What air ride controller to buy?

[nacnac]

I've got a full air ride suspension (struts up front) air bar in the back for my 68 fastback. I didn't buy a controller yet but I'm thinking cheap so I'm leaning towards the 2 way (frt/rr) w/ analog guage and 3 gal tank and compressor for around $700. I dont know if its worth it to spend $1500 and up on a level pro or ride pro e. The car is going to be a driver, not a track car, not a show car either, so I'm just looking for something simple. I'm just looking for some opinions before I get one. Right now, I dont see an advantage to getting one of the other more expensive set ups.

[Gordz32]

Make sure you at least have 4 valves. Otherwise you'll have some problems. I have the older digi setup Ride pro, Car won't see any driving time till late summer/fall, but I've had it hooked up and it works great. I have nothing but good things to say about Air ride tech's products and service.

[Bad94]

I just finished a street rod with the old ride pro e and i hate it. i dont know how many time i have been on the phone with them.

the black control box went bad
the senders leaked and didnt work right
never sits at the right height i sit it at.i have reset it like 50 times


Im working on a 49 F100 now, getting everything done. and im looking at 2 different companys set up. I like the design alot better then ART.

[formula]

yeah, i wouldn't bother with the old ridepro-e...it was not nearly as well-designed as the new e2. More to your question, though--I like my e2 because of ease of use on the fly and the remote control is pretty fun/ridiculous, but other than that, it's not really that super-special.

[LMDGUY]

Im tryin to decide what to use on my falcon also. I gues digital dakota has a system that I have heard works pretty good.

[MonzaRacer]

The Dakota is based off the same stuff the old Ridepro is ,,,been inside the boxes fixing a few and its basicly the same.
I agree the newer Ridepro E2 is a much better way to go.
The older setups had a groundlooping problem and some car wound up with problems, this is also why the boxes from ART had problems, If you have bad/weak grounds it will trash electronics.
As for the OTHER brands take this warning the ones from the comapny with the big magazine adds ,well I thought I had seen cheap electronics till those came around, and thier solenoids ,,,oh my god what cheap crap the valves rusted inside!!!!!!!
The new ART stuf is a much upgraded and it works even better.
Like pretty much anything first generation the next gen works much better.
Lee

[darren@ridetech]

If you want 4 way, but not digital, you can use the ARC4000 analog setup. It retails for $995. Definitely stick with 4 way tho.

[nacnac]

What difference will a 4 way make vs a 2 way? Like I said earlier, my car is just a driver, all i want to do w/my bags is lower and raise the car as needed. WIll my car ride better with a 4 way set up?

[formula]

unless your car is absolutely perfectly balanced weight-wise, you will need to have different air pressures on each side as well as each axle. For example, with just me in my car, I usually run about 5-10 psi more in the drivers side bags. I also run about 10 psi more in front than in back. So it usually ends up being around 105 and 95 on the drivers side and 95 and 85 on the passenger side. There'd be no way to achieve that without a four way system.

[wiedemab]

With a 2-way system the front two bags and rear two bags will essentially be connected directly together (RF and LF conneced and RR and LR connected). When you go around a corner the air bag on the outside wheel (more loaded now) will transfer air into the bag on the inside wheel.

It's not too difficult to see now this would be bad. Extreme body roll!

Hope this helps,

Brandon

[nacnac]

I see. I guess I'll go with the 4 way. Thanks

[MonzaRacer]

The new RidePro ARV2500 is only $255 for 2 bag controls and the CON4000 panel is only $249 and digital for $349 with senders.
http://www.ridetech.com/productinfo/components.asp
Check here.
So for $510 you cna have 4 way control and it can all be upgraded to levelpro and remote control later on.
I use 3 paddle switches, a York AC xompressor and 5 gallon tank on my 78 C10. I have had my Air ride since Septenmber 04 and love it.
I used an A6 compressor for 2 !/2 years ,then went to this compressor.
I built my trucks rear suspension as bolt on before ART built thiers.
anyway the least I would do is 3 controls, my front setup has to have 80 left and 100-105 on right so if it wasnt split I would have had to do some serious shimming to be level.
Enjoy the ride.