IS air suspension as reliable and the handling as good as a set of coilovers ??

Nick i have been thinking about the same thing.I have no experience with cars& air suspension but i have been thinking about installing a air system myself. I do have exp with bus air bellows and let me tell you a co driver one day called me to the front of the bus to show me that the thing can run flat cat through a S-bend [lol]All you hear is pssss, pssss when those bellows are working.We used to replace our own bellows cos they would come out [not often though] PROBLEMS : air bellow that pops [old and perished] air leaks in the system,load sensing valve not operating correctly, compressor problems.I have just got [july month] Japanese Performance mag and there is a chap with new shape subaru [hatch back] with air suspension and he reckons it's cool. [maybe you can google it]In short -- can drop down,pre-set adj on start up,height adj etc all controlled in car. Biggest prob is probably installing in a datsun [cant be so bad]The Subaru has a strutbrace and Eibach camber plates as well.I think you should read about the whole setup and take it from there.Personally i like the idea of air suspension -- been on real bad gravel roads i'd say similar to Aussie outback with the bus and they take a beating.In RSA there's a Co called gremeltech that does air suspension but there should be a few in Oz

Just had a quick look -- not sure if link is good - https://www.airliftperformance.com/vehicle/subaru-sti Ok if that dont work just google Subaru with air suspension. It's one that say's [2008 to 2014] read that and check what is needed --all in the pic. It's 550hp subie. think it's the same as the one in the mag

Airbags would be awesome and I plan to bag my 1000 wagon not as much for looks but cause i want to tow stuff aswell and not bottom out!

Rear is easy with leaf spring but the fronts would take a bit more thinking out for strut setup, will be easy in a 1k tho cause of transverse leaf

More and more people are using airbags even with performance applications

To answer question, no probably not as good as coilovers for the settings you can get from coilovers buuuut it also depends how you mount your bags etc and also ( i assume most use a shock still) i would think alot of the characteristics come down to what shockies you use with the bag setup...

Just some things i've seen and assume but just giving you something to think about ????

You can do a simple air shock setup in the rear and will provide a smoother ride and also provide you with the option to change ride height

Hi Guys,
Nick, there is a place in Braeside (Melbourne) called Rollow airbag suspension. They do all sorts of stuff as I work right near them and want it for my 1K. I would say there is all sorts of applications for them, Mercedes and a lot of other performances cars come with them so they must be decent, not to mention the different ride heights you can have!

Well I am the stage where I have taken a couple of yrs collecting all the bits I want for my wagon and finally going to slap it altogether, so was contemplating while the car was in bits , I think I can squeeze it in my budget. I agree with Matt, it will be good for towing.

nick check this out-- test coilovers vs Air https://youtu.be/7dQgT5g84ag three car test no2:THIS is quite a laugh datsun 1200 https://youtu.be/XZ5qsnH3MZA and the same datto https://youtu.be/yB5d8fjF99k

I had a 51 Ford Truck with IFS and IRS using Airlift performance bag shocks for cornering. I couldn't lay frame but it handled very well.

Quote:No way. It is vastly more complicated with springs that perish over time (rubber), air compressors and more parts add up to less reliability.

Quote:Potentially better: adjustable spring rate along with adjustable ride height, all at the push of a button. Coilovers can be fitted with adjustable ride height but you have to get out of the car, jack it up and use a wrench. Coilovers do not have adjustable spring rate.

Datsun sunny air ride kamikaze garage Acid Rain
http://www.youtube.com/v/XZ5qsnH3MZA