AirForce air suspension kit

AudiA6 4B/C5 4WD1997–2005

From £1,899 inc. VAT

Part number
AF-AU-26-1
Model years
1997–2005
Front top mount
Aluminium top mount (A)
Rear top mount
Pillowball top mount (P)
Lead time
about 21 working days
AirForce air suspension struts with gold-anodised top mounts and air bags
STRUTS AND BAGS · AF-AU-26-1

Why air on this car

The Audi A6 4B/C5 quattro is a big, planted saloon and estate that owners tend to keep for the long haul, often loaded with towbars, roof boxes or simply years of motorway miles. At standard height the arches sit high over the wheels, and the car’s weight means a lowered stance changes how it reads on the road far more than on something smaller and lighter.

Air suspension suits that pattern of use. Run it low for a tidy stance day to day, then lift it for a loaded boot, a steep driveway, or the ramp into a multi-storey. The compressor and tank sit out of sight, so the car keeps its understated look, and quattro drivers who cover real distance get to keep some give in the ride rather than living with a fixed, low set-up all year.

The rear uses a pillowball top mount, so steering and rear-end response stay sharper under load, with a touch more road noise as the trade-off. Struts and Bags suits an owner adding their own control system; the tiers above bring built-in pressure or height-sensing control and, higher up, automatic presets.

What's in the kit

Struts and bags

Struts and bags is the air suspension hardware without any management: four vehicle-specific struts with 36 levels of damping adjustment and the air bags that go on them. Choose it if you already run management you want to keep, or you are buying the RC1 or RC2 controller and tank separately.

Who it suits: Owners keeping their existing management or choosing their own, who need only the struts and air bags.

  • Four vehicle-specific struts and four air bags
  • 36 levels of damping adjustment
  • No tank, compressor, valves, remote or wiring included
  • For existing management or separately chosen RC1/RC2
  • Bolt-on fit, no cutting or welding
  • Rubber top mount standard; pillowball optional
Contents
Struts × 4 with air bags; no management
Damping adjustment
36 levels, all four struts
Top mount (standard)
Rubber on McPherson struts; pillowball optional for camber adjustment
Fitting
Bolt-on; original dampers not reused
Drive
Applications are 2WD unless 4WD is stated

Fitment notes

  • Front top mount: Aluminium top mount. A solid machined mount with no rubber in it, so more of the road comes through to the body but the strut stays precisely located. Camber is not adjustable on this mount.
  • Rear top mount: Pillowball top mount. A spherical bearing replaces the rubber, giving the sharpest steering response and allowing camber to be adjusted at the top of the strut. Expect more noise and vibration than rubber.
  • Built to order — the typical lead time is around 21 working days from the date of purchase to UK delivery. We confirm the lead time for your kit before you pay.

Five years against oil leaks, with a service every two years

AirForce covers its air suspension struts against oil leakage for five years. To keep that cover, the struts need to come back for inspection and maintenance every two years; the manufacturer treats the service as a condition of the warranty, so book it in and keep the paperwork.

Damage caused by suspension components rubbing against an inflated air bag is not covered, which is why we ask your fitter to cycle the system to full height and check clearances before they hand the car back.

Compressors, air bags and the electronic control box and remotes carry the manufacturer’s separate terms, and electronic parts may need to go back to the factory for repair. Ask us for the current wording before you order.

None of this affects your statutory rights as a UK consumer. If a product is faulty, your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 apply alongside the manufacturer’s warranty, and your contract is with us as the retailer.