Air Vs Coils On The Track

[Dave_The_BMXER]

http://vimeo.com/78528697


Data:
http://www.airliftperformance.com/airvscoilover/

While they don't list the coils an employee told me that the ones used were in similar price range as air.

That could be a range but still pretty cool to see this data.

[Aitch]

Air Lift won every single test? Sounds fishy.........

^^Mostly sarcastic. I can believe the data.

[The Wolf]

Findings ignored.

[Stathakos]

Biased...

[Zuluwun]

I don't know that paying 2-3x for suspension for an extra 0.01g (or ~0.5 sec) is a great deal. Generally speaking of course.

All this tells me is that the stigma of "air doesn't handle" is unfounded, but anyone who knows about air could have told me the same...

Same ride height, spring rate? Tires at similar temps/wear throughout the test? Just because the air setup was compared to a SIMILARLY PRICED coilover setup doesn't mean that a cheaper coil setup won't perform similarly.

Also, without any test conditions, it's hard to really make any conclusions.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Non believers!!

Actually when Air Lift made this video


http://vimeo.com/51467775

People asked for data instead of 'hooning' so I assume this is a response to that.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I don't know that paying 2-3x for suspension for an extra 0.01g (or ~0.5 sec) is a great deal. Generally speaking of course.

All this tells me is that the stigma of "air doesn't handle" is unfounded, but anyone who knows about air could have told me the same...


I think this was the main point, to showcase that air has come a considerable way from the days of yore.

[Aitch]

Exactly. You pay more for air than coilovers but you get the best of both worlds, complete adjustablility, safety for your fenders, and equivalent performance.

I would not have hesitated to put my AirRex system up against coilovers on a track (well, other than the fact that my car isn't track-prepped at all).

[Nikhil Pali]

I have seen full track ready Mustang and Porsche with air suspension for Targa Rally and they performed great.

But still people prefer coilover more than air suspension coz its cheap, easy to repair/rebuild and get spares. Also hydraulic shocks provide wider tuning range and faster rebound and recoil. Top race teams don't want to mess with air suspension and extra weight of compressor and tank. Plus driver can adjust suspension setting by touch of button while in a race and change is instantaneous.

Not sure if you are able to modify the ride characteristics of air suspension in middle of the race.

[Aitch]

Air suspension still uses hydraulic shocks. I'm not currently aware of any on-the-fly adjustable shocks (although AirRex might have some in development) but they are as easy to design as for coilovers - just need a servo sitting on the end of the shocks to actuate the adjustment valves remotely.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I read a thread about someone talking about adapting Tein's system but there's a whoooole lot that can go wrong there.

[Default User]

I don't know that paying 2-3x for suspension for an extra 0.01g (or ~0.5 sec) is a great deal. Generally speaking of course.



A coilover set up could cost close-to the same amount. So really you're looking at $1000 extra to have complete adjustability


Just because the air setup was compared to a SIMILARLY PRICED coilover setup doesn't mean that a cheaper coil setup won't perform similarly.


Then why buy the big-brand more expensive coils?

[SomeGuy]

Air suspension still uses hydraulic shocks. I'm not currently aware of any on-the-fly adjustable shocks (although AirRex might have some in development) but they are as easy to design as for coilovers - just need a servo sitting on the end of the shocks to actuate the adjustment valves remotely.

There are some out there for the mazda 3, I can't remember who exactly...I think bilstein at least makes a set.

[Aitch]

There are some out there for the mazda 3, I can't remember who exactly...I think bilstein at least makes a set.

I'm sure they exist, see Tein for example, but I'm referring to air suspension systems with remote adjustable damping. Can't find anything about AirRex but I thought they mentioned something about it on Facebook a few months back.

[CelestSpeed3]

The air suspension really can't be compared to a normal coilover setup. The reason being the spring rate changes in an air suspension vehicle. Sure you can get progressive springs but it's not the same. My coilovers for my 3 cost me $3500, I would be willing to put them against an air suspension car to see the difference. The air suspension car could have been running a higher pressure then what is required to keep it at the desired height. Also since they had only 3 hours to set up each car, well you can't really do anything to my car in less then 3 hours so I would imagine the air suspension car to have better balance because setting the corner weights would go a lot faster.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Did a little digging.


The coilover kits were not bottom of the barrel nor were they 'cheap'. They are actually well respected coils that most people turn to when it comes to track based setups. Typically featuring purple and yellow...

It's just nice to see real world testing and testing that isn't skewed. :thumbup::beer:



http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?6852664-AIR-vs-COILS&p=84178698&viewfull=1#post84178698