clinto
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I have a customer's A3 here now with air assist and previously got to work on another friend's A2 with the air assist.
I have driven 2 different A2's with Tom's (Waterloo Specialties) kits.
I have been offroading with none of the 4 vehicles.
I have no "dog in this hunt" as I have no relationship with either the air assist companies or Waterloo Specialties.
I do hate to say this as I have friend's selling air assist kits, but Tom's power steering kit is worlds better.
First, and this is entirely subjective: The air assist looks more vulnerable to me in an off-road environment.
Second: The air assist is an "assist" and not full blown "power steering". Now, don't get me wrong, it's worlds better than the stock manual steering but if you're expecting the same level of "boost" that your Dodge Ram or Honda Civic has, you shouldn't.
Third: When air assists were cheaper, I might have gotten one but now that their prices have gone up so much, Tom's kit is a no-brainer.
Like welldigger said, you have to look at the prices of each kit and decide what's best for you. For me, I don't have the money for Tom's kit, but when I have $1500 or whatever an air-assist kit is selling for................. I'll wait and keep putting money in the piggy bank until I have enough for Toms kit.
As I said above, the air assist is world's better than stock and I don't hate it, I just don't love it as much as Tom's hydraulic kit. If I found a air kit for $500-750, I'd buy it and install it on my personal truck.
I have driven 2 different A2's with Tom's (Waterloo Specialties) kits.
I have been offroading with none of the 4 vehicles.
I have no "dog in this hunt" as I have no relationship with either the air assist companies or Waterloo Specialties.
I do hate to say this as I have friend's selling air assist kits, but Tom's power steering kit is worlds better.
First, and this is entirely subjective: The air assist looks more vulnerable to me in an off-road environment.
Second: The air assist is an "assist" and not full blown "power steering". Now, don't get me wrong, it's worlds better than the stock manual steering but if you're expecting the same level of "boost" that your Dodge Ram or Honda Civic has, you shouldn't.
Third: When air assists were cheaper, I might have gotten one but now that their prices have gone up so much, Tom's kit is a no-brainer.
Like welldigger said, you have to look at the prices of each kit and decide what's best for you. For me, I don't have the money for Tom's kit, but when I have $1500 or whatever an air-assist kit is selling for................. I'll wait and keep putting money in the piggy bank until I have enough for Toms kit.
As I said above, the air assist is world's better than stock and I don't hate it, I just don't love it as much as Tom's hydraulic kit. If I found a air kit for $500-750, I'd buy it and install it on my personal truck.