When Jose Juarez (@392indigoblue2.0) pulled up in his Whipple-supercharged Scat Pack Widebody Charger, the first thing many people notice isn't the carbon fiber or the massive rear tires—it's how the car sits absolutely slammed to the ground. This isn't just for show. As we learned in our Charging Forward interview, Jose's choice of air suspension over traditional static setups was deliberate and offers real advantages for his 950hp build.
"If you notice, the car is literally on the ground. You can't fit nothing," Jose explained during our walkthrough. "That right there is airlift performance 3H air system."
For many performance enthusiasts, air suspension has long carried a stigma—perceived as purely a show modification that sacrifices handling for aesthetics. Jose's build challenges this notion and reveals why more performance-focused Charger owners are making the switch to air.
Breaking Down the Air Suspension Myths
Jose addressed one of the biggest misconceptions about air suspension head-on: "A lot of people brag on me because of, well, are you going to have a high horsepower with airbags? If you actually look into the history of automotive racing and all that, drag racers, they were on air, air ride equipment, air suspension."
This historical connection between air suspension and drag racing is something many enthusiasts overlook. Early drag racers discovered that air suspension allowed them to adjust the car's attitude for optimal weight transfer and launch characteristics—the same benefits Jose enjoys with his modern Airlift Performance setup.
The Hardware: What Makes Modern Air Suspension Work
Jose's system consists of several key components:
Double Bellows Air Bags: "The front is double bellows and the back, they're also double bellows," Jose explained. Double bellows designs offer more adjustability and load-carrying capacity than single-bellow alternatives.
Adjustable Struts: "Air lift suspension, what I like about them on their struts, on every single one, on all four corners, they have a little adjustment. You can go from zero to I think like six or seven." This adjustable dampening allows Jose to fine-tune the suspension's behavior beyond just ride height.
Air Management: "I got two compressors set up for the air management system on it," Jose told us, explaining how his five-gallon tank (mounted visibly in the trunk) provides the reservoir for the system.
Remote Control: "What's crazy, right here, if you see the little remote between the shift and the... That's the remote for the air lift controls. On there, you can have five presets."
This ability to set different ride height profiles—from aired out for shows to performance height for driving—gives air suspension a versatility that static setups simply can't match.
The Surprising Performance Benefits
While aesthetics are a factor, Jose emphasized several performance advantages of his air setup:
Better Than Stock Ride Quality: "Airbags ride smoother than factory," Jose pointed out. This might seem counterintuitive for a performance car, but reduced harshness translates to better tire contact with the road during normal driving.
Adjustable Dynamics: "If you want a stiffer ride, make it stiffer, then it'll bounce. It'll be a lot harder, but I always keep it on zero," Jose explained. This on-the-fly adjustability allows him to match the suspension characteristics to driving conditions.
Practical Clearance Management: With 950 horsepower and drag radials, Jose's Charger isn't exactly suited for speed bumps and steep driveways. Air suspension allows him to raise the car when necessary, then drop it to the optimal performance height when conditions allow.
Weight Considerations: Modern air management systems have become remarkably lightweight. While there is a weight penalty compared to a minimalist coilover setup, it's less significant than many assume, especially when factoring in the practicality benefits.
The Security Advantage
One unexpected benefit Jose mentioned was how his air suspension contributes to vehicle security:
"You can't even drag it out with a hook because it's on the ground," he noted when discussing theft prevention. This ability to drop the car completely to the ground when parked creates an additional theft deterrent that complements his hidden kill switch.
Daily Drivability Factors
For a car that pushes nearly 1,000 horsepower but still serves as a usable street car, the practical benefits of air suspension are significant:
Rise on Start: "As soon as the car starts, I want the car to rise," Jose explained about his system's automatic settings. This convenience feature means he doesn't have to manually adjust ride height every time he starts the car.
Preserving Expensive Components: Jose mentioned breaking multiple carbon fiber diffusers when his car was too low. Air suspension allows him to adjust height based on conditions, helping protect vulnerable and expensive components.
Comfort When Desired: "It's not really designed to be a smooth luxury ride. You're going to feel bumps," Jose acknowledged about high-performance cars in general, but his air suspension does provide a better ride quality than many aggressive static setups.
Installation Considerations
For Charger owners considering the switch to air, Jose's experience offers several insights:
Professional Installation: While Jose is a dedicated DIYer for many mods, air suspension is complex enough that professional installation is typically recommended, especially for performance applications where proper setup is critical.
Complete System Approach: "It comes with a complete kit," Jose noted, emphasizing the importance of choosing a comprehensive system rather than mixing and matching components.
Proper Tuning: Just like engine modifications, suspension modifications require proper tuning. The multiple adjustment points on quality air suspension systems need to be set up correctly for optimal performance.
The Downsides and Challenges
Jose was candid about some of the quirks and challenges of air suspension:
Noise Concerns: "When they inflate, the double bellows just pop," Jose mentioned. "Everyone thinks, oh, I just blew, blew a bag." This normal operational sound can be alarming to those unfamiliar with these systems.
Maintenance Requirements: Air systems do require maintenance that traditional suspensions don't, including checking for leaks, maintaining proper air pressure, and occasionally servicing the compressors.
Initial Cost: Quality air suspension systems like Jose's Airlift Performance 3H represent a significant investment—often costing substantially more than even premium coilover setups.
Is Air Right for Your Charger?
Based on Jose's experience, air suspension makes the most sense for:
- Chargers that need to balance show-quality stance with real-world drivability
- High-horsepower builds where adjustability for different driving conditions is valuable
- Owners who want maximum versatility from their car
- Those who value comfort alongside performance
Traditional static suspensions might be better for:
- Dedicated track cars where simplicity and weight are paramount
- Budget-constrained builds where the cost of quality air isn't justifiable
- Owners who prefer "set it and forget it" simplicity
The Final Verdict
Perhaps the most telling endorsement of air suspension for performance applications comes from Jose's description of how his 950hp Charger drives:
"It drives like it's factory, even with all the heavy modifications," he stated proudly. For a car with that level of power modification to maintain factory-like drivability speaks volumes about the sophistication of modern air suspension systems.
As Jose demonstrated throughout our conversation, the old stereotypes about air suspension being purely for show have been thoroughly debunked by today's technology. For Charger owners looking to balance aggressive stance with real-world performance and daily drivability, air suspension offers a compelling combination of benefits that traditional static setups simply can't match.
Want to learn more about Jose's air suspension setup and his complete 950hp Charger build? Check out the full Charging Forward interview on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform!
