Hello everyone. Theres numerous post on air suspension vs normal suspension and it seems they are about the same.

I live in new england and theres frost heaves and bumps everywhere. I just got back from the dentist and I noticed the ride seemed to transfer the bumps into the cabin and generally felt kinda jarring. This is in normal mode high the body obviously rolls all over and are known for that
Theres new air shocks in the rear and the front are original from 130,000 back. Air ride height works and it sits without sagging for weeks it seems. Compressor works great.

I'v heard others say their UL's ride like butter with 16's which I have on Im just wondering if they live on the roads riddled with bumps every were. Sport mode seems, slightly, to minimize body role.

I can see why people prefer stock unless they needed extra height, or slammed which I think is the coolest feature off them and I love to see pictures here.

What do you guys think, are stock struts for the non UL models "good enough" and not be too stiff depending on what you use? Valving for the actuators can be off so I may have my mechanic put it on the machine and see if they are working. The test in car seems to be driving hard from sport to normal to see a difference?

Could you get softer struts for a non UL model? Whats the real difference between the two and are they generally like mine? Isnt air ride height just do that control height not to control ride? They are still the same spring rates anyhow?

 

I doubt there's much difference. Your 130k shocks and bushings must have some wear to it. I've noticed on my UL that the rears sit a bit lower than the front. But from what I've read that it's from the added weight of the recline seats, coolers etc.

 

Yea my mechanic said bushings and ball joints were good, just had tranny and engine mounts done. It rides like crap on the bumps. What sucks is when I read here there are other like me. Some times not able to figure out what it is. Valve timing for actuators is key to check Iv heard. I may start throwing parts at it like LCAB and ball joints. Iv read a lot with similar mileage and they are smooth. With the standard shocks you can just change them out. But my front ones have been checked and they said there good. Mystery.

 

Don't forget that in low temperatures the oil in the struts gets thicker and that leads to them feeling stiffer and harsher.
If you think your LS suspension is harsh, go drive a more "normal" car for a bit and then come back to the LS.
Sometimes it's all about perception rather than any actual change in the suspension.

 

Yeah...expectations are key and the LS rides really well in every way, especially on the highway. I can feel everything on the road in my GX and especially my GS. Driving those is a reminder of how little you feel and hear in an LS vs a normal vehicle. The next step up past this costs exponentially more and you'll need to by a Mercedes Benz (or Maybach) with magic ride control or a Rolls but then you're looking at 5 figure repair bills and they cost many times an LS430.

 

Yea after driving my beater Honda, even new Tesla model 3, the ls ride is much more comfortable over bumps on stock 17s and almost as quiet as the Tesla

 

Most likely the dampener/shock absorber inside the front air struts are worn out. The air bag may be in good condition but without any dampening you will get a rough ride.

 

Ah ha. When you say dampener do you mean the actuation valve for the shocks at the top? I thought there was just a bladder inside the spring, no shocks.

 

Just like a regular spring there is a shock absorber for dampening spring movement. With air suspension the air spring and shock absorber are one unit. So when the shock absorber wears out (fluid leaks out or gas charge escape) you have to replace the whole assembly. You may be thinking about fully hydraulic suspension like on Mercedes-Benz which uses spheres/bladders so fluid can move when the suspension compresses.

 

Yea thats what I thought. 750 a piece. Or 500 a pair used ebay. Would you expect it to ride hard if it failed? It holds air so I think they are good. There is timing through a valve that can go bad 1-6 I think which controls dampening, which is what I thought the other guys said.

I just would expect it to sag if they were failing. Its response to bumps is pretty direct.