POS Air Ride Suspension

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corneileous

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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.
I don’t know, tell me what that does say because I really liked the air ride suspension and because I realize it’s a factory system and that I’m well aware of its potential problems, I bought the warranty to cover my ass of anything ever happens to it and not everybody who has it has problems. But you know, it’s almost kinda like you have to at least be a little bit of a fan to get it and understand it but since you seem to be neither of those, I don’t expect you to agree with anything I said or gonna say about it.

I’m pretty sure you’re not talking to me because yes, I’ve said it, the air ride works really well for hitching up trailers like it does when I slide my Pete 379 under a different trailer at the yard but no, that’s not why I bought it. I bought it because I like the ride.
 

SK 2016 limited

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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.
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
 

Sammy

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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.
Deleteairsuspension.com
 

LouM

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Or just fix it and enjoy a nice riding and operating suspension.
Recharging with Nitrogen and adding a bit of air line anti freeze.
 

Tach_tech

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Or just fix it and enjoy a nice riding and operating suspension.
Recharging with Nitrogen and adding a bit of air line anti freeze.

Problem is you can fix it and a good chance you’ll have problems again next winter.
 

LouM

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No issues with my 19 so far.
 

BWL

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Where is the air inlet and exhaust on this system. I thought the inlet was behind the tail light. Mine is buggered at the moment and driving with you 1 side on the bump stops is getting old, but still a month or better from being able to get it fixed without renting a truck.
 

BWL

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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
Going to try this once it gets warm enough that I have a better chance of getting it back off the ground once in entry/exit. If it works I'll be thrilled. Are the intake and exhaust both behind the taillight?
 

Tach_tech

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The inlet/exhaust hoses for the compressor are behind the passenger side tail light/fender. The filter is there as well, if there’s any signs of moisture in the filter it should be replaced.
 

corneileous

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The inlet/exhaust hoses for the compressor are behind the passenger side tail light/fender. The filter is there as well, if there’s any signs of moisture in the filter it should be replaced.
There’s a filter? Is there any kind of maintenance schedule on this filter or is it something that’s treated about like the “lifetime fill” nonsense on the 8-speeds?

But I’m curious; since that air suspension is supposed to be a sealed system then what exactly is this filter for?
 

huntergreen

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There’s a filter? Is there any kind of maintenance schedule on this filter or is it something that’s treated about like the “lifetime fill” nonsense on the 8-speeds?

But I’m curious; since that air suspension is supposed to be a sealed system then what exactly is this filter for?
How seal could it be if it has intake and exhaust outlets?
 

BWL

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If the system leaks it draws in fresh air. You'd never notice if you're never below freezing temp until the moisture causes corrosion internally. If you're below freezing you find out a lot sooner as I have. Hoping the airline antifreeze will do the trick until I can get it leak tested/repaired/purged. Hoping all the saved codes will be enough to get them to fix it. Or at least try to.
 

BWL

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Having a hard time finding the filter at the moment so guessing it's a dealer item.
 

Tach_tech

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It is a “sealed” system per se. If the system is empty of nitrogen it won’t just fill it with air. The intake/exhaust for the compressor are used just for operating the compressor. During certain conditions it will exhaust excess pressure or draw in small amounts of air into the system, but it’s very small amounts it will take in. If the air mass is low it won’t make it up with just air.

There is no maintenance for the filter/drier. It’s pretty much an inspection it, if there’s any signs of moisture, replace it.
 

BWL

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So is it 1 side nitrogen and the other side air that inflates a bladder to pressurize the other side? Like a water pressure tank that has air on 1 side/water on the other? I used to think it had a nitrogen tank somewhere and it would transfer pressure back to it or out of it to set the ride.
 

Tach_tech

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Having a hard time finding the filter at the moment so guessing it's a dealer item.

You can’t get just the filter, have to buy to the intake/suction hose assembly. 68204392AA should be it.
 
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Tach_tech

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So is it 1 side nitrogen and the other side air that inflates a bladder to pressurize the other side? Like a water pressure tank that has air on 1 side/water on the other? I used to think it had a nitrogen tank somewhere and it would transfer pressure back to it or out of it to set the ride.

There is a nitrogen tank, on the trucks it’s underneath the bed. I honestly don’t know 100% how the compressor uses the air intake/exhaust in conjunction with the nitrogen. The service information doesn’t get very deep into the inner workings.
 

corneileous

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There is a nitrogen tank, on the trucks it’s underneath the bed. I honestly don’t know 100% how the compressor uses the air intake/exhaust in conjunction with the nitrogen. The service information doesn’t get very deep into the inner workings.
Yeah, that doesn’t make any sense. You’d think the system would be designed to hold a whole lot more pressure than it really needs to operate correctly to where it wouldn’t have to vent any away and when it’s too much and then have to turn around and suck in damp air to compensate for the loss which ends up totally going against the whole concept of a sealed nitrogen system.
 

corneileous

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You can’t get just the filter, have to buy to the intake/suction hose assembly. 68204392AA should be it.
According to Mopar Parts Giant it’s part #4 that just looks like a pice of tubing. Where’s the filter or is that diagram even right?
 

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Elvira

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Do you or are you able to drain system regularly, condensation will form and freeze valves in cold weather, possible reason it starts working again once in warm garage. Semi truck systems suffer same ailment but they are able to add alcohol and or have air dryers because of cold creating ice from moisture in system.
 
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