Pressurizing air shocks……

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Big Mama

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2015
Posts
3,390
Reaction score
2,055
Location
Virginia
I think a lot of it is 2 fold.

1) oem parts are expensive so going with a passive setup and saving a lot of cash can feel like a win. Plus when it’s time to replace parts the ride isn’t very good so it’s easy to forget how nice it was originally.

2) Some folks add lifts or lower their truck along with going to a different type of tire, which can affect the ride quality too.
 
OP
OP
ReaperHWK

ReaperHWK

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2020
Posts
260
Reaction score
245
I think a lot of it is 2 fold.

1) oem parts are expensive so going with a passive setup and saving a lot of cash can feel like a win. Plus when it’s time to replace parts the ride isn’t very good so it’s easy to forget how nice it was originally.

2) Some folks add lifts or lower their truck along with going to a different type of tire, which can affect the ride quality too.

I get those points. But if you bought a LTZ, premier, Denali and one of the main features of those trucks is the mag ride you’re really not getting what you paid for. If someone wanted to lift or level a Tahoe they should get a LT personally and use that base as a platform.

From my experience repairing and diagnosing this system anything other than OEM won’t work as designed. These systems are very precise as far as the software, the exact placement and alignment of the shocks, and how they respond to the SCM current changes to control the stiffness of each shock. I can’t see how anyone can lower or raise a mag ride truck and really keep the same ride as OEM.

The shock position sensors are so sensitive if I am sitting in the truck and reach over to the passenger seat the shocks will read a level change and adjust stiffness by a few mA.

This is the first vehicle I ever had with mag ride and I will probably always get one that has it. I’m a fan.

The new trucks are big $$$ though so picking up a used 2015 LTZ and fixing it worked for me. Problem with me is I rarely sell things I have because I get attached. Still have a 2006 f150 I bought brand new and it’s still going strong with 215k miles and I still don’t want a new truck!
 
Last edited:

Joseph Garcia

Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
Posts
7,340
Reaction score
9,919
Totally agree with you @ReaperHWK . I have the electronic suspension (Z55), which is the generation before Magneride (Z95) (Magneride time delay is 4 ms, while the electronic time delay is 20 ms), and I absolutely love it. I bought the truck used, and the previous owner took out the active electronic suspension and put in a fully passive system, so I've experienced both suspensions.

Put a set of Hellwig sway bars on it, and it will take you up to yet another level.
 

Big Mama

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2015
Posts
3,390
Reaction score
2,055
Location
Virginia
I think there’s a difference in mag ride and ARC though. What @ReaperHWK and @Joseph Garcia sre saying is right. I have an 07 Denali and I just got a 23 Sierra Denali with ARC. Usually trucks ride rough compared to Yukons but the improvements in technology made the opposite true.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,301
Posts
1,865,639
Members
96,885
Latest member
BinOdhaib
Top