Subaru BRZ Air Suspension - What Do I Need?

In 2012, Subaru and Toyota came together to give us the Subaru BRZ. If you want to get technical, you can call it the Toyota 86, but most are going to refer to them as the BRZ. The BRZ was a sporty 2+2 sports car that was just begging to be modded. The aftermarket saw this opportunity and quickly got to work, introducing a plethora of products to allow BRZ owners to really make these cars their own. One of the most popular aftermarket parts is the BRZ air suspension kit. Whether you are purchasing a complete kit or piecing together your own kit, this BRZ air suspension kit parts list should help you ensure you get everything you need to dial in your suspension and fitment.

Do Subaru BRZs Have Air Suspension?

Sadly, the BRZ did not come equipped with air suspension from the factory. These cars did get a sporty suspension setup and a decent stance from the factory. The BRZ utilized an independent, Macpherson strut in the front and an independent short/long arm set up in the rear.

What Do I Need To Add Air Suspension To My BRZ?

In order to bag a BRZ, you are going to need to either purchase a pre-assembled kit, or piece together a kit using the components of your choosing. Since you will have more components than a Coilover or lowering spring kit, it is important to know what you need. While purchasing a pre-assembled kit is easy, you may not get everything you want when compared to purchasing high-quality parts to make your own kit. In order to help you get everything you need, AccuAir has put together a quick list of what you need for a BRZ air ride kit.

Air Compressor

Starting with the first part of your air suspension system, the air compressor is going to be the heart of any kit. Air suspension compressors are air pumps that pull outside air into the compressor and turn it into compressed air. AccuAir offers only the best in the business, Viaair, in 2 compressor kits to give you the best setup for any size setup. The air compressor is going to be responsible for producing compressed air and sending it to be stored in your air tank. We currently offer dual 485c Viair compressors which replaced the previous Viair 444c compressors in previous kits.

Air Tank

An air suspension air tank is a storage device for the compressed air produced by the air compressor. Air tanks can come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your specific needs and application. At AccuAir, we manufacture a high-quality air tank called the ENDO tank. The ENDO tank is a modular aluminum air tank that is built with superior quality and functionality in mind. Choosing an air tank will require you to take into consideration how much air you want to store and what size tank you need for your application. 

Air Lines

The air lines, also called air hoses, on an air suspension system are the veins of your air suspension system. They connect from the vacuum manifold to the air struts and transport air when you need to air up. Air lines are routed along with the interior and exterior of the vehicle, so you will need to make sure that they are mounted away from any moving components. It is important to take into consideration the line size for your kit as it will affect how quickly you can adjust your suspension.

Valve Manifold

The part of your air suspension system that is responsible for delivering air to each strut is called the valve manifold. The valve manifold connects between the air tank and the air struts and is equipped with valves that open and close to allow air to flow to each of your air struts. This is a vital component of your air system and certainly not an area that you are going to want to cheap out on. A low-quality valve manifold can fail, causing your air suspension system to be inoperable.

Air Management System

In order to control your air suspension system, you are going to need an air suspension management system to make things easier. Yes, you can go with manual switches, but where is the fun in that? AccuAir manufacturers and produces the highest-quality air suspension systems on the market. Our kits allow for a wide variety of features to manage your air suspension such as wireless and Bluetooth capabilities.

Air Struts/Shocks

When converting your BRZ to air suspension, you are going to need to replace your shock and springs with air struts. Air struts also referred to as air springs, are very similar to your factory shocks or struts, but contain a rubber bladder (air bag) that inflates and deflates to raise and lower your vehicle. These air struts are vehicle specific and are made to be a bolt-on application to prevent you from having to modify your vehicle for installation. These kits can be bought in a set of four or a front and rear kit separately.

Water Traps/Filters

Due to the nature of air suspension setups, compressed air can cause moisture buildup in your air tank and air lines. In order to prevent this, it is recommended to install a water trap or water filter. Moisture buildup in air suspension tanks can cause rust from the inside out on lesser quality air tanks. AccuAir's ENDO tanks are made to resist corrosion and protect against rust. Installing a water trap or filter is cheap insurance to ensure your air lines stay free of water and moisture, especially for those who live in areas where temperatures get below freezing.

Ride Height Sensors

Although they are not a necessity for an operating air suspension system, ride height sensors will make things much easier when you are raising or lowering your vehicle. Ride height sensors measure exactly where your vehicle is in relation to the ground, giving you real-time metrics on how high or low your vehicle is. This also allows for you to set height presets for one-touch air outs and air ups. This eliminates the need to constantly pulse your system to get to your desired height.

Performance Air Suspension Management For Subaru BRZ

If you are ready to take your BRZ to the next level, literally, AccuAir can help get you the best air suspension system available. With a large catalog of high-quality air suspension components, our team can help you build the best BRZ air suspension kit that meets your budget and functional needs. Checkout our site, give us a call or shoot us an email to talk to one of our air suspension specialists.