POS Air Ride Suspension

Northstarab · Jan 1, 2022

I RAM Limited is a 2016 with the God forsaken air ride suspension. Works great in the summer but once winter hits MN it goes to hell. 1st 3 years were fine then in the winter of 2020 when it gets below zero which it does on a regular basis up here in MN the rear collapses on itself. When I start the truck it will raise to normal operating position and all was good. 2021 does the same but half hour into a 3 hr drive the rear collapses again and there is no fix. Cattle truck with no rear suspension. Of course out of warranty, now back in my heated garage it decides to work again. I can't be the only one experiencing this issue with the air ride can I? I've checked all lines and bags for leaks, no issues. So am I stuck with a suspension system that won't work as designed when below zero? Never ever again will I buy a truck with air ride. Anyone have any fixes or ideas? RAM of course no help what so ever.

LouM · Jan 1, 2022

I have seen many threads on the air suspension,
it seems like the best solution to many issues is a system purge and refill.
With N2, it seems reasonably easy to do certainly a diy project.

huntergreen · Jan 1, 2022

Sorry to hear, but the air suspension is known to be extremely problematic in the colder winter temps.

Curt Gobbell · Jan 1, 2022

Northstar,

See if the attached helps.

How I solved my Air Suspension Problem

My truck (2014 with factory air suspension) would randomly lower both rear corners evenly to the bump stops Usually happened at night It would correct itself after I started the truck Frequency of occurrence was 1-2 times per week It would look like this :( So, over a several week period I...

www.ramforum.com

Dodge trucker · Jan 1, 2022

I just bought a 2012. I thought I looked it over pretty well at the stealership before I decided to buy, but when I got it home and up onto the lift, I discovered something I missed on the car lot. Someone added Firestone/Timbren style airbags to mine, inboard of the coil springs and has an air valve at the bumper.... quite surprised, this is my 1st truck ever with rear coil springs, (1st vehicle of any sort with rear coils) my old Aspens Volares Diplomats Furys,etc also were leaf sprung, I was a bit concerned whether they (coil springs on a pickup) could do the job, but I see the PO did me a favor of sorts. Seems to me that this would be a better option. As a former alignment guy, I remember converting several Ford air ride setups to conventional sprung suspension. Would this be an option for you? Yeah I know/ you have a ton spent on that truck already.... but just a possible idea?

Dodge trucker · Jan 1, 2022

do these trucks that come from the factory with air ride, have a cutoff/override switch? I remember those Fords did. I'm out of touch on these newer trucks, I admit, but Ive never seen a truck with a suspension like this. that was a Cadillac, Lincoln Town car sort of thing.

Tach_tech · Jan 2, 2022

A lot of the parts have been updated a few times. The main issues are the compressor and valve block. Valves get stuck in the winter time, which can cause a leak.

I replaced my compressor and valve block last year with the newest revision. Still had an issue the first time it got down to -25C here. Was ok the next day though. There’s another part revision that came out recently, might throw that in and see what happens, or just might delete it since my warranty runs up this year.

corneileous · Jan 2, 2022

Northstarab said:
I RAM Limited is a 2016 with the God forsaken air ride suspension. Works great in the summer but once winter hits MN it goes to hell. 1st 3 years were fine then in the winter of 2020 when it gets below zero which it does on a regular basis up here in MN the rear collapses on itself. When I start the truck it will raise to normal operating position and all was good. 2021 does the same but half hour into a 3 hr drive the rear collapses again and there is no fix. Cattle truck with no rear suspension. Of course out of warranty, now back in my heated garage it decides to work again. I can't be the only one experiencing this issue with the air ride can I? I've checked all lines and bags for leaks, no issues. So am I stuck with a suspension system that won't work as designed when below zero? Never ever again will I buy a truck with air ride. Anyone have any fixes or ideas? RAM of course no help what so ever.

Sounds like you got one of the older air ride trucks that you probably should of bought a really good extended warranty for. Sure, there's updated parts like @Tach_tech mentioned but at this point since you have no warranty, I think your better off just looking at deleting the system for a regular spring-ride system because it ain't gonna be cheap out of your pocket.

LouM · Jan 2, 2022

Or he could go back to post #4 follow the trouble shooting and repair his own system, then do a purge and refill with Nitrogen.
I am well pleased with my air ride and certainly have no desire to tear it out and replace it with springs.

corneileous · Jan 2, 2022

LouM said:
Or he could go back to post #4 follow the trouble shooting and repair his own system, then do a purge and refill with Nitrogen.
I am well pleased with my air ride and certainly have no desire to tear it out and replace it with springs.

I am too but that’s why I bought a lifetime warranty when I bought the truck because almost every part of that system is expensive. Hopefully those steps in that other thread help but let’s face it, this isn’t a system for those that don’t want to pay for the maintenance on it.

LouM · Jan 2, 2022

Or Do It Yourself it's not rocket science.
Go to a welding gas supplier get a small N2 cylinder and a regulator to refill and purge the system.
That would just be a PM in cold climates for it.

Tach_tech · Jan 2, 2022

LouM said:
Or he could go back to post #4 follow the trouble shooting and repair his own system, then do a purge and refill with Nitrogen.
I am well pleased with my air ride and certainly have no desire to tear it out and replace it with springs.

When it works, it’s great, but the amount of issues I see with the air suspension in the winter time it is enough to understand why people delete it.

Nothing worse then coming out to your truck in the morning at -30c to find your truck sagged out all the way or to one side, then have to drive it like that, hoping that it starts working. even worse when it’s actually a failed part, which is common. Now you have to drive it like that till you get it repaired, unless you have a second vehicle.

This is my second 1500 with the air suspension and both have never gone a winter without needing repairs to the air suspension every year.

Luckily I have access to all the tools/nitrogen to fix it, and I get paid to fix my own truck so it’s not as bad for me.

StadickServices · Jan 7, 2022

Hi,
New to the forum here

I am having the exact same problem with my 2017 ram! Also in Minnesota with this brutal weather. My Ram is under warranty and had it at the dealer today. On the way the compressor must have heated up and the air suspension worked as it should when I got there. So of course the typical dealer response: “we have to replicate the problem to see what’s wrong” so nothing got done or replaced today.
I do have an appointment 3 weeks from now, when they could fit me in, and I will ask for a compressor swap and bleed the system and recharge with nitrogen. Which I’m sure will be a battle being under warranty!!!
Really does suck because I just bought the truck a year ago and it’s my work truck!
Any advice with warranty and dealerships would be greatly appreciated!

rule18 · Jan 7, 2022

Months ago, I wound up replacing both front airbags due to micro leaks. If I didn't run the truck for 48 hours, I'd come out to find the front end down in Entry/Exit.

Gero · Jan 8, 2022

Do the conversion to steel springs. Save yourself the headaches in the future.

RLJ10X · Jan 8, 2022

Do yourself a real favor, and don't buy an air ride truck to begin with. If you have to buy an extended rip-off because you bought an air ride truck, doesn't that say something?

You need bags in back because you carry heavy loads, or pull a trailer a lot, I get that. But if you bought it because you're too lazy to get off your butt, and crank on a jack, then get your money ready.

I drive old UPS tractors for a living; I have for a 27 years. Air systems are great for the first few years. After that, they're constantly leaking. In the winter, when everything contracts because its cold, I just figure on letting the old Mack run for at least 5 minutes to build up pressure. But I'm getting paid, and I'm not in a hurry.

Like all the electronic crap they put on trucks nowadays, air ride is a solution looking for a problem.

SK 2016 limited · Jan 8, 2022

Air ride repair. Good morning from Saskatoon Sk. where the temps have been -30/40 for the last week and I have been driving my '16 limited with air ride everyday with no issues after this simple fix. As we know these operate on a closed system with nitrogen charge, however they do draw in and exhaust outside air to operate the compressor, there lies the problem. The compressor draws in outside air to operate which has moisture in it. This moisture is certainly what causes freezing issues with the compressor and valve block.This can lead to blown fuse and or deflated bags.Solution comes from introduction of air line antifreeze/ lubricant into the system.This product is a must in the trucking industry which keeps air brake/air ride systems operational in cold temps.I struggled with the blown fuses, half suspension dropped, all suspension dropped for the first winter till I figured this repair out. Here is the repair that works for me and a few friends that have these suspensions here in the frozen north. 1. Drop suspension to entry mode. 2.Remove right tail light, here is where the intake/exhaust lines are for the compressor. 3. remove the little plastic air filter on the intake line and dribble in some air line anti freeze. I got mine from Napa,it also is a lubricant which I think is important. 4. Run suspension up to offload 2 and back down to entry/exit level several times. 5. dribble in a little more in the intake line and even a little in the exhaust line and run suspension up and down a few more times. Solved my issues and several other fellas with similar suspensions. Now I know this is not a factory solution, it is a real world cold region solution. As stated in many other posts the dealers have no solutions other that throwing the same parts on if they can duplicate the concern and if it is covered under warranty, This does nothing to keep the system from freezing up which causes all the issues besides leaks in the system itself. Take this advice for what its worth,Ive proven it to be effective and now have no concerns driving my ram air ride in any temp. Cheers

turkeybird56 · Jan 8, 2022

huntergreen said:
Sorry to hear, but the air suspension is known to be extremely problematic in the colder winter temps.

^^^ DITTO ^^^ This problem been around for a while now, unfortunately with the Northern Tier peeps especially.

turkeybird56 · Jan 8, 2022

SK 2016 limited said:
Air ride repair. Good morning from Saskatoon Sk. where the temps have been -30/40 for the last week and I have been driving my '16 limited with air ride everyday with no issues after this simple fix. As we know these operate on a closed system with nitrogen charge, however they do draw in and exhaust outside air to operate the compressor, there lies the problem. The compressor draws in outside air to operate which has moisture in it. This moisture is certainly what causes freezing issues with the compressor and valve block.This can lead to blown fuse and or deflated bags.Solution comes from introduction of air line antifreeze/ lubricant into the system.This product is a must in the trucking industry which keeps air brake/air ride systems operational in cold temps.I struggled with the blown fuses, half suspension dropped, all suspension dropped for the first winter till I figured this repair out. Here is the repair that works for me and a few friends that have these suspensions here in the frozen north. 1. Drop suspension to entry mode. 2.Remove right tail light, here is where the intake/exhaust lines are for the compressor. 3. remove the little plastic air filter on the intake line and dribble in some air line anti freeze. I got mine from Napa,it also is a lubricant which I think is important. 4. Run suspension up to offload 2 and back down to entry/exit level several times. 5. dribble in a little more in the intake line and even a little in the exhaust line and run suspension up and down a few more times. Solved my issues and several other fellas with similar suspensions. Now I know this is not a factory solution, it is a real world cold region solution. As stated in many other posts the dealers have no solutions other that throwing the same parts on if they can duplicate the concern and if it is covered under warranty, This does nothing to keep the system from freezing up which causes all the issues besides leaks in the system itself. Take this advice for what its worth,Ive proven it to be effective and now have no concerns driving my ram air ride in any temp. Cheers

IMHO, sounds like SK 2016 kinda hits the Nail on the Head. !!!!! Real world solution for a real world problem that MOPAR may neva figure out.

DynoPax · Jan 8, 2022

To the OP,

As much as the air suspension is great for ride quality and leveling, it's an absolute nightmare when problems arise (troubleshoot, repair, dealership denial). I've deleted it on 2 trucks and am now way better for it. The aggravation got to the point where I could not suffer the random failures and what I perceived as a serious safety issue...

To Curt Gobbell,

Hat's off to you sir for a very thorough and well done troubleshooting procedure. I was not aware that we had a semi-closed system which, IMO, is what's causing the system to fail over time. Give it enough moisture and it will freeze most certainly!

Regards

POS Air Ride Suspension

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Military Vet 1976-1996 Retired US Army

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