Arnott MR4262 for replacing front Magneride Z95 suspension info

[mrkev]

Just put in the Arnott MR4262 suspension for my fronts.
I'll post some info, for those deciding to use Arnott, ACdelco, or others.
I went with the MR4262 because I thought it was an Eibach shock and spring with magneride fluid inside. Well, im not sure if it's eibach, I dont see "Eibach" anywhere on the spring or shock. I was debating to get just the shock and re-use the spring to save about 200$ total for the pair. I am glad i did NOT. After installing the Arnotts, my front end was lifted about 2 inches. I think the old suspension has sagged overtime, and since im not the oG owner, I have no idea of how high the front was brand new.

The newly installed Arnot was squeeky for the frist few speedbumps, but now and quiet and smooth. Also did the trim height adjustment on the Autel, since the ride in the front is 2 inches higher now (although it did not throw any codes). Let's see if this settles over time.

My recommendation is to use Arnott with the spring installed, since your old springs have probably already sagged. With the spring already installed, installation is very easy. AC delco does not sell pre-loaded Magneride shocks/springs.
Dont buy AC delco from Ebay, they are cheaper, but they are 99% fakes. (I wouldn't buy from amazon either for the same reason)
NOTE: there are 4 versions of Arnotts offered.
1. Magneride shock only
2. Magneride shock only (but passive, so it bypasses the magneride)
3. Magneride shock and spring* this is what I got because I wanted to keep the magneride functionality.
4. Magneride shock and spring (but passive)

of course you can bypass it altogether and get FOX or Billies. lots of info out there or Mag Del. If the Arnotts fail, I'll give Fox a try.

Hope this can help others.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

Thank you for posting the details and assessment of your shocks changeover. Our collective knowledge base has been increased.

 

[mrkev]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

Thank you for posting the details and assessment of your shocks changeover. Our collective knowledge base has been increased.

Thank you! Here's the pic of the truck 1000 miles after the Arnott front Shock and Springs.

 

[mrkev]

update after a 700mile road trip. I would give these Arnott's a 9/10. I have 2 issues with this systems.
The first... the fronts sometimes make a squeaking noise when going over speed bumps too fast.
The Second... When going over a small hump at high speeds, it feels like the whole car got some air. What I mean is that the suspension seems to fully extend for a second before compressing. I dont remember my old shocks doing this (even though they were leaking and sagged about 2 inches.)
overall, the road trip was smooth. I did drive a 2024 Wagoneer during this trip and the Wagoneer is waaaay more quieter and smoother than my 2016 Yukon. I did notice that it had considerable more body roll than my Yukon. My yukon was planted during turns. I am happy with that.

 

[mrkev]

further update with a few hundred more miles and different types of roads. I think the fact the suspension was lifted 2 inches means the suspension is stiffer.

In my other cars (stock suspension) going over a hump at a high speed, the car suspension would extend then land softly.

With my yukonXL and Artnott Active spring/shocks, going over same humps at high speeds (40-55 mps) it feels like the car gets some air. The suspension seems like it gets extended to the max before it compresses, you can definelty feel the jolt. It feels like the stiffer sport suspensions of my coilovers on other cars.

being that i've only had experience with my Yukon with stock blown/sagging shocks and springs, I dont have much to compare it to. I did rent a Wagoneer during the same 700 road trip, and wow, that suspension was smooth. more body roll, but very smooth over bumps and humps.

I guess that's the tradeoff with Magneride and having good handling.

Anyone else with Stock Magneride chime in? How does your car do when flying over humps at about 40-50mph?

thanks

 

[GMCMAX12]

subd

 

[mrkev]

With more miles on the Arnott, I have more feedback. Even though I dont have another Yukon to compare, I dont remember the suspension being harsh on small bumps. for example, going over bumps at low speeds is super harsh. I honestly think this is because the lift that the arnotts offer. With my old suspension, there was about 1.5 inch less preload. That's why it sat 1.5 inches lower.
if i were to do it again, i might just get the shocks, and keep the old softer OEM springs. I'm just not sure how much they have sagged since 2016, but I remember they were super smooth (even with leaking shocks up front)

 

[mrkev]

After a few thousand miles, I cant help but to think the ride is not as soft as it was before. It could be in my head, im not sure, but I am very close to swapping out for my stock springs. It could very well be once I swap in the OEM springs, it rides exactly the same haha. If anyone wants to trade for a stock shock that's OEM, I would trade them. My arnotts are pre-loaded with springs.

 

[Carfan]

My 2020 will be 5 years old in August. Some time after Christmas I noticed that ride was harsher. There's no leaks in the garage however.

I took it to the dealer and they said the rear struts were failing. I ordered the Strutmasters rear magneride kit and had them installed a couple weeks ago.

The ride improvement is night and day. Since I have the 22 inch wheels there was always some extra firmness while driving. But now there's no harshness.

I'm planning to hold off as long as possible on the front strut replacements.

But I can attest that getting the rears replaced has been quite noticeable and the ride has definitely improved.

 

[mrkev]

My 2020 will be 5 years old in August. Some time after Christmas I noticed that ride was harsher. There's no leaks in the garage however.

I took it to the dealer and they said the rear struts were failing. I ordered the Strutmasters rear magneride kit and had them installed a couple weeks ago.

The ride improvement is night and day. Since I have the 22 inch wheels there was always some extra firmness while driving. But now there's no harshness.

I'm planning to hold off as long as possible on the front strut replacements.

But I can attest that getting the rears replaced has been quite noticeable and the ride has definitely improved.

Thanks for the input. I havent really heard anything bad about strutmasters. I dont have any reference on how the OEM feels since I purchased this car with 140k miles and replaced the fronts because the passenger side only was leaking. The rears are squeaking over speed bumps, but the rears ride just fine now. will eventually need to do the rears. I may go with strutmasters since you are saying they are as good as they came from the factory.

actually the Arnotts seem OK. I just dont like the spring that came with it. Going over a hump on the road at 30-40, the suspension does become fully extended. I think it should float over humps.

How does your gmc feel going over humps? Do you ever get the sense that the suspension became fully unloaded (ie fully extended)?

 

[Carfan]

My 2020 Suburban Premier (with MRC) never floated over bumps and road imperfections. But instead, from the first day I noticed that it absorbed them really well.

I was driving a 12 year old X5 (which we now keep at our vacation home). The BMW has always had more of a European sports feel and our Suburban matches that.

One friend has a 2021 Range Rover and it definitely floats. There's not a lot of movement -- but there is also almost no sensation of the road.

You feel the road with our Suburban, it just feels solid and planted.

 

[mrkev]

Thanks for the feedback. This car definitely handles better than it should for it's size. My thinking is that the Arnott springs must be stiffer, since it offers an almost 2 inch lift for the fronts (I just measured today again) I just remember the first time I drove it with the OEM springs and blown shocks, my wife was passenger was able to put on makeup pretty easily. After the arnotts, it's like riding in my 2000 BMW M5. I know, the makeup test can be subjective ha. I have a spring compressor, so Ill take it out and swap the arnott springs with stock ones. just a few hours of work to satisfy my curiosity. I wonder if there's a more scientific way to measure the ride quality before and after the install.

 

[mrkev]

Major update:
I could not take it anymore and installed the stock springs back in. The Arnott springs were significantly harder to compress. The coils were 50 % physically fatter than the OEM springs. My regular clamp compressor could not hook properly due to the coils being so fat.
i purchased another HD strut compressor. Even with the Heavy Duty strut compressor, I needed an additional spring compressor on the other side to properly compress this spring. So I ended up using 2 spring compressors to remoe this spring. I used the old top strut mount hardware as the Arnott hardware looked different. had to cut the magneride wires to remove the top mount. Soldered back on.
Conclusion:
The ride quality is soooooooooo much better on the OEM springs. I am still using the Arnott shcoks, but now with OEM springs. I no longer bounce around when I hit bumps on the road. Going over speed bumps and humps in the road no longer fully extend my suspension.

Ride on OE springs is supple
Ride on Arnott springs bouncy and stiff

I can't recommend the Arnott setup anymore. Even if the shocks may be OK, the springs killed the setup. So if the only choice is to get the magneride shocks, may as well get Genuine ACD. the Genuine ones are currently cheaper than the Arnott options for just the shock.

Also, the driver side shock alraedy has fluid on the shaft. only drove the car for around 2000 miles. I noticed this when I removed the springs. it could be the oil on the shaft is from assembly? but im not hopeful. if the leak gets worse, I will absolutely be getting genuine GM part, and not Arnott.

I currently use an Arnott compressor on the benze. been workling great. but I dont think their specialty is springs. What sold me on buying the Arnotts was not the price (its only slightly cheaper than getting Genuine ACD shocks, but def less labor)but I read on one of the forums that Arnott used Eibach springs. this is NOT the case. They may use on some other products but mine were not Eibach.

I hope this helps someone make the right choice. I know I debated back and forth between all the options for magneride replacement.

 

[mrkev]

Also, I measured my ride height before and after
with Arnott springs 6 inches from tire to fender center
with OE springs 5.5 inches from tire to fender center

 

[mrkev]

left one is Arnott springs, right one is genuine GM springs.
other pic is the spring compressor setup i used to remove the springs

 

[ReaperHWK]

Good info. I just replaced all 4 shocks in my 2015 Tahoe LTZ with the OEM magneride. Rides like a dream.

I really think that spending the extra coin and getting the OEM is the right call. I never seen anyone complain after buying all new OEM shocks. Also zero squeaks. It did squeak with the old shocks since they were blown out and leaking.

 

[mrkev]

Long term update:

Truck rides great with the ARnott shocks and and OEM springs with OEM top. the driver side strut is seeping a little fluid on the shock body. not dripping, but There's a light coating of shock oil on the shaft and body of the Driver side ARnott.
installed ACD rear shocks and the ride is even better. have an additinal 1000 miles on the new chocks and very happy with it. the new rear shocks ride about the same, but much quieter. all the squeeking has disappeared from the rear after i replaced the leaky ones. and because it's so quiet over the bumps, it feels more smooth. hope this helps.

 

[17_EmeraldDenali]

Great info here. I've gone back and forth about what setup I'd like to go with. Been looking at the Arnott setup for a long time but after seeing how much beefier the springs are compared to stock I likely won't go with them. I can see why the ride would be so harsh.

Has anyone tried Magdelete.com strut assembly with the Bilstein 4600? I want to retain my air ride for the rear so I'll be ordering either OEM or Arnott.

 

[BMPNUGLS]

I replaced the struts and rear shocks with passive Arnott’s all the way around a year and a half ago (37K miles on them now) and they are holding up great and truck rides better than it ever did new!

The front Arnott struts do have larger springs than OEM…especially on the XL version from what I’ve been told - which did raise my front to pretty much ‘level’ bs the originals that had locked up by the time I replaced them. However, after about ~5K miles they settled down a little bit and did ride a bit better. I’ve also heard that if you use the ‘non XL’ strut up front it won’t raise it as much and will have a softer ride - not sure if that’s true or not but might be worth a shot if anyone is looking at options.

 

[mrkev]

I replaced the struts and rear shocks with passive Arnott’s all the way around a year and a half ago (37K miles on them now) and they are holding up great and truck rides better than it ever did new!

The front Arnott struts do have larger springs than OEM…especially on the XL version from what I’ve been told - which did raise my front to pretty much ‘level’ bs the originals that had locked up by the time I replaced them. However, after about ~5K miles they settled down a little bit and did ride a bit better. I’ve also heard that if you use the ‘non XL’ strut up front it won’t raise it as much and will have a softer ride - not sure if that’s true or not but might be worth a shot if anyone is looking at options.

I drove mine for a bit, but it never settled down. It was so bad it felt like it would bounce and catch air over speed bumps. I recommend getting just the shocks and keeping the OEM springs if you want a plush ride. Did the passive arnott come with air as well? and how did you bypass the mangeride wire?