Unlike a standard coil suspension, an air suspension is highly versatile and practical since it is easy to adjust. You can adapt an air suspension for either a comfortable ride or for the best handling and feedback possible. All of these changes are made possible by using something like the best air ride manifolds mentioned in this list that have been picked as per these features:
- Working Pressure: Since your vehicle’s air suspension supports a lot of weight, it is only done with high levels of air pressure. Thus, your air ride manifold should also be able to handle the same. While most air ride manifolds can handle 0 to 200 PSI of air pressure, higher-end units can even deal with 0 to 300 PSI pressure which is much higher.
- Number of Valves: To control your air suspension, an air ride manifold also needs multiple valves to control air pressure. As a result, having more valves is generally better for an air ride manifold as an 8-valve manifold will be much more versatile than a 4 valve one since you can control each suspension separately.
- Ports: For using an air ride manifold, it needs to connect to all of the different components of an air suspension setup which is done via the ports of your manifold. While all of them will come with 2 x ¼ inch inlets and outlets each, you will also find either 2 or 4 ¼ inch and ⅛ inch G female inlets and G female outlets respectively. As expected, an air ride manifold with more ports will be more versatile.
While these features are certainly quite important, you still need to check much more while getting an air ride manifold. Thus, all of the air ride manifolds mentioned here have all their primary features and options stated alongside them. You will also find an extensive “Buying Guide” and the key FAQs for the best air ride manifolds so that you can easily pick the best one for your needs by going through this article till the end.
Best Air Ride Manifolds Chart
| Best Air Ride Manifolds | Working Pressure | Number of Valves | Ports | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTNHZ Air Ride Manifold | O to 300 PSI | 8 valves | 4 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 4 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, 2 x ¼ inch exhausts | Check On Amazon |
| CNRAQR Air Ride Manifold | 0 to 200 PSI | 4 valves | 2 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 2 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, 2 x ¼ inch exhausts | Check On Amazon |
| MOTAFAR Air Ride Manifold | 0 to 200 PSI | 4 valves | 2 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 2 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, 2 x ¼ inch exhausts | Check On Amazon |
| Mophorn Air Ride Manifold | 0 to 200 PSI | 8 valves | 4 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 4 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, 2 x ¼ inch exhausts | Check On Amazon |
Best Air Ride Manifolds Reviews
1. PTNHZ Air Ride Manifold
PTNHZ is considered one of the best and among the most popular brands of car accessories since most of its offerings are high-performance ones, like its air ride manifold units.
The PTNHZ air ride manifold is stated in the 1st position of this list since it is hands down the best-performing option discussed here. Unlike most other air ride manifolds, this one supports a much higher working pressure range of 0 to 300 PSI. To make the same possible, it uses a total of 8 valves.
But more importantly, this air ride manifold comes with 4 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 4 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, and 2 x ¼ inch exhausts for easily working with large-sized suspension setups. You also get a 30-day warranty with this air ride manifold which is quite common with high-performance manifolds.
Best Features:
- Rated working pressure range of 0 to 300 PSI
- Uses a total of 8 air valves
- Includes 4 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 4 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, 2 x ¼ inch exhausts
- Backed by a 30-day warranty period
Pros:
- Hands down the best-performing air manifold discussed here
- A large number of ports and valves for high versatility
- Allows for adjusting each air suspension on each wheel quite easily
Cons:
- It can be a little confusing for beginners because of the large number of ports
2. CNRAQR Air Ride Manifold
While you may not have heard about CNRAQR in the past, you should consider it because it offers easy-to-install car accessories, including its air ride manifold options.
CNRAQR’s air ride manifold is stated in the 2nd position of this listicle, as this is a great option for beginners thanks to its simple design. Even though it targets beginners, you still get a great working pressure range of 0 to 200 PSI. Since this air ride manifold is meant to be as easy to use as possible, it also uses a simpler 4-valve design.
Similarly, you will find 2 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 2 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, and 2 x ¼ inch exhausts with this air ride manifold, which are much easier to work with. Despite being a smaller company, CNRAQR also offers a decent warranty period of 30 days.
Best Features:
- Rated working pressure range of 0 to 200 PSI
- Uses a total of 4 air valves
- Includes 2 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 2 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, 2 x ¼ inch exhausts
- Backed by a 30-day warranty period
Pros:
- Quite easy and simple to use thanks to its smaller design
- Fairly powerful working pressure range for most users
- Decent build quality along with a standard warranty period
Cons:
- Not the best air ride manifold for heavy-duty usage
3. MOTAFAR Air Ride Manifold
Motafar is another smaller brand of car accessories that you should definitely consider since not only does it offer highly functional car accessories but it does so on a budget.
This Motafar air ride manifold is stated in the 3rd position of this article because it is the most affordable air ride manifold discussed here. And considering the entry-level price of this air ride manifold, it does offer an amazing working pressure range of 0 to 200 PSI. You even get a total of 4 valves with this air ride manifold.
Being an entry-level air ride manifold, it offers ports like 4 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 4 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, and 2 x ¼ inch exhausts. Although, despite having a 30-day warranty period, it does leave you expecting a slightly better build quality.
Best Features:
- Rated working pressure range of 0 to 200 PSI
- Uses a total of 4 air valves
- Includes 2 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 2 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, 2 x ¼ inch exhausts
- Backed by a 30-day warranty period
Pros:
- Excellent entry-level and budget-friendly air ride manifolds for buyers on a budget
- It is a pretty decent performance considering the given pricing
- Easy to use with a simpler design with less valves and ports
Cons:
- Average build quality as compared with other air ride manifolds out there
4. Mophorn Air Ride Manifold
Mophorn is a high-end brand of car accessories that can be considered if you want something feature packed which is also true for its air ride manifold units.
The Mophorn Accu X4 air ride manifold is mentioned in this list since you can go with this in case of larger suspension systems if you do not have any budget restrictions. Starting with its working pressure, it supports a range of 0 to 200 PSI. While that may not be the highest, you do get a total of 8 valves with it.
In fact, since this air ride manifold comes with 4 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 4 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, and 2 x ¼ inch exhausts, you can adjust each air suspension individually. As you would expect from a premium air ride manifold, it also has a standard 30-day warranty period.
Best Features:
- Rated working pressure range of 0 to 200 PSI
- Uses a total of 8 air valves
- Includes 4 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 4 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, 2 x ¼ inch exhausts
- Backed by a 30-day warranty period
Pros:
- Highly versatile and practical air ride manifold with various ports
- Multiple valves for adjusting each suspension individually
- Decent working pressure range for most users out there
Cons:
- Quite an expensive and premium air ride manifold
Buying Guide for the Best Air Ride Manifolds
Whether your car comes with air suspension installed in it from the factory or you have upgraded to one recently, you will only get the benefits of air suspension if you can adjust it as needed. Fortunately, you can easily do so by using one of the best air ride manifolds discussed above. To help you pick the best air ride manifold, we have already given their major specifications and features along with them. You can also check out this complete buying guide for the best air ride manifolds to easily go with the best one:
1. Working Pressure
Because an air suspension has to support the weight of our whole vehicle, it uses quite a high air pressure. And since an air ride manifold is directly connected to the air suspension, it must also withstand the same pressure levels. Thus, you should also check the working pressure of your air ride manifold. While most manifolds have a working pressure range of 0 to 200 PSI, higher-end units can even handle 0 to 300 PSI of pressure.
2. Ports
If you are familiar with air suspensions, you must know that many parts are involved for the same. And since an air ride manifold is essentially a controller for the same, you also need to check the ports of your air ride manifold. Starting with the common ones, all air ride manifolds come with 2 x ¼ inch inlets and 2 x ¼ inch exhausts. These connect the air pump, air tank, muffler, and other accessories. Other than that, you may find either 4 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 4 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts or 2 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 2 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts. In the case of 4 sets of G female inlets and exhausts, you can adjust each individual air suspension separately. As for 2 sets of G female inlets and exhausts, they only allow either front or rear adjustments.
3. Number of Valves
Besides having many ports, an air ride manifold also has multiple valves inside it. These valves handle the high-pressure air moving between the air tank and the air suspensions. Because of their importance, you can find either 4 valves or 8 valves in air ride manifolds. When compared with each other, an 8-valve air ride manifold allows you to adjust the air suspension separately. On the other hand, a 4-valve air manifold can only handle the two front suspensions or the two rear suspensions.
4. Response Time
Since an air suspension is highly versatile for adjusting on the fly, your air ride manifold should also work instantly. And to ensure the same, you should check the response time of your air ride manifold, which can include options like 5 ms, 3 ms, 1 ms, and others where a lower response time allows you to adjust your air suspension instantaneously for exactly how you want it.
5. Working Voltage
Using any kind of accessory or device in your car first needs to get electrical power in one way or another. Since you can only use your car’s battery as a power source inside your car, every accessory that you use needs to work with the same. Fortunately, all air ride manifolds run on 12-volt electricity, which is exactly what you find in cars thanks to their 12-volt batteries.
6. Material
As mentioned, an air ride manifold must deal with very high air pressures. Because of this, you must ensure that you are going with a well-built air ride manifold to ensure no leaks, even at high air pressures. Fortunately, this won’t be an issue since all of the air ride manifolds above are made of metal, making them highly durable and reliable.
7. Warranty
Apart from the materials used for constructing your air ride manifolds, you can also consider checking the warranty of your air ride manifold if you want something reliable. Fortunately, almost all of them come with a handy 1-month warranty period. This means that if your air ride manifold has any manufacturing defect, you can easily get it replaced in due time.
Air Ride Manifolds – FAQs
Ans: Yes the primary benefit of an air suspension is that it offers a highly comfortable driving experience since it can easily go over the worst of the roads without any issues. And since air suspension is adjustable, you can also go for a better handling instead of comfort if needed.
Ans: As an air suspension has compressed air, the water inside the air can condense inside and become liquid. And as you would expect, this liquid water can freeze during winters leading to all sorts of issues. Thus, you should add an antifreeze to your air suspension to prevent the same.
Ans: While both these suspensions are great for handling, an air suspension is much better for luxury cars in terms of the riding comfort. This is due to the reason that an air suspension essentially glides over bumps without any harsh jerks.
Ans: Unlike a standard suspension, an air ride suspension does not need a lot of maintenance. You just have to confirm the air pressure once a week and occasionally check for other wear and tear marks.
Ans: While the air inside an air suspension does not have any failing point, the rubber bellows combined along the pressurized air do fail over time. Since the rubber parts are contracting and expanding repeatedly, they crack over time.
Ans: Even though an air suspension is primarily used for comfort, it does happen to be fully adjustable. This means that if adjusted properly, you can either get the most comfortable ride or make your car handle much better and get great feedback from the road.
Conclusion
As you can most likely tell by the name, an air ride manifold is a manifold or tool that helps you manage your air suspension ride or vehicle. With this, you can adjust your air suspension however you like whether it is for comfort or for better handling. Since these are basically essential for a car with an air suspension, we have already mentioned some of the best air ride manifolds up above in this article. You can also find their key factors and aspects explained next to them. We have even covered a detailed buying guide and the primary FAQs for the best air ride manifolds. But if you are still confused, you can consider going with one of our favorite air ride manifolds:
- If you want to get the most out of your air suspension, then getting a high-end air ride manifold like the PTNHZ Air Ride Manifold one is quite important. It features a working pressure of 0 to 300 PSI which is much higher than others. And it is able to handle the same with its 8 valves. More importantly, you also get 4 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 4 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, and 2 x ¼ inch exhausts for connecting this air ride manifold.
- But if you are trying air suspensions for the first time and want something affordable, then you should go with the MOTAFAR Air Ride Manifold. Despite the much lower price, you still get a respectable working pressure rating of 0 to 200 PSI. Because of the lower price and the smaller size, its given 4-valve design is to be expected. Similarly, you get 2 x ¼ inch G female inlets, 2 x ⅛ inch G female exhausts, 2 x ¼ inch inlets, and 2 x ¼ inch exhausts with this air ride manifold.