Air ride help or info

[johnd]

Planning to convert my mk2 cavalier hatch

Nobody makes an off the shelf kit -

If i buy this or similar

pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=141572246085

don't the fronts just sit in place of my current springs? And use my existing shocks? Obviously brackets ect would need fabbing

The kit is very basic, ideally id live presets

1 - slammed for parking
2 - moderately low for driving
3 - speedbump height

I'm not too fussed on speed, can anyone recommend a better kit that will do what i want without it being £2k plus?

[scratcher]

Of you want pre set heights, you'll have to go for one of the better management kits like the Accuair E-Level.
You can't use pre sets with paddles so it starts to get expensive.

[Midland Performance & Retro]

As above, Accuair E-Level is the best, but Airlift V2 is also good and they come up second hand more often on eBay or the forums.

We fitted V2 to a Polo and a cheap Polish kit with toggle switch-based management to another Polo and the parts cost wasn't that different as the Polish kit was new and the V2 and other kit was used, although hadn't had a lot of use and the difference in quality was day and night. 

[johnd]

Am i right about my shocks then

[cobblers]

Your best bet is to put some coilovers on the front, then use some coilover adapter plates to mount the AeroSport bags over them (you can buy the plates pre-made if needs be). That way you can adjust the ride height so that you can get the correct spring rate at your desired "moving" height. The problem with air is that the lower you go, the lower the spring rate.
Theres a chance that to get them firm enough to drive comfortably, you end up with one end way up in the air, or vice versa. Having one end easily adjustable will allow you to get it riding level when you have the pressures set right at least.

Make sure you have room in the strut towers for the Aerosport bags. I bought some to go on a lupo and there was no chance. Mk2 Cav front springs are a lot wider so I reckon you'd probably get away with it.


As for controlling them, I'd personally stay away from running 2 switch systems as you can end up with body roll (when you turn the air pumps out of one side into another) but a lot of people seem to get away with it.