Pros/Cons Height Based vs Pressure Based Management

[Shimmy]

The great debate! Which one is better? From what I've read, height based is the preferred management for those that can afford it. In fact, asking around, if $$ was not an issue everyone stated that e-level would be their top choice. With that said, what are the benefits of going with a pressure based system? I can't think of any...

If I'm cornering hard with e-level, does it adapt while I'm mid turn? For example, if I'm banking a hard long left... will e-level adjust mid turn? It seems like that would mess up my handling. cross loading?

[JAYINH]

I use the v2 pressure based manifold, does what I need and was in my budget. My buddy has the e-level and if I recall it adjusts the height every few min. , I could be wrong on the duration, maybe a member with e-level will know better.

[Shimmy]

I use the v2 pressure based manifold, does what I need and was in my budget.

Do you have any issues with the spring rates (pressure) attempting to readjust when loaded?

[calitri808]

Pressure based, if you got it set at say 90psi in the rear for everyday driving, then you decide to load up 4 of your biggest friends including you.. You're probably gonna be tucking to the rim in the rear and at about 150psi in the bag... So it's gonna sense this and release some air back down to 90psi and by then probably layed out in the back...

I got elevel, and sure it does adjust every so often. If I come to an uneven road it will adjust, but you can adjust the sensitivity on that.. it will automatically go to a preset ride height no matter if it's just me in the car of 4 friends. I've loaded up 30 cases of laminate flooring in the rear of my avant and it went to ride height like nothing was loaded up in the back.

[Shimmy]

Pressure based, if you got it set at say 90psi in the rear for everyday driving, then you decide to load up 4 of your biggest friends including you.. You're probably gonna be tucking to the rim in the rear and at about 150psi in the bag... So it's gonna sense this and release some air back down to 90psi and by then probably layed out in the back...

I got elevel, and sure it does adjust every so often. If I come to an uneven road it will adjust, but you can adjust the sensitivity on that.. it will automatically go to a preset ride height no matter if it's just me in the car of 4 friends. I've loaded up 30 cases of laminate flooring in the rear of my avant and it went to ride height like nothing was loaded up in the back.

So is there a benefit to going with a pressure based system? If I had my car loaded up, my only solution with V2 would be to adjust for even more PSI to bring the car back up?

The only difference with the accuair e-level system is that is automatically adjusts PSI based on height... so either way I accomplish the same thing whether my car auto initiates or I hit the switch?

[calitri808]

So is there a benefit to going with a pressure based system? If I had my car loaded up, my only solution with V2 would be to adjust for even more PSI to bring the car back up?

Correct, but you would still be guessing at what height you're trying to achieve. Also works the other way around, if you unload, now you have less pressure in the bag and the rear wet up 1", it's goa wanna achieve that 90psi so it's gone pump more air into the bag.. Rear goes up higher until the pressure hits 90psi

The only difference with the accuair e-level system is that is automatically adjusts PSI based on height... so either way I accomplish the same thing whether my car auto initiates or I hit the switch?

But elevel would take the guess work out of trying to find that ride height. It's always gonna want to find 1 of the 3 preset ride heights, which ever height u choose.

[Shimmy]

ah ok. also is there any benefit for going with a bigger tank? I'd like to get the small 2.5 gal and fit it in the spare area. I understand it will probably cause my compressors to run more, but is there any negatives to this small of a tank?

[calitri808]

ah ok. also is there any benefit for going with a bigger tank? I'd like to get the small 2.5 gal and fit it in the spare area. I understand it will probably cause my compressors to run more, but is there any negatives to this small of a tank?

Unless you plan on showing off at the car shows or at your local car meet a small tank should suit you well.. I don't show off, and I got a 3gal (or was it a 2.5 I forget) tank and it's good for me.. I can get the whole car up once, to its highest setting before the compressor goes off... Then it's ready for the next time I need to air up... Also too, if you go with elevel, you can adjust how much pressure you want your compressor to pump and stop at.. If you want to cut down on run time of your compressor you can always get one that pumps more cfm's, that has a 100% duty cycle, etc.. Just go with a basic set up. With basic I'm saying which ever air management you want but with one tank and one compressor.. Then you can upgrade from there, to dual compressors or a bigger tank, etc..

Here's my setup all stuffed in the spare tire well..


You can also stuff your compressor in one of the side compartments in the trunk behind the paneling.. Not sure if you have a sedan or avant but if you got a sedan you can hang a slim tank upside down below the rear deck lid if you can stuff everything in the spare tire well. I was able to get everything in my spare area and keep the stock sub.

[Shimmy]

^ thanks for the advice and thanks for posting pics. Seems like lots of guys don't want to share much about their setup, or don't actually know much about their setups. hahah.

Appreciate the help!

[calitri808]

Here's some of the feature with elevel. I got the ilevel so I can control my bags via my iphone5 and can easily access these features whereas with just the elevel you gotta do a series of buttons and read the flashes and what not... But you can adjust the accuracy on how you want the bags to adjust on uneven roads or during driving..

[calitri808]

^ thanks for the advice and thanks for posting pics. Seems like lots of guys don't want to share much about their setup, or don't actually know much about their setups. hahah.

Appreciate the help!

Hope I don't get in trouble plugging vwvortex but there's a lot of info on there as well in their air suspension sub forum. http://forums.vwvortex.com/forumdisp...Air-Suspension

[Shimmy]

^ I've been reading up on Vortex, Stanceworks, Air Society.

[Shimmy]

So with e-level, how do you get around the performance that each spring may potentially have different PSI (spring rate) since the system is attempting to maintain a height a not PSI? Seems like that would cause unpredictable understeer/oversteer?

[calitri808]

So with e-level, how do you get around the performance that each spring may potentially have different PSI (spring rate) since the system is attempting to maintain a height a not PSI? Seems like that would cause unpredictable understeer/oversteer?

I'm not sure I understand your question... You don't want the height to be super accurate, for say if you are tracking your car? I'd think you'd want to try and play around with the ride monitor accuracy..

[Furly]

I'm not sure I understand your question... You don't want the height to be super accurate, for say if you are tracking your car? I'd think you'd want to try and play around with the ride monitor accuracy..

i think what he means is, when you hit a corner, and the load of your car shifts over to one side, will the e-level try to raise that side of the car back up, since it is sensing the whole left or right side of the car is now much lower than the other?
i may be wrong, but that's what i'm kinda getting.

i'm considering air as well in the near future, but i like to drive hard , hit the twisties, etc.. so my coilovers and sway bars have been very good to me.

[DarkSideGTI]

It doesn't adjust that quickly.