AirPod
One of the few drawbacks of air suspension systems has been the different plumbing and electrical connections necessary during installation. Consequently, a typical installation takes 10-15 hours, but Air Ride's new AirPod cuts that time down to 1-3 hours. The AirPod is essentially a combination of compressors, air lines, solenoids, electrical wires, and an air tank that have been integrated into a single assembly. "Since the AirPod comes prewired, preplumbed, and pretested, all the customer has to do is bolt it in with four bolts, plug in four air lines, and connect the power and ground," says Bret. "In comparison, a standard system requires making 17 plumbing connections. With compact dimensions of 20x12x9.5 inches, we made sure it will easily fit in the front of the trunk in nearly any car."
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Track Tuning
Let's says you've taken the plunge on an air suspension and plan on taking your car to the track. Sure, it's almost infinitely adjustable, but how exactly do you tune the chassis to suit your driving style? "An air suspension is tuned just like any other suspension," explains Bret. "If the front pushes out first, you may have to soften the spring rate or shocks to get the car to take a set and bite. If the rear kicks out first, you may have to soften up the rear a bit to get it to roll over and bite. However, there are many variables in addition to spring rate and shock settings-such as tire pressure, alignment, and sway bar settings-and it simply takes time to figure out how to adjust each to optimize handling."