ONAIR / Product Guides
Pressure. Height. Damping. Know the difference.
Three connected ideas that make your air ride much easier to understand and set up.
Air pressure helps the spring support the car. Ride height is the physical position of the suspension. Damping controls how the suspension moves. Changing one can affect how the car feels, but these are not three names for the same setting.
A force-producing part of the air spring, not a height measurement.
The actual position you need to check for travel and clearance.
Resistance to motion, adjusted separately on ONAIR PAS.
01 / THE DETAILS
The air spring supports the load.
An air spring uses compressed air acting over an effective area to support the vehicle. Pressure is part of that relationship, alongside the spring's shape, volume and the suspension geometry. It is not a universal softness dial.
Adding air often raises the car within its working range; releasing air lowers it. The exact relationship is specific to the installed setup. Another car's pressure setting is not a specification for yours.
02 / THE DETAILS
A pressure reading does not tell you the whole position.
The stored pressure target has not changed, but the load has. The car can sit differently at that same target. That is why you check actual clearance rather than only recognising a number on the controller.
Ride height determines how much travel remains available and influences suspension geometry. Establish a suitable normal driving height, then have alignment and clearances checked there.
03 / THE DETAILS
The damper controls movement.
The damper resists suspension motion as the wheel and body move relative to each other. ONAIR Performance Air Suspension has manual damping adjustment at the suspension. The air-management controller does not turn that adjuster for you.
Follow the instructions for the actual damper, make deliberate changes and evaluate at a consistent driving height. Do not use damping adjustment to disguise tire contact, a leak or a lack of travel.
04 / THE DETAILS
Start with the right question.
| Question | Look at first |
|---|---|
| Why is the car sitting differently? | Actual height, load, temperature and whether pressure is being retained. |
| Why does it feel harsh at a very low setting? | Available travel and clearance before assuming a damper change will fix it. |
| Why does it keep moving after a bump? | The installed dampers and suspension setup, checked by a qualified installer. |
05 / THE DETAILS
Set the foundation, then fine-tune.
- Verify the installation.
Correct application, secure mounts, protected lines and no interference.
- Establish the driving height.
Keep usable travel and have alignment checked at that position.
- Learn the controls separately.
Save suitable pressure targets, understand their limits and adjust damping only as instructed.
A useful setup is a combination of compatible parts and verified geometry, not one magic PSI or click number.
ONE MORE THING
The questions that come next.
Does more PSI always mean a better ride?
No. Pressure has to support the vehicle at an appropriate position within the kit's limits. Increasing it is not a universal comfort or handling upgrade.
Does 4V management change the damper settings?
No. It changes the available air-control channels. Manual damping remains a separate suspension adjustment.
Can I copy a pressure preset from a similar car?
Use your installed kit's instructions and actual driving height. Vehicle load, spring design and installation can differ even on similar-looking cars.
Sources & equipment references
General education is not a replacement for the instructions supplied with your exact components. Product-specific ratings and procedures do not transfer automatically to another setup.
- ONAIR Performance Air Suspension
Manual damping adjustment and vehicle-specific hardware.
- Air Lift Performance FAQ
Air-suspension terminology and component roles.
