My 2 cents and experience.
You are going to waste a lot of money replacing a system that is bound for failure. If any 1 part of the auto leveling goes out or screws up your shocks will blow or the compressor will burn up.
As many ppl before me have said go with Z springs and Bilstien shocks. There is a reason they are giving this advise. You asked them why not take it.
Look the reason you have the auto leveling system in the first place is because you have a Z55 LT( Denali's and Escalades are the same). It came with the weak LS springs, they made up for the lack of payload capacity with Auto leveling (the Airshocks and the compressor).
If you replace them with Z coils and better shocks you will have better payload capacity with no major failure points that will cost you 700 bucks to repair.
That being said......
If you are hell bent on wasting your money and purchasing replacements. Go with the OEM. The reason is that your Auto ride system is a 2 part system. It has
1: Auto dampening: (This is not Auto leveling and is completely separate except for the rear shock) This is a ecm that tells the electronic shocks when to adjust for speed and rough or unlevel terrain or on curves. This has nothing to do with auto leveling. The only way it is connected to auto leveling is that the rear shocks are Air shocks with electronic dampening.
2. Auto leveling: (this is a simple system that is separate from Auto dampening) This uses leveling sensors ( simple 3" rods that have a trigger point) when your rear end goes below that trigger it turns on the compressor until it raises above the point. Then its supposed to turn off.
The front shocks are just electronic dampening shocks
The rear shocks from the factory were electronic air shocks that could be told by the ECM how to dampen and also could be adjusted by the Auto leveling.
This package was sold together as Auto Ride but is actually 2 separate systems. If your going to pay all this money to replace this weaker system do it with the OEM so that your Electronic dampening will still work. Otherwise your going to pay 700 bucks for a set of airshocks and you will have a check autoride light on your dash.
Still the best advise has been given dont waste your money replacing a in efficient system they sold as a add on package for wealthy ppl who just want to spend money for stuff they dont understand. The Z71 package was more durable and had a higher payload capacity. Just replace the Coils and shocks put resistors on the elec dampening wires and you have a much better hoe for about 350.00 that wont blow out or burn up. I've been there and done it. So have a lot of these guys.
or you could just go blow your money................
---------- Post added at 02:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:07 PM ----------
Matt
OEM does have electronic dampening on the front just not auto leveling. Thats why there is a wire connected to your shocks. Arrnott doesn't offer them because there is nothing special about the elec shock except for the price and they cant reproduce them because they don't have the OK from GM. I believe Delco is the only company that can reproduce them (legally) to work with their system thats why they are so expensive. Thats why the aftermarket bilstein rears do not have the elec dampening only the airshock.
They give you resistors with the bilstiens to fool your ECM (auto dampening system) into thinking you still have 2 OEM shocks on the rear. Same thing that you would do if you were going to put regular bilstein 5100's or any air shock on them. They just bump up the price because they think your too stupid to do your homework or have a place like this to get info from others.
). I'm not looking for any taller riding spring so if that's all the Z ones will raise the rear, then I'm gonna have to look into those!! Do you know of a good place to buy those Matt? Was also thinking about putting the compressor on a switch as well Matt, that is indeed a good idea in case a shock blows or the compressor is having to work too hard!! Like I mentioned, I tow a tow hauler but it's not very often, but just enough to like having the air ride on my 1/2 ton denali!
