those of you on air suspension please read

w/regards to the air tank, compressor, and plumbing, what dictates how you arrange all the hardware in your trunk? 

are there other spaces to locate it besides against the back seat? 

can the compressor and tank be hung from underneath the rear parcel shelf? 

does the air lines have to be inside or outside of the car?

how is the electrical handled? where does the compressor get it's power?

you can get a 4gal pancake tank and mount that where the spare tire goes, you can hang the tank under the rear shelf but i would hide everything. i would mount the compressor on the exterior of the car i.e. in my case since i have a full rear bumper, i would mount it on the underside of the rear bumper support so that the compressor can breathe and cool at the same time. 

i would use electric valves instead of manual valves, and i'd mount them as close to each bag as possible. the purpose for this is for a faster reaction.

you can run the airlines inside or outside the car, up to you. just keep them away from any moving parts or exhaust pipe, getting crushed by anything, etc. 

electrical, just make sure its safe. use butt connectors, or shrink wrap, etc. the compressor gets its power from the battery through a relay and pressure switch. 

you can pretty much design how your air management is arranged in your trunk. just make it look clean. use proper connectors for electrical, rubber grommet when passing wires or airlines through a metal wall teflon for fittings....

What are the major pros running electric valves instead of manual valves??

i have a gs400. unfortunately in comparsion to your LS.... i'm like a girl with a flatt butt so i cannot hide it in my back bumper :(

this is not the first time i've heard about air ride hardware being mounted on the outside (at least for me)! i was reading online of a Z32 owner in japan who was going to mount everything behind his front bumper because he had so much space there... if i were only so lucky.

is there any other issues with running the compressor on the outside? too much plumbing? will it's lifespan be shortened by being exposed to the elements?

i've seen those pancake tanks being sold by air runner in their catalog, but that space has been taken up by my subs. 

how heavy is a typical tank? will the rear shelf be able to support it, or do i have to beef it up somehow? 

can the compressor hang upside down from the shelf?

no issues ive come across running compressors on the exterior. just as long as the air filter is mounted somewhere dry. as for the compressor itself, it can withstand some abuse, like th elements. nothing like constant splashing from water, or completely submerged. 

a typical 5gal tank is around, id say, 15lbs. there should be no problem hanging it from the rear deck, you'd just have to build yourself some brackets to bolt the 2 together.  same for the compressor you can mount it there as well but id imagine that it being in the trunk, and while its turned on you'd have like a moaning sound inside the passenger compartment. and you can mount then in any direction you want. 

as for pros and cons with manual and electric valves, i never did use manual valves. but with manual valves you only got 4 paddle switches. 1 for each corner. with electric valves, you can run as many switches you want . 1 for each corner, 1 for each side, 1 for all up/down. with manual valves, you would have to hold 2 switches at the same time to raise the front, or all 4 up to raise the whole car where as it would be 1 single switch for electric. but i guess if you go manual valves, it simpler to hook/wire up. also depending on what set up you go with. usually manual valve set ups have 1 air supply line from the tank to the paddle switches. then from the switches, 4 lines to each corner. with 1 air supply line its slower raising up. .. thats just my input/opinion.

what about if you dont want your car fully dropped? do you control your bags until you like the height? or does it just go down all the way or up? ie, say if today i feel like just dropping it 1". but tomorrow i feel like dropping it 2.5".  and can there be presets? ie, i like DD my car dropped 3", so i just hit a switch. or sometimes i like DDing it 4" lower, so i can just hit a switch?
im really really curious, and fairly interested in air ride right now. so sorry for the really noobish questions.
TIA
Charley

[quote=thumper;77510]w/regards to the air tank, compressor, and plumbing, what dictates how you arrange all the hardware in your trunk? 
 
are there other spaces to locate it besides against the back seat? 
 
can the compressor and tank be hung from underneath the rear parcel shelf? 
 
does the air lines have to be inside or outside of the car?
 
how is the electrical handled? where does the compressor get it's power?[/quote]
 
hey bro,
 
a lot of your answers are answered by air runners japan; i always tell customers when i sell their kits that the install takes time if you do it right then you'll have no problems with your system. i've had mine for over a yr now with absolutely no problems whatsoever...
 
[IMG]http://www.airrunner.co.jp/pic/piping_1.jpg[/IMG]
 
for my universal air customers, i just play the History Channel video for them... it explains generally everything and their website is very helpful as well -- [URL="http://www.universalairsuspension.com"]www.universalairsuspension.com[/URL] (they got a new youtube vid up now)...
 
clicky: [URL]http://www.universalairsuspension.com/HistoryChannel-Lowriders.wmv[/URL]
 
good luck bro!
 
vr,
 
mikey

[quote=mista808;77887]as for pros and cons with manual and electric valves, i never did use manual valves. but with manual valves you only got 4 paddle switches. 1 for each corner. with electric valves, you can run as many switches you want . 1 for each corner, 1 for each side, 1 for all up/down. with manual valves, you would have to hold 2 switches at the same time to raise the front, or all 4 up to raise the whole car where as it would be 1 single switch for electric. but i guess if you go manual valves, it simpler to hook/wire up. also depending on what set up you go with. usually manual valve set ups have 1 air supply line from the tank to the paddle switches. then from the switches, 4 lines to each corner. with 1 air supply line its slower raising up. .. thats just my input/opinion.[/quote]
 
^^^ well said! :biggthumpup:

between manual and electric valves (solenoids) i'd recommend electric.  It might cost a few hundred more for valves and a little pain with wiring but you dont have to run airlines all throughout your car to wherever your paddle valves are.  thats what sold me on electric, less possibilities of leaks esp inside your car behind the dash..i can imagine that much suck.

So with manual valves like the one from Air Runner,behind those paddle switches there's a valve?if so then does that mean when lowering the car the air is released where ever the switches are located?

[quote=hamads;78401]between manual and electric valves (solenoids) i'd recommend electric. It might cost a few hundred more for valves and a little pain with wiring but you dont have to run airlines all throughout your car to wherever your paddle valves are. thats what sold me on electric, less possibilities of leaks esp inside your car behind the dash..i can imagine that much suck.[/quote]
i dont know about that

[quote=BIGGZ JZS147;90228]So with manual valves like the one from Air Runner,behind those paddle switches there's a valve?if so then does that mean when lowering the car the air is released where ever the switches are located?[/quote]
yes. dont think the manual looks like the electric. its totally diff look. how can i explain...think of how the mechanics of an elec valves works. you send elec current to the valves to open. well with manual you have to press down the paddle to open both to take in air and let out air, so flippin the paddle up will send air in while flippin it down will release. i hope that explains it

[quote=no-othr;77954]hey bro,
 
a lot of your answers are answered by air runners japan; i always tell customers when i sell their kits that the install takes time if you do it right then you'll have no problems with your system. i've had mine for over a yr now with absolutely no problems whatsoever...
 
 
vr,
 
 
mikey[/quote]
word! when i still had the GS, i had the manual valves for 2 years and NEVER once a leak EVER. i wont go back to elec, i had them before on another car i used to have.

anybody got info on that pancake tank. airrunner site is disabled by my computer.

how do you secure the air line into the fitting? silicone?

[quote=BLACKonBLACK98;90285]anybody got info on that pancake tank. airrunner site is disabled by my computer.[/quote]
 
 
[URL]http://easystreetair.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=457[/URL]

antbo,thanks I got it.

Skies the limit, use your imagination or do the norm.  The truck guys would be a good example.  The majority of them are mounted under the truck bed...and some in it for show..but most are not in an enclosed space.  As far as the manual and electric valve issue, I say electric, but it depends on the company.  I for one HATE the valve/switch set-up on the AirRunner systems..pretty ghetto by today's standards.  That's like really old school and makes for real fun if you ever have to chase down any issues with running the airlines inside the cabin.  The pancakes tanks are nice unless you'd like to have a spare tire..which I would.

Very helpful thread... Thanks to all of you guys!

[QUOTE] The pancakes tanks are nice unless you'd like to have a spare tire..which I would.[/QUOTE]
 
Triple A:dance: