HELP! I've been perusing the forums, planning on ordering a 2021 Denali soon. I'm torn between waiting for the adaptive air ride suspension (they've stopped production on anything with the air ride suspension option and are currently planning on resuming in April, per the sales manager) or just ordering it without. We don't need it for trailering but our roads are terrible (huge pot holes etc). It will mainly be for shuttling my kids around. Has anyone driven both and felt like there was a perceivable difference between the two? Worth the wait and extra cost? Thanks!!!!
2021 Denali air suspension or no?
- Thread starter sheltn
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TrueAt1stLight
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Here is a cut and paste from my original thread about ordering a 2021 Denali:
“Regarding the Adaptive air ride suspension, I test drove one with and one without back to back. A few findings:
When I first drove the Denali without adaptive air suspension I was concerned that it rode every bit as I figured a large SUV would: a bit soft, prone to diving in the curves and overall unrefined compared to my experience driving German SUV’s over the past decade. I just figured that’s what I had to come to grips with in order to have the size and space of the Yukon. Then I drove the adaptive air ride-equipped model and it was literally night and day to me. It rode so much more composed and had a brawny athletic feel to it while braking and taking turns. It literally rode like a big, heavy, solid German SUV and I was blown away by the ride quality.
Regarding ride "feel," I would not say the ride is “softer” with the adaptive air suspension- rather more planted, responsive and athletic. Bumps and jarring pavement imperfections, as well as aggressive steering inputs and abrupt braking didn’t cause it to be unsettled in the least.”
“Regarding the Adaptive air ride suspension, I test drove one with and one without back to back. A few findings:
When I first drove the Denali without adaptive air suspension I was concerned that it rode every bit as I figured a large SUV would: a bit soft, prone to diving in the curves and overall unrefined compared to my experience driving German SUV’s over the past decade. I just figured that’s what I had to come to grips with in order to have the size and space of the Yukon. Then I drove the adaptive air ride-equipped model and it was literally night and day to me. It rode so much more composed and had a brawny athletic feel to it while braking and taking turns. It literally rode like a big, heavy, solid German SUV and I was blown away by the ride quality.
Regarding ride "feel," I would not say the ride is “softer” with the adaptive air suspension- rather more planted, responsive and athletic. Bumps and jarring pavement imperfections, as well as aggressive steering inputs and abrupt braking didn’t cause it to be unsettled in the least.”
Goldenbear03
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You're not going to like waiting, but I feel that air ride is the only way to go. It's awesome!
Why did they stop production on anything with Air Ride???
TrueAt1stLight
Full Access Member
Micro chip shortage.
Yep, as TrueAt1stLight said, they have a shortage of the microchips used for that and, per the sales manager and confirmed by our friend at GM, they are having to put what little supply they have toward the trucks.
I really don't want to wait but I think we are going to put in the order including it. Our dealership said that they don't require a deposit and we can always change the order or put in a different order, if it hasn't been picked up due to the shortage and we get tired of waiting. They also said they will call if they have something come in that's close to our specifications while waiting on our order.
TrueAt1stLight
Full Access Member
The adaptive suspension was a big deal to me. That, coupled with the $456 Max tow package option (so cheap for extra capability) would have driven me crazy could I not have ordered it as such (the tow package, as you may know, is also affected by the chip shortage).
Love the air ride in my Denali. Currently in Fla with a rented base model 21 Tahoe and I can really tell the difference. Well worth the wait, especially if anyone has any physical challenges stepping up. The extra 2 inches lower really makes a difference.
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Oh really? What kind of issues?
RugbyRef
Member
We sold our '17 Land Rover Discovery HSE with air leveling, because we needed something larger. Test drove almost every late model SUV we could find that had an active air ride suspension and settled on our '21 Yukon Denali. The ride difference is remarkable. We have a 5th wheel RV and a car hauler trailer (normally towed by my Ram 3500). I hooked the car hauler up to the Yukon (to test out the pull) and the SUV continued to provide a great, smooth ride.
The thread, above this one, from Justin is a good reference. However, the Service Manager at the dealership where we bought the Denali, is a teammate of mine on our rugby team, so I trust him. That being said - he told me that he has had only one 2021 Tahoe come in with the "Service Leveling System". His team of techs were baffled as well, because GM could not provide a solution other than to replace the DCM. They, too, tried the "remove the negative battery cable for 60 seconds" solution on the Tahoe. It would reset, but came back after a while. The DCM replacement fixed it...according to my buddy at the dealership.
Kinda long-winded reply for the OP, but all-in-all...I would not settle for any other iteration of the Yukon (or Tahoe). I love the air ride suspension on ours! Get it!
The thread, above this one, from Justin is a good reference. However, the Service Manager at the dealership where we bought the Denali, is a teammate of mine on our rugby team, so I trust him. That being said - he told me that he has had only one 2021 Tahoe come in with the "Service Leveling System". His team of techs were baffled as well, because GM could not provide a solution other than to replace the DCM. They, too, tried the "remove the negative battery cable for 60 seconds" solution on the Tahoe. It would reset, but came back after a while. The DCM replacement fixed it...according to my buddy at the dealership.
Kinda long-winded reply for the OP, but all-in-all...I would not settle for any other iteration of the Yukon (or Tahoe). I love the air ride suspension on ours! Get it!
Holy Roller
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To me, air ride is a no-brainer.
Yes, it will represent additional maintenance beyond traditional metal springs. But air suspension has been used on truck transport, city and inter-city buses, as well as passenger vehicles all the way back to the late 1950s.
My 1984 Pontiac 6000STE (owned from 1985 - 1987) had rear air, and required warranty repair on the compressor. I also had to replace one of the air shocks that corroded out.
My father’s 2001 Cadillac DeVille (owned from 2000 - 2013) had rear air and also had to replace corroded out shocks.
My 2008 Cadillac DTS (owned from 2008 - present) has rear air. But has required no service.
Metal springs also fail by breaking and sagging. But most people don’t notice or, if they do, don’t replace.
Both front metal springs broke on my 1988 Caprice (owned 1988 - 2001) as well as my father’s 1989 Caprice Classic Brougham LS (owned 1988 - 2001) and were replaced.
If you don’t order air on your Tahoe / Yukon / Escalade you will always question your decision and be tempted to trade-up.
If you do order it - and don’t like it - your only regret will be the extra dough you spent.
That is why it is a no-brainer.
Yes, it will represent additional maintenance beyond traditional metal springs. But air suspension has been used on truck transport, city and inter-city buses, as well as passenger vehicles all the way back to the late 1950s.
My 1984 Pontiac 6000STE (owned from 1985 - 1987) had rear air, and required warranty repair on the compressor. I also had to replace one of the air shocks that corroded out.
My father’s 2001 Cadillac DeVille (owned from 2000 - 2013) had rear air and also had to replace corroded out shocks.
My 2008 Cadillac DTS (owned from 2008 - present) has rear air. But has required no service.
Metal springs also fail by breaking and sagging. But most people don’t notice or, if they do, don’t replace.
Both front metal springs broke on my 1988 Caprice (owned 1988 - 2001) as well as my father’s 1989 Caprice Classic Brougham LS (owned 1988 - 2001) and were replaced.
If you don’t order air on your Tahoe / Yukon / Escalade you will always question your decision and be tempted to trade-up.
If you do order it - and don’t like it - your only regret will be the extra dough you spent.
That is why it is a no-brainer.
Dave Mathews
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He probably just can’t afford one.
Jerry Rabenaldt
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I had a '12 Avalanche LTZ with it and absolutely loved it. I know that was a much different vehicle but even then it was a night and day difference. Biggest plus for me was the auto-leveling feature.
Thanks for all the input! I went ahead and ordered it with that option. I'm hoping they fix the chip shortage soon, so it doesn't take 4-6 months! The only option I had to take off the order was the all weather floor mats. Apparently they aren't accepting orders for those right now. Seems easy enough to get Weathertec or Husky liners later if the GMC ones are still on backorder when the car is finally built.
RugbyRef
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Correct! Just received our WeatherTech mats a couple of days ago. Perfect fit!
Mike Diaferio
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Really - what kind of issues? I have the air ride and it is great. Also have been monitoring the GM websites and the forums and have not read any issues on it at all.
I'm not sure if "adaptive" air ride is the same as the "air suspension" that pumps up with the compressor. I have this on my 2014 Tahoe that I tow a 5600lb trailor with. After two years I had to replace the right rear air shock because it just stopped working. The part itself was over $800.00 CDN and then the labour was on top of that. A year later the left rear started leaking. I found a cheaper air shock on Amazon for about $200.00 and replaced it myself. This particular shock just wore out and the boot cracked and started leaking. I don't notice any difference in towing with the air shocks or with the fuse pulled to disable them. I don't think I would order air shocks on a new Tahoe. I think they are cheap and a waste of money. Just my experience.
