Air Suspension Discussion Thread - Let's Get Nerdy

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by Chaz@ORT

Ken Block has a Bagged Focus ST that he daily drives ;]

Okay.

I wasn't very specific. I'm interested in finding out if you know of any teams or owners that run road races that are using your product or one like it in Tudor/Continental, World-Challenge, Canadian Touring Car, or any of the series across the pond such as BTCC and the like.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Be nice guys!

Originally Posted by Andrew@ORT

We're working on some statistical data to show the correlation in height / psi to the spring rate.

This would be pretty cool to see.

- Andy

[7thgear]

There are two questions to dig through here

Can a car on bags perform at the track? I suppose it can, if the effective spring rate of the bags distributes the weight transfer correctly and matches the harshness of the road, and the dampers on it are tuned to control the oscillations correctly.

Can the car pictured in the initial post perform at the track? Highly doubtful, unless it is the smoothest of tracks (not many of those though..) because it would have to be setup like a DTM car, where mechanical grip is sacrificed for aero grip…. And you’d never want to be driving such a car on the street.

Not to mention the fact that when you’re an inch off the ground not only have you screwed your roll centers (again, forcing you to build an aero car), but you’ve also exceeded the designed articulation in the oem suspension pickup points and the drive axles… a remedy to which would be a custom front and rear crossmember.

Bags are certainly an option, but they’re not some magical solution, at least not if you’re serious about building a dual duty vehicle.


When a car encounters a bump, the wheels need to move up and the chassis needs to stay where it is, if there is no room for the wheel to move up, then the chassis has to move up, and while this whole movement can be dulled down somewhat with the help of super-properly-setup dampers, your ass is still going to bounce at least once.. bags or no bags.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Andrew@ORT

We're working on some statistical data to show the correlation in height / psi to the spring rate. We're just scratching the surface here as this "scene" is very new to air suspension. We don't want to throw too much knowledge down in the first post.

I'd love to see the data, and how the airbag is damped.

[ntaphse]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

Can the car pictured in the initial post perform at the track? Highly doubtful, unless it is the smoothest of tracks (not many of those though..) because it would have to be setup like a DTM car, where mechanical grip is sacrificed for aero grip…. And you’d never want to be driving such a car on the street.

Not to mention the fact that when you’re an inch off the ground not only have you screwed your roll centers (again, forcing you to build an aero car), but you’ve also exceeded the designed articulation in the oem suspension pickup points and the drive axles… a remedy to which would be a custom front and rear crossmember.

You do realize that Sti is laid out in the pic right? You wouldn't drive the car at 0 psi.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by ntaphse

You do realize that Sti is laid out in the pic right? You wouldn't drive the car at 0 psi.

one would hope....

[Andrew@ORT]

Originally Posted by dem00n

A bit off topic, but our RS7 has the standard air suspension, that shit is nuts. I've driven cars with air suspension both OEM and aftermarket and I've never been impressed until we drove that car. Defiently made me a believer that you can have a good handling car with air suspension.

Besides that, the technicality of air suspension is a subject i have yet to wander into.

The RS7 is one of many cars this day and age that is equipped with factory air suspension. And, honestly, I am very excited and thankful that you posted your feedback. While we've been around slinging air suspension for quite some time, it's not until probably the last 2-3 years that we've really seen a progression in technology across the market as whole.

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

Be nice guys!



This would be pretty cool to see.

- Andy

Thanks Andy!

Actually working on some graphs / charts to show spring rates at three different heights / pressures to give everyone an idea of what's possible with an air suspension setup.

[Andrew@ORT]

This is a really good read (FT86 related) : http://www.revvolution.com/blog/2014...ital-combo-kit

[Jyn]

Originally Posted by Andrew@ORT

This is a really good read (FT86 related) : http://www.revvolution.com/blog/2014...ital-combo-kit

Is there a follow-up to that article? It was an interesting read, but now I must know their reflections after the install!

[Andrew@ORT]

Originally Posted by Jyn

Is there a follow-up to that article? It was an interesting read, but now I must know their reflections after the install!

Spoke to some mutual friends and they've got it on and installed, they're just awaiting the completion of their motor. Hopefully soon!

[Chaz@ORT]

So while we're waiting for Air Lift to deliver us the technical data we've asked for you to answer your questions, I just want to chime in and say something.

Honestly, we're not here to try and convince you to switch your track car to air suspension. And we're not here to debate what would work best on the track, or on your canyon road, or whatever kind of driving you're into.

We're here to answer questions, deliver information, and most importantly help FRS/BRZ owners as a whole just understand how it is that air suspension works and performs, because it is relatively new to this platform.

This thread is designed to answer those questions you're afraid to ask, or feel "too dumb" to ask. This thread is designed to help explain installation procedures. This thread is designed to help you decide what kind of tank/compressor/management system is right for you, and how you could go about installing.

There's going to be the hardcore coilover/static junkies who will detest air suspension till their death, and honestly this thread isn't here to try and change your mind. The guys at ORT all have owned cars on air suspension, coilovers, cup kits, you name it. So we're not here to get into a battle about what's better.

With that said, lets open up the floor more for discussion. and Very soon we'll have the technical data that was requested previously in the thread.

Cheers

[jebuwh]

Has price already been covered? What does a full kit, with everything needed for install run for the twins?

[Andrew@ORT]

Originally Posted by jebuwh

Has price already been covered? What does a full kit, with everything needed for install run for the twins?

Price has not been covered, but this is a discussion thread in the technical section. Due to this, we cannot post a price. We'd be more than happy to discuss price via pm.

Cheers,
Andrew

sent via telepathy

[jebuwh]

Originally Posted by Andrew@ORT

Price has not been covered, but this is a discussion thread in the technical section. Due to this, we cannot post a price. We'd be more than happy to discuss price via pm.

Cheers,
Andrew

sent via telepathy

That would be cool. I mean I'm just looking for a rough range of what they run. Just to compare to standard coilovers. That's technically technical right?