absolute responsibility of the installer to ensure that at no time can the airbag ever touch or even come close to metalwork. The result of not checking or taking action to avoid this is inevitable - a hole in your bag.

What can you do to avoid this?

Put simply - most kits require a clear 1 inch gap around the bag to be guaranteed never to touch. This is because when you go over a bump the pressure in the bag increases dramatically for a short period of time and this will make the bag wider for a short time. So even if it is clear when static it may not be under driving conditions. Secondly on front suspensions with McPherson struts you will find that they turn - sometimes not through the angles you would predict, which can make the situation worse.

If you have the clearance then you wont have a problem. Again its quite simple - bits of metal that could touch may need to be removed. On the Jaguar kits you can simply pack out the anti roll bar with washers for more clearance. Rear driveshaft's and gators can also be an issue - sometimes smaller diameter gators are available or the kit must be adjusted to clear. At speed gators get larger too!

How can this happen on a bolt-on kit?

A bolt on kit just means the kit bolts onto the vehicle - as opposed to a weld-on or fabricated/universal kit which will need a lot of work. It does not mean that the bags cannot touch, or that you don't have to do any work to make them clear or that you can close your eyes and never verify all is good. Wheels are bolt on, but when you modify a car and fit larger or smaller wheels it is down to the installer to ensure they don't catch on the arches when going over bumps or turning corners - that's what bolt-on means. You should not need to fabricate or modify the kit to fit, but you may well have to modify the car for it to fit - same as wide wheels/tyres.

Some of the kits we sell for older vehicles - such as Mercedes from 1960's to 2000's, The Jaguar XJ40/X300/X308 kit, Classic Mini and Ducato front struts all have very tight clearances. Some need small parts of the chassis to be cut away or a redundant bumpstop perches to be removed. All are bolt-on kits. Most modern vehicles have different suspension and its far less likely to be an issue, although some Hondas require the front arms to be shaved a little.

So what can you take away from this note - if it touches it will fail. Its not a matter that "it will be ok" - it will never be ok - more a matter of when not if.

Any questions? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

Here at AirRide we only sell parts that we would install on our own vehicles: high quality and built to last. Our kits are premium products which is reflected in the price. Every now and then we receive calls asking why our load supports kits are £700 for bags, brackets and Schrader valves when they've seen much cheaper products elsewhere. The very short answer is: because quality costs money!

We use some of the highest specification bags on the general market because many of our customers have motorhomes. Motorhomes are not vans, and need very different kits due to being heavily loaded all their life. We use 160 psi rated bags on most kits which have more laminations and thicker rubber than any we have seen available. They are also tested to an incredible 1000 psi for leaks - most of the bags used in the counterfeit kits explode (really they do) at significantly lower pressures.

A proper air suspension grade compressor alone costs about £240 yet we’ve seen cheap kits that include an “all metal” (plastic emergency tyre inflators in reality) compressor designed for use once or twice a year – suspension compressors are designed for daily/weekly use.

Hint:- If a compressor has crocodile clips, or a cigarette lighter plug on it, then it's certainly not a suspension grade compressor!!

Any real air suspension compressor is never, ever connected to the lighter plug, and will require a relay as it draws a lot of power.

Then there are unbranded or counterfeit airbags, usually coming from China or Eastern Europe from other companies (particularly eBay). eBay sellers also fraudulently claim “VOSA” compliance – which is both false and non existent, plus “4000 Kg” capacity which is also totally untrue, and unsupported by basic mathematics. Poorly designed or counterfeit brackets can actually damage your vehicle given the loads that are involved in air suspension and heavy motorhomes. We only supply proper suspension grade compressors, proper genuine highest quality and highest specification air bags/springs, and 6mm thick steel brackets with proper braces and supports. We replace a lot of the low quality eBay kits for proper specification kits – so please be aware that all air suspension is not the same and if you buy cheap, you can often buy twice, which clearly is not cheaper!

Just as you need the right bags and brackets for the job you also need the right sealant. Do not use tape to install air suspension or to fix air leaks. For some reason plumbers PTFE thread seal seems to work adequately on water pipes but does not ever work well on air suspension systems. Additionally it invalidates the warranties on most electronic controllers. Only use liquid thread sealant.

Thread sealant, as the name suggests, is for use on metal threads. It's easy to use and highly reliable. With an operating temperature between -50°C to +150°C  and a maximum operating pressure of 250 PSI, it can be used on most installations, and almost all air suspension systems we see.

This can also be used on bead seal bags, but quality bags such as the Boss ones we supply can be assembled dry and wont leak up to about 750psi (safe working pressure 160 psi). This NOT for direct use on the plastic pipe (polyurethane or nylon) as it will damage it. Neither should you use superglue/CA glue as we have heard one supplier recommend. If you need to use superglue on a PTC (Push to Connect) fitting then you need to change supplier. Quality fittings do cost a little bit more but leaks make the system unuseable. So which is more expensive?

The thread sealant is AVAILABLE HERE. Free mainland UK delivery!

Any questions? Call us on 0800 772 0315 or send an email to ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK

One of the most common enquiries we have is for replacement airbags. In an ideal world, the original supplier/purchaser/installer would take a note of the part number and preserve it for future use. In real life, very few people do that. Vehicles get sold, part numbers wear out or are not clear to start with, and suppliers products evolve. The only sure way to identify, for instance, a Firestone bag is by the W number, which is written... wait for it... on a paper label on top of the airbag! The chance of that surviving for years under a vehicle is, as you've probably guessed, pretty close to zero.

Firestone bags do have other numbers printed on them but these are mould numbers and are used on dozens of bags, and so of limited help.

There are about 10 000 airbags in common use today so if no part number is available, customers would need to send us photos  of an airbag with height and width measurements. Alternatively, customers are welcome to post us a bag and we'll try and match it. Please note that if the bags are really old there is a chance that the airbags have either been discontinued or the manufacturer is no longer in business. In that case we'll try to come up with an alternative solution.

For popular vehicles, such as 1990s Sprinters or leaf spring Ducatos, we have replacement kits available meaning that both bags and brackets can be changed to bring things up to modern standards.

So if you need replacement bags for any application the first thing is to shoot us some photos and dimensions, and failing that post us a bag and we will do our best to assist.