Buyer guide

Best air suspension controllers

Digital vs manual air suspension controllers

The main difference between digital and manual control systems comes down to how you use your air suspension and your budget. Digital controllers are the leader of the pack — a bit more expensive but they come with a full suite of features like digital screens to easily visualize what your system is doing, as well as being able to get to user-defined heights at the press of a single button.

Manual controllers come in at a lower price point and require you to adjust each corner individually. Some systems allow for paired controls — raising the fronts together with one button for example — but you won't be able to press a single button and have your car raise to an exact height each time like you can with a digital controller. Manual systems require you to monitor your air spring pressures using gauges. It only takes a tiny bit of learning, but you'll quickly figure out that your ride height is something like 40psi front and 50psi rear. Every car is different, but learning your pressures in relation to your height becomes second nature fast.

Will my controller choice affect my vehicle's handling?

Bag Riders only sells control systems that isolate each bag individually — so if you buy from us, the answer is no. Something to watch out for though is the fact that some budget systems pair your fronts together and your rears together with fewer valves. You might find a killer deal somewhere else with a setup like this, but it will cause your car to handle poorly. Anyone who says air suspension makes a car handle worse has probably had experience with one of these super budget setups. We don't sell those and we won't point you towards one.

Every control system and management package we sell at Bag Riders simply changes the way you interact with your air suspension — none of them negatively affect how your car handles.

Which air suspension controller should you choose?

It really comes down to personal preference and budget. Are you a set-it-and-forget-it type? Want to press a button and go? The Bag Riders PRO or the AccuAir eLevel are your best options. Want to hammer buttons manually and save some cash? The manual paddle valves or the Slam Specialties Analog MC.2 might be the better fit.

What Bag Riders recommends

We've been running Bag Riders since 2009 and we've tested just about every control system out there — including those imported ones with silly names. There are good ones and there are bad ones. Here's what we actually stand behind.

Our pick — Digital

Bag Riders PRO Controller

We only sell what we'd run on our own cars, and the PRO is built around exactly what we wanted in a controller. 3 user-defined preset heights, an all-down button, individual bag control, a crisp digital screen, and our favorite feature — backlit tactile buttons you can actually feel. And because it bears our name, it's backed directly by us. We have a very long history of the best customer support in the industry.

Premium pick — Height-based

AccuAir eLevel

The eLevel has been around longer than Bag Riders has existed and it's known as the best height-based air management system on the market. Height sensors at every corner mean you press a button and it goes to that exact height — every time. Add four passengers and it automatically levels itself out. Apple-esque attention to detail on the controller itself. Installation is more complex, but the end result is the most OEM-feeling air suspension experience available.

Budget pick — Manual

Manual Paddle Valves

The lowest price point of any control system and the most mechanically simple. Each paddle requires two lines run to it — 8 lines total for a four-corner setup — which makes installation more involved, but the operation itself couldn't be more straightforward. No power required to function. Built to last. An excellent starting point, especially if you're saving cash or building a vintage-style ride where paddles look the part.

Mid-range pick — Manual

Slam Specialties Analog MC.2

Takes the reliability of manual paddle valves and bumps it up a notch. Looks like a digital controller with backlit buttons and customizable colors, but it's a switchbox at heart — super popular in the mini truck market where Slam Specialties reigns supreme. Control each corner individually, the fronts together, rears together, or all up / all down simultaneously. Clean layout, great backlighting, and solid bang for your buck as a reliable manual system.

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