hardline?

has anyone here hard-lined their air suspension setup? pro's & con's?

Van, had done it on his Air setup for his Q before.

I have seen it and it looks nice...however it was only for the compressors and tank.

Not hardline for the lines that goes to the bags.

I would do hardline on the air set up myself, you just gotta get a good pipe cutter to cut it nice and straight, and also get a flaring tool to flare those pipe, and use good fittings like Earls, or Areoquip. And use aluminum pipe, its easy to bend and you can anodize it after.. Oh...get a good bender too! hehe.

buy straight runs of tubing - any material supply place can deliver it
get a good bender
you can use copper or SS or aluminum
make sure to work in either expansion loops or use braided lines to the bags (or both)

are their any advantages over hoses? disadvantages?

[QUOTE=shawnthemonster;277568]are their any advantages over hoses? disadvantages?[/QUOTE]

Advantages: Won't crack or bust like plastic air line would. Looks cool.

Disadvantages: Unless you know someone with a flaring and bending tool, these tools alone will run you on your way to $1000.  Hardline itself is expensive as well. It really adds up.

hardlines can still crack if you're low and not careful.  i recommend swagelock isolators as well.

you can get a decent flaring and bending tool for much less if you shop around.

i prefer parker plastic line because it's easier to run, easier to hide, and easier to fix if there's a problem.

also, for cheaper line, look for local union shops that may have scrap.

[QUOTE=nunzo.;277591]hardlines can still crack if you're low and not careful.  i recommend swagelock isolators as well.

you can get a decent flaring and bending tool for much less if you shop around.

i prefer parker plastic line because it's easier to run, easier to hide, and easier to fix if there's a problem.

also, for cheaper line, look for local union shops that may have scrap.[/QUOTE]

I meant won't crack due to rubbing, etc.

Also, hydraulics guys only use stainless. I don't have experience with aluminum...

so what your saying is that hardlines are all around better. do they tend to leak?

some of the local industrial spots use aluminum tubing with adapted DIN fittings.

[QUOTE=shawnthemonster;277604]so what your saying is that hardlines are all around better. do they tend to leak?[/QUOTE]

the only way they could leak is that if the tubing is not  good meaning it has cracks or pinholes, or if installation is not good like not flaring or cutting it properly.

First of all, you don't want to use copper or aluminum, it will look like crap as those materials are to maliable.  Stainless line is also seamless and you'll need a good heavy duty flare/bender for that stuff.  You can also run compression fittings, but they are more expensive.  

I recently hardlined an air system with stainless and it turned out great.  You need to add a little rtv on the flares to ensure it be leak free.  

Pros are: looks, more resistent to rubbing/heat, use of steel fittings rather than pushlock nonsense

Cons are: cost, time

so any pics of hardlined setups?