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Air shock suspensions provide an incredible ride and lots of useful functionality for drivers when working properly. But like any other part of your vehicle, parts of the air shock system eventually start to wear out as they age, leading to subpar performance.

While you can’t prevent your suspension components from needing to be replaced forever, taking the time to maintain your air shock system can extend its working life. In this guide, we provide a few tips to help you properly maintain your air shock suspension and get the most out of it for as long as possible.

How To Maintain an Air Shock Suspension System

Air suspension systems are closed systems, meaning not much other than air gets in or out. This means they don’t need as much attention as some other parts of your car like its oil and filters. But there are still a few things you can do to maintain your air shock suspension system and keep it running in peak shape.

Check for Air Shock Suspension System Leaks

One of the biggest causes of air suspension failure is leaks in the system. Leaks can develop in the air shocks themselves due to components aging and losing their elasticity and seals. But other parts of the system can also spring leaks. Road debris can get pulled up into the undercarriage and puncture air delivery lines. Aging seals and gaskets and connection points can become brittle or slip out of place and allow air to escape.

Whatever the cause, leaks can wreak havoc on an air shock suspension system. Even a small air leak can cause other parts of the system, such as the compressor, to try and compensate. This can lead to abnormal stress on those components and rapid failure. Leaking air shocks and other parts can also throw off a vehicle’s balance and cause unusual wear and tear that leads to major problems.

It’s a good idea to occasionally check for leaks. One of the easiest ways to do that is to fill a bowl with soapy water and use a paint brush to apply it to the shocks and other components. If there is a leak, you’ll see bubbles form on the surface. Don’t ignore even the smallest leak, as problems can escalate quickly.

Remove Moisture from Air Tanks

Moisture is the enemy of an air shock suspension. The components in the system are designed to run in a completely dry environment. So, if moisture builds up in air delivery lines or the air shocks, it can cause it to function poorly and lead to rapid deterioration. 

Moisture buildup typically starts in the air supply tank. These tanks typically have traps that prevent water from entering, but they can’t prevent moisture from accumulating entirely. That’s why it’s a good idea to periodically try to drain moisture from the tank, even if you don’t suspect there is any.

The easiest way to do this is to pick up an air tank drain kit. These kits hook up to the drain valve on your air supply tank and pull moisture out. There are a few other ways you can do this, but a drain kit is the most hassle-free method.

Periodically Check Air Delivery Lines

The air supply lines that carry air between parts of the suspension are one of the more vulnerable points in the system. By necessity, these lines are made of flexible rubber tubing that can be torn, scraped, or punctured by various road debris. They can also get knocked out of place and lose their airtight seal in some cases.

Check the integrity of your air lines every few months, or sooner if you suspect a problem. You’ll need to have your car lifted to inspect the lines, so take the opportunity to check whenever that’s the case. Give them a thorough visual inspection, especially around the connection points to look for punctures and loose fittings. If you have the time, use the paintbrush method we mentioned earlier to look for leaks.

Pay Attention To Changes in Air Shock Performance

When air shock suspension systems have even minor problems, they typically result in changes to how the system functions. Since you know how your vehicle and its air suspension are supposed to perform, you should be able to recognize when something is off. Here are a few things to look for:

• Taking longer to stop than usual
• Feeling like the body is swaying or pulling away from the frame while going through turns
• Dipping down at the front bumper and lifting up in the rear when coming to a stop
• Providing an unusually-bumpy ride
• Sagging or leaning at one or more corners
• Making unusual noises, especially from the compressor
• Handling being less responsive than usual

These symptoms may have other causes, but it’s never a bad idea to have the suspension checked if you experience any of them. Looking out for early signs of trouble is an important part of maintaining your air shock suspension system.

What To Do About Air Shock Suspension System Problems

At some point, maintenance isn’t going to be enough. Once you’ve put enough miles on your air shock system, things will inevitably start to wear out. When that happens, it’s important to address any problems you find as soon as possible to prevent them from getting worse and spreading to other parts of your vehicle.

Try Making Adjustments First

If you’re lucky, you may be able to solve some air shock problems with an adjustment or two. For example, if you’re experiencing a leak caused by an air supply line that is loose or disconnected, putting it back into place should fix it. Sometimes air suspensions only need to be reset, such as when the only issue is a minor malfunction with the electronic control unit (ECU).

It’s a good idea to try making adjustments before looking towards repairs or replacements. That way, you can avoid spending money you don’t have to. 

Replace Air Shock Suspension System Parts If Needed

Unfortunately, the majority of air shock suspension issues are caused by one or more components that need to be replaced. If you know your way around the system, you can identify the faulty components yourself. You can also take the vehicle to the shop to have a mechanic find the source or sources of the problem.

Once you’ve zeroed in on the parts that need replacing, you’ll need to find the right replacement components for the job. There are many sites that sell replacement air shock suspension components, the quality of the parts and service they offer can vary greatly. At AirSuspension.com, we thoroughly vet and test all of the products we carry to ensure they meet our rigid quality standards and that you get air shock parts that provide long-lasting performance.

Air Shock Suspension System Replacement Parts: What To Consider

Going with the cheapest air shock system parts you can find can be tempting. But poor quality replacement parts can put you in a bad place, delivering subpar performance, damaging your vehicle, or even making it unsafe to drive.

To ensure you’re getting the right air shock suspension parts for your vehicle, consider the following:

Precise fit: Air shock components need to fit perfectly to do their job well. Make sure you’re getting replacement parts that are meant for your car’s specific make, model, year, and sometimes even trim level.

Proper materials: Suppliers who list the materials used to make their air shock system parts tend to do so because they want to boast about their build quality. Beware of parts suppliers that skimp on the details of what their products are made of.

Product warranty: A warranty is helpful if you end up with an air shock component that doesn’t work as intended. But it’s also a sign that the supplier is confident they won’t have to replace or refund many of that product because they know it will last.

Customer support: You likely won’t need help from a supplier with your purchase, but on the chance that you do, you’ll want to know you can reach someone who can assist you. Look for suppliers who mention in-house customer support so you know that you won’t be directed to someone halfway across the world who doesn’t know the first thing about air shock suspensions.

Air Shock Suspension System Maintenance: Conclusion

A little bit of maintenance to your air shock suspension here and there can help ensure you maximize the performance and working life of your system. Mostly, this just involves checking up on components periodically to make sure everything is in good shape.

When the time comes that you do need to replace parts of your suspension system, you can trust AirSuspension.com to provide affordable and reliable air shock components. You can use the search field at the top of the page to look for the right parts for your vehicle. And if you need help with anything related to your order, don’t hesitate to reach out.