Pros & Cons of Air Suspensions: How Air Suspension Kits Change Your Ride
By:
AT Staff
/ Dec 10 2024
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of an air suspension? If you've spent any amount of time in the car and truck communities there's a good chance it's something like a bagged Honda or sports car, and while these builds are common, have you ever considered how an air suspension might impact your truck?
While there's a reason that air suspensions have been around for decades, there's also a reason that you don't find them on every truck. For this reason, it's important to understand the pros and cons of air suspensions and how these kits will change your ride.
Before we jump into the benefits and drawbacks of this suspension style, we need to uncover what exactly it is and how it works. Fortunately, it's a simple concept and doesn't require too much explaining because the main principle is that air is what carries the weight of the vehicle rather than metal springs.
Instead of springs, the vehicle will have polyurethane and rubber airbags; this is why you'll hear some vehicles with air suspensions being referred to as bagged, although this is more common in the stance communities rather than the truck scene.
Air suspensions work because a compressor fills the airbags with air, which supports the weight of the vehicle. In theory, it's the same concept but with air instead of springs, hence the name.
Benefits of an Air Suspension for Your Truck
You didn't click on an article about the pros and cons of air suspension to start with the drawbacks, so let's kick this off on a positive note. Learn about the positives installing an air suspension will bring to your truck below.
Ride Height Flexibility
One of the most notable advantages of installing an air suspension system on your truck is ride height flexibility. Since it's only a matter of adding and removing air from bags, you can change the height of your truck when you need to without taking out a wrench. In fact, parts like the AccuAir Suspension Starter Air Suspension Management Package come with features that make it easy to adjust your ride height on the go with touchscreens and wireless capabilities without even needing a drill.
The benefit of changing your ride height will help you gain the ground clearance you need when off-roading, but it can also make your truck look even better when you’re hanging out at Cars & Coffee.
Better Towing Abilities
Haul a lot of cargo? If so, an air suspension might be exactly what you’re looking for. Because air suspensions level the entire suspension, the grip level is better than usual and you don't have to worry about carefully adjusting the steering wheel to keep your wheels even. Air suspensions will even prevent your truck from swaying on the highway or feeling hard to control when going around sharp turns.
Whether you need to haul cargo for work or tow your boat to and from the ramp, an air suspension will make the job less of a burden.
More Comfortable Ride
One of the first things you'll notice when you enter your truck after installing an air suspension system is how comfortable it is. The airbags reduce vibration and road noise when driving, which makes the entire experience more peaceful whether you’re commuting to work or driving off-road.
With an air suspension your truck will handle potholes and bumps in the road with ease, so potholes won't make you bounce around in the cabin anymore.
Drawbacks of an Air Suspension for Your Truck
Installing an air suspension system on your truck isn't all rainbows and butterflies, so it's important to understand the drawbacks this type of suspension configuration brings to the table. These tend to relate to cost and maintenance, so they're not the end of the world.
Cost
The biggest issue is the cost. This applies to the installation cost, how much the parts cost, and the cost of maintenance when something breaks. Expect to spend at least $1,000 on the necessary parts on the front and rear axle of your truck. Unfortunately, this price tends to go up if you consider premium kids or adding any extras to the system.
If you don't install it yourself, expect to spend another thousand or so dollars on the installation at a reputable shop; the labor will run you $100-$150 per hour over five to ten hours.
Maintenance
One of the biggest problems with an air suspension is maintenance. If any rust infiltrates the system due to water exposure, parts will begin to fail, and when an air suspension fails it fails hard. For example, your truck can end up lop-sided, and failing to address the problem fast will wear out your tires, suspension parts, and even the drivetrain.
You also have to worry about the compressor failing, which is an entirely new component to keep an eye on. If it leaks you'll need to replace it, which you can expect to spend a few hundred dollars on. The good news is that we carry affordable replacement parts like Air Suspension Kits for Dodge Ram trucks, along with plenty of additional options for any year, make, model, and engine size.
Find the Right Suspension for Your Build
Air suspensions are great for any type of truck build if they can fit your budget and handle the terrain you plan on throwing at it. That said, air suspensions aren't for everyone, so it's important to weigh the pros and cons before you commit to a change as big as a suspension.
Whether you need new springs, struts, or air suspensions, we have your back, and our sales techs will point you in the right direction and you'll have your new truck suspension parts fast with hassle-free shipping options.
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