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teamcurtis

teamcurtis

Joined
May 9, 2025
Threads
7
Messages
23
Location
San Diego
I got fed up with chasing the issues in my OEM airbag suspension. I had changed the bags and shocks and it rode at the right height, but when both tires would hit something at the same time, like a speed bump, it was super harsh.

I went with the Metal Tech kit with Eibach protruck shocks
In the front i used Dobson C59-296 springs and the Eibach shocks.

with 265/70 17 tires, my front went up 1-1.25" from 4" to 5-5.25" fender gap
and the rear went up .5" from 5.5 to 6" fender gap

The ride is excellent, but its also replacing shocks that had 140k miles on them.

Should i remove other components? Is there much weight savings to be had? I just pulled the 3 fuses/relays

I do have 2 basically new OEM airbags and brand new luft meister shocks with about 2k miles on them that ill be posting for sale
 
You don't need to remove anything else if you don't want to. I removed the compressor, tank and lines from my rig just because they were never going to be used again. I haven't gotten to the height sensors but they aren't bothering anything. If and when I need to replace the control arms, the sensors will come out then.
 
Let me guess, luftmeister shocks? They are garbage. Youd need to get the oem shocks to fix your bottoming out probpem. The airsprings arent the reason you are missing shock absorption the cheapo shocks are.
 
Ignignot said:
Let me guess, luftmeister shocks? They are garbage. Youd need to get the oem shocks to fix your bottoming out probpem. The airsprings arent the reason you are missing shock absorption the cheapo shocks are.
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I was suspect of this, but also wasn't willing to have to drop a grand on rear shocks...
 
Can you run the airbags with non magnetic shocks and not get an error code?
 
teamcurtis said:
Can you run the airbags with non magnetic shocks and not get an error code?
Click to expand...
The rear oem shocks are expensive but literally have a $0 labor cost. I replaced both shocks in my driveway in about 20 minutes. There is nothing in the way that has to be removed first, you dont even have to take the tires off, and they slide right off and on. I would think converting to springs will be more costly by the time you finish. Also if you dont have KDSS the GX will use the magnetic shocks to stabilize the car in cornering, kind of like an electronic sway bar. I tow with my GX and the auto leveling feature is well worth it to me. Just my 2 cents

The front oem shocks are actually quite inexpensive, but they are mcpherson struts so you will need to have a garage do that install.

To answer your question about error lights, the luftmeisters arent actually manga ride they just have a resistor that tricks the computer into thinking they are. So yes you can trick the computer into not giving an error code.
 
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Yeah I'm aware of all that. The post stated that I had already made the switch. I'm happy with the performance and it was pretty easy, especially as I had already changed the airbags prior so knew the trick to the airline clips.

And Im are the luftmeister shocks dont throw a code as the plug in. My question is if you kept airbags and used a shock like a bilstein or eibach or whatever, something that doesn't plug in, would that throw a code.
 
I THINK that would kill the ability to raise and lower height, as when i pulled it ALL the dash lights went out. Not that thats a bad thing, but does it know out self leveling?
 
Youll want to find some kind of plug that spoofs the resistance expected by the oem dampers. You can probably scavenge these "dongles" from the luftmeisters if you can disassemble them carefully.
 
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zzyzx85 said:
@Timujin : didn't you upgrade your dampers on your 470 while retaining the rear air springs?
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Yes I did. Unplugged the factory shock/strut plugs and covered them with tape. There was a fault code if faults on the air suspension were checked but no dash lights.
 
IMG_0351.webp
 
To be clear, i pulled all fuses and went with Eibach shocks and am very very happy.
I was just curious
 
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