How To: Setup Auto Ride for Lifts

[AJK192609]

I will try my best to explain all the details of setting of Auto Ride for lifted Tahoe/Yukon/Eskys from 00-15+. Any lifting on these vehicles such as a rear spacer lift under the coil or full blown lift kit will alter the ride height control. This concept also applies for the front MagneRide on 07+ with front ride height sensors. This concept can work for lowered applications using a shorter all thread rod to replace stock length rods.


I used Full Throttle Suspension for ride height rod extenders. They sell them in two (2) extensions per package. (Will add picture later) These have set screws on either end to allow full adjustment of the ride height sensor rods. To install the adjustable extensions it requires cutting of the stock rod. You can use either a metal cutting blade hand saw or cut off wheel. Cut the stock rod roughly in the middle of the rod. This will help center the extension in the middle. Install the rod extension by inserting each end of the cut rod into the extension then tighten the set screw on either end. This will now make a longer ride height rod that is adjustable. Ensure the ball cup ends are orientated in the correct position for install on either front and/or rear. This is simple by looking at the balls on the truck.



The front magnetic ride control dampening is adjusted using the ride height sensor to adjust the magnetic force inside the shock. The front ride height sensor is located just behind the upper strut mount towards the firewall. It is mounted on the frame rail and connects to the Upper Control Arm (UCA) as seen in the picture below.
View attachment 166462
View attachment 166463

Below is a picture of the front ride height rod with extension installed and set back to stock position.
View attachment 166464



The rear ride height control adjusts the amount of air pressure in the shocks that adjusts height and dampening. The rear ride height rod sensor is located in front of the rear tire towards front of the car. It may be hidden by the fender liner. The sensor is mounted on the frame rail and rod connected to upper trailing arm.
View attachment 166465

Below is a picture of the rear ride height rod with extension installed and set back to stock position. (will add picture later)

To set the correct position of either front or rear simply take a measurement from a fixed point prior to removal of each rod. Such as measuring the truck on level ground from the top of the sensor arm to fender liner. You can also rough guess the position by comparing the sensor arms to a stock vehicle located at dealerships or parking lots. People may look at you funny but its easy to look at a stock height car then adjust yours. This extension system will trick the computers to think the UCAs or rear trailing arms are in stock position when in fact lifted. This will enable the front or rear control of the system as stock. Hope this helps others with Auto Ride lifts.

Great info. Thanks for posting. What kits are people using? Do any of the rough country or tough country kits work by using the FTS sensor extensions? I’d like to 4-6” and keep the lift under around 1k.

 

[01Konvict]

Great info. Thanks for posting. What kits are people using? Do any of the rough country or tough country kits work by using the FTS sensor extensions? I’d like to 4-6” and keep the lift under around 1k.

I’m pretty sure rough country works but don’t know about tough country. All kits will work as long as the kit retains stock shocks with extensions. Then use the rod spacers to set ride height sensor.

 

[bmwme]

This thread helped me figure out my issue with my 04 Escalade. Thank you

It’s new to me and modified but I didn’t know how. Turns out the rear springs were replaced with some kind of aftermarket (RAG on the spring??)

The ass was sagging and even worse when towing. The air pump came on and pumped but it never gained much height. I suspected modified ride sensor and this thread helped me down that path.

I first confirmed I don’t have stock ride hight sensor links, they are shorter. They were about 2-1/2” long and I researched that stock links are 2.95”. So I was able to unthread about 1/8” per end (total of 1/4” per link) and made the links about 2.75” long. This height brought the rear bags significantly higher. Ground to fender went from static 34-3/8” to 35-1/8” which is just about perfect (front is 35”). More importantly when I hooked up my trailer I was very happy to hear the compressor run way longer than it ever has and bring it all the way to about 34-7/8” fully loaded. That’s a job done.

 

[Rob Fjerstad]

Hi everyone - this is a great thread, really glad I found it since all my other research and talking to shops about putting a lift on my truck all said the same thing - have to dump the autoride/dampening capabilities and go with regular shocks/struts.

I'm looking at putting a Supreme Suspension 3.5" front and 3" rear lift kit on my '07 Avalanche and so based on this thread I have a couple follow-up questions. 1). will the FTS rod extenders allow my to extend the rods enough with this lift installed? 2). do I also need rear shock extenders?

Thanks for the help

 

[bmwme]

I don’t have experience with lifted GMs but from what I do know I would think you could use rear lift springs then you’d have to install rear shock lowering (upper) and/or raising (lower) mounts to match the lift. The. You’ll have to lengthen the ride height adjusters to match. It may be a bit too much lift to keep but would be worth the effort.

 

[Ben Hinz]

This may be dumb of me, but this doesn’t apply if you’ve converted to a regular set up and got ride of the air ride rear and electric fronts right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[01Konvict]

This may be dumb of me, but this doesn’t apply if you’ve converted to a regular set up and got ride of the air ride rear and electric fronts right?

Yup doesn’t apply

 

[AJK192609]

I’m pretty sure rough country works but don’t know about tough country. All kits will work as long as the kit retains stock shocks with extensions. Then use the rod spacers to set ride height sensor.

Thanks for the heads up. Going with rough country

 

[Abdullah Almojil]

I will try my best to explain all the details of setting of Auto Ride for lifted Tahoe/Yukon/Eskys from 00-15+. Any lifting on these vehicles such as a rear spacer lift under the coil or full blown lift kit will alter the ride height control. This concept also applies for the front MagneRide on 07+ with front ride height sensors. This concept can work for lowered applications using a shorter all thread rod to replace stock length rods.


I used Full Throttle Suspension for ride height rod extenders. They sell them in two (2) extensions per package. (Will add picture later) These have set screws on either end to allow full adjustment of the ride height sensor rods. To install the adjustable extensions it requires cutting of the stock rod. You can use either a metal cutting blade hand saw or cut off wheel. Cut the stock rod roughly in the middle of the rod. This will help center the extension in the middle. Install the rod extension by inserting each end of the cut rod into the extension then tighten the set screw on either end. This will now make a longer ride height rod that is adjustable. Ensure the ball cup ends are orientated in the correct position for install on either front and/or rear. This is simple by looking at the balls on the truck.



The front magnetic ride control dampening is adjusted using the ride height sensor to adjust the magnetic force inside the shock. The front ride height sensor is located just behind the upper strut mount towards the firewall. It is mounted on the frame rail and connects to the Upper Control Arm (UCA) as seen in the picture below.
View attachment 166462
View attachment 166463

Below is a picture of the front ride height rod with extension installed and set back to stock position.
View attachment 166464



The rear ride height control adjusts the amount of air pressure in the shocks that adjusts height and dampening. The rear ride height rod sensor is located in front of the rear tire towards front of the car. It may be hidden by the fender liner. The sensor is mounted on the frame rail and rod connected to upper trailing arm.
View attachment 166465

Below is a picture of the rear ride height rod with extension installed and set back to stock position. (will add picture later)

To set the correct position of either front or rear simply take a measurement from a fixed point prior to removal of each rod. Such as measuring the truck on level ground from the top of the sensor arm to fender liner. You can also rough guess the position by comparing the sensor arms to a stock vehicle located at dealerships or parking lots. People may look at you funny but its easy to look at a stock height car then adjust yours. This extension system will trick the computers to think the UCAs or rear trailing arms are in stock position when in fact lifted. This will enable the front or rear control of the system as stock. Hope this helps others with Auto Ride lifts.

I have tried another idea and seem to be working for the rear rod height. I fabricated a relocation bracket. The challenge I faced is that I had to do trial and error until the best position for the sensor until the message “service suspension” disappeared and ride became smooth and comfort. I would need to find the sensor position following the advise above. Picture attached.


The bracket cost me 1$ only.

Here in my case, the message disappeared when I selected the higher position but the ride was bad (vehicle bouncing all the time, because too much pressure added to shock absorber ). The lowest position was much better and the ride was acceptable.

The rod extender can be found in amazon and other websites as well. search by the keyword " shaft coupling" picture attached

 

[01Konvict]

I have tried another idea and seem to be working for the rear rod height. I fabricated a relocation bracket. The challenge I faced is that I had to do trial and error until the best position for the sensor until the message “service suspension” disappeared and ride became smooth and comfort. I would need to find the sensor position following the advise above. Picture attached.


The bracket cost me 1$ only.

Here in my case, the message disappeared when I selected the higher position but the ride was bad (vehicle bouncing all the time, because too much pressure added to shock absorber ). The lowest position was much better and the ride was acceptable.

The rod extender can be found in amazon and other websites as well. search by the keyword " shaft coupling" picture attached

View attachment 212700 View attachment 212701 View attachment 212702 View attachment 212703

Good idea! The first picture in upper corner looks terrible for sensor angle but last looks right in line for normal ride height