RTon20s

So you like the Praxis air system available for Subaru and BMW cars, and wish you could have it on your car? Well, you can. Almost. It won't have the Praxis name, but you can have virtually all the functionality. Want to know how? Just check out the list below to see what parts you will need to turn your xB into one sweet handling fully adjustable ride. The parts listed below will actually give you MORE flexibility than what you would find in a Praxis air system.

To begin with you will need the standard air bag parts. For this example of the xB I will assume the use of the most common components.

Front Strut:
Air Lift Easy Street - $650
http://www.easystreetair.com/index.a...ROD&ProdID=590

Rear Bags:
Slam Specialties - $178
http://www.slamspecialties.com/catalog_spring_fv.html

Rear Cups:
Fender Bender International - $100
http://www.fbimini.com/product.asp?idno=249893

Compressor:
Viair - $200
http://www.viaircorp.com/product.html

Air Tank:
Generic 5 Gallon - $55-$70
http://www.easystreetair.com/index.a...ROD&ProdID=458
http://www.suicidedoors.com/Black_5_Gallon_8_Port.php
http://www.truckshop.com/catalog/Tanks-p-1-c-659.html

Air Line:
3/8" DOT Approved Synflex - $20-$45
[url]http://www.suicidedoors.com/Air_Line_(DOT)_3-8_Air_Line.php[.url]
http://www.easystreetair.com/index.a...ROD&ProdID=490
http://www.truckshop.com/catalog/Air...x-p-16614.html

Fittings:
As required for specific plumbing - $50-$75
http://www.truckshop.com/catalog/Air...p-1-c-319.html
http://www.suicidedoors.com/Fittings.php
http://www.easystreetair.com/index.a...TS&Category=90
http://www.innovativeairsuspension.com/site.htm

Pressure Switch:
110/145psi or 150psi - $20-$40
http://www.innovativeairsuspension.com/site.htm
http://www.easystreetair.com/index.a...TS&Category=78
http://www.suicidedoors.com/Air_Mana...e_Switches.php
http://www.truckshop.com/catalog/Pre...p-1-c-668.html

Water Trap / Air Dryer:
SMC / Generic - $30-$40
http://www.suicidedoors.com/Air_Mana...Seperators.php

So far, none of this is anything unusual. And most of it is pretty standard. The one thing you may notice that is missing are the solenoid valves. They haven't been included as of yet because depending on which direction you go with, you may or may not need separate valves to create your "pieced together" version of the Praxis system. Each system has their own pros and cons. So now lets get on to the parts that allows your system to act similarly to the Praxis system.

Height Control:

First there is the type of system that does not require additional valves. One of the nicest options out there is the Accuair Electronic Height Control System. This system gives you the option of using your own valves or using their own valve design. This option only includes the height control system, and no valves. It retails for $1499.


Then you have their integrated system that includes the tank, compressor, airline and valves. This option is obviously more expensive, but buying it as a package could reduce the number of sources you are purchasing parts from. Retail price on this option is $2899.


Finally they offer the valves separately. This would allow you to add their valves to their control system without adding the other components. Their valves retail for $125 (Standard) and $198 (Rapid) respectively. One valve controls the fill and exhaust for one bag. Retail Total $500-$792

Then there is another brand option. This option is more economical. And it has the option for two methods of height positioning. This option is brought to us by Dakota Digital.

Dakota Digital's system is called "Automatic Digital Ride Height Controller." This system gives you the option of using height based sensors similar to Accuair, or pressure based sensors, or both. So what does all of that mean? It means you take complete control of how the system adjusts your ride height. Whether you want to set your ride height based on the pressure in the bag, a given point in the suspension travel, or both.

Choosing to use the either pressure based adjustment or height based adjustment will both cost the same. The retail for that system is $795. To integrate both systems into your control tack on an addition hundred for a total of $895.
http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd131.htm

The only drawback to the Dakota Digital systems (and the basic Accuair system for that matter) is that they will require you to purchase your solenoid valves separately. But this does open up the option to run any valves you want. Whether they are SMC, Parker, Airlift, GC, ODE, or Air Ride Technologies valve, they will work with these systems. I would recommend the Air Ride Technologies valves if you want the most worry free valve ion the market.

Air Valves (4 way):
Any Brand - $240-$750

And now, the final piece to the puzzle. The one item that could place this cobbled together collection of bastardized parts above the integrated Praxis system... In car dampening control. The Praxis system requires that the dampening be adjusted at the strut. And where do we get this piece? From the same place we got our struts of course.

In Car Strut Dampening:
Air Lift / Easystreet - $300
http://www.easystreetair.com/index.a...ROD&ProdID=684

So what is the bottom line to all this? What does it all really mean? Why did I even bother to post this information?

Bottom line is you get a complete system that does the same job (and more) as one of the most sought after air suspension systems on the market. It isn't cheap, but if you are wanting a system like this, money shouldn't be your first concern. And I posted this because many people on here talk about wanting to have the best of the best on their Scions. To me, this would be the best of the best. Sure, I could swap out the Air Lift struts for another brand. But availability of ONLY front struts isn't very wide spread.

So if you are too lazy to do the math, this is what it boils down to. Using the highest figure, and making my own choice as to which system I would personally prefer the final price tag comes to $3343. So how does that compare to the Praxis system? It is only a couple of hundred more, and you have a more flexible system with more options for better tuning. And that is looking at retail prices. Doing some basic shopping could net you a total savings of a couple hundred to close to over $800!

So if you want more information on component choices, or where to find good prices let me know. If you want to know how to use some of these systems, or how to make them work like the Praxis system, just ask. And for those that think the concept is just ridiculous, flame away. I could care less. I am just trying to provide what could be valuable information to those that are interested.

Spider13

The only flaw(a minor one) would be the damper control would only work on the front struts, no way to really adjust damper in the rear that I am aware of, I am not aware of shocks that would work with that system...

Do you know exatcly how the damper control system works. I've looked at it a couple time, its some type of compressed air system but I've never really understood how it would work... Plus do you know if this has to be used with certain struts or can you retrofit older airlift struts with this. My struts have the adjuster ****....but no other port.

RTon20s

I realized after I had originally posted that the rear shocks weren't included in the write up. Including those Koni adjustable shocks will be an additional $200. And of course, they could not be controlled by the Airlift Dampening controller. Then again, the Praxis system does not include remote dampening at all.

I haven't seen the dampening system in action yet. And unfortunately they don't have their installation instructions for that system online. By reading the description though it looks like it can be used with any of the 9 position adjustable struts. And I would think it could be used with their "Air Over Shock" systems as well.

Without seeing their details I could only speculate as to how their dampening system works. Just looking at the components they have I would guess the dial would be replaced with an air fitting and airline to the solenoids. Dampening would be set by how much pressure was introduced. And the dampening would have preset settings (psi) controlled by the ECU. Then again, I could be completely wrong.

fusionscion

nice dude im sure this clears a couple things up on what air bags and components we need on our cars...............

crayonBOX

bravo! this is a very thorough writeup of/on air ride parts, prices and locations. Very good writeup, all Air ride component questions should be pointed here.

RTon20s

Thanks for the kind words. But what people need to understand is that this is a general post about methods for piecing together an elite air system for the xB.

A more comprehensive post could be pieced together, as a lot of information wasn't included. And my guess would be that maybe, MAYBE, 1% of the people who put bags on their scion would even consider one of the height control systems for the car.

Maybe some day I'll do a real write up about air suspension and how it relates to the xB specifically.

BrianxB

Id though Id add that you can buy the same exact water trap that Suicidedoors sells from your local SEARS in the tool department, where air compressor accesories are sold for 19.99-24.99.

Ive ridden in a STI with praxxis. It rode like crap. Complete crap.

hotbox05

it may ride crappy but........... it handles like oh man. on RAILS

BrianxB

The same STI now rides on a set of Cuscos and handling improved.

RTon20s

And I'll tell you why the handling wasn't that great, and the ride was crap. Because the system doesn't do what they claim it does. The load characteristics of an air bellow are in direct correlation to the pressure of the gas present within. The higher the pressure the higher the load rating. The higher the load rating the stiffer the "spring." The stiffer the spring, the better the handling.

Now at the same time there is a direct correlation between the height of the bellow and the pressure of the gas present within. The higher the pressure, the greater the height of the bellow. This is assuming of course that the load presented to that bellow remains the same. In other words, the car doesn't change how much it weighs.

Now there are issues of weight transfer, etc. associated with the physics of a vehicle in motion. This is where there height sensors come in. As additional load is applied to the bags by the physics of motion the height sensors recognize a drop in height and trigger the solenoids to release more gas (air) to the bellows. That additional air is used to increase the load of the spring and therefore resist the forces created by physics.

That all sounds fine and good, until you get into the three modes of the suspension tuning that Praxis uses. Their three modes are essentially three different ride heights. They claim that with each drop in ride height that the bellows' load rating is increased. Unless they are somehow adding weight to the vehicle, I don't see how that is possible. Similar gas volume would have to be present at each of the three ride heights. As the ride height decrease the pressure would increase inversely. And that can only be accomplished through additional weight.

Otherwise, the only way to lower the vehicle is to reduce the volume of gas in the bellows. The spring rates are actually reduced slightly each time the vehicle is lowered. A smaller volume of gas is filling the same size bellow.

Looking at the Praxis system, I would guess that the highest ride height would actually have the highest load rating. The only advantages you gain by the other settings is a lower center of gravity and stiffer dampening of the struts. That is it.

But that is just my uneducated guess at their engineered system.