Four-Corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension, better ride????

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

ycats

TYF Newbie
Joined
Oct 14, 2013
Posts
14
Reaction score
9
Will the air ride have a better ride over the MRC? What should we expect?

And also the "ACTIVE RESPONSE 4WD", will that be any better than the Auto 4WD?
 

olyelr

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Posts
1,897
Reaction score
973
Location
Elk Rapids, MI
Will the air ride have a better ride over the MRC? What should we expect?

And also the "ACTIVE RESPONSE 4WD", will that be any better than the Auto 4WD?


Nobody will know until they can drive them around for a bit. However, it will really be personal preference... there will be mixed reviews for both systems, guaranteed. Ram half ton trucks have been offering full air suspension for years, as well as the typical coils/coilover combo option too. Some people love one and hate the other, and vice-versa.
 

sickk23

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2012
Posts
755
Reaction score
269
Location
New Mexico
Ram half ton trucks have been offering full air suspension for years, as well as the typical coils/coilover combo option too. Some people love one and hate the other, and vice-versa.
Eh not quite. The Ram and Grand Cherokee both have air suspensions but they aren't adaptive. This new option is, somewhat similar to Volvo and Land Rover. Should be interesting. Regular MRC is still available as well but I'm curious if it will still feel like a Mexican hay wagon like the current one.
 

olyelr

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Posts
1,897
Reaction score
973
Location
Elk Rapids, MI
Eh not quite. The Ram and Grand Cherokee both have air suspensions but they aren't adaptive. This new option is, somewhat similar to Volvo and Land Rover. Should be interesting. Regular MRC is still available as well but I'm curious if it will still feel like a Mexican hay wagon like the current one.


Not adaptive?
 

olyelr

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Posts
1,897
Reaction score
973
Location
Elk Rapids, MI
Yeah the Ram and GC is an air bladder with a traditional shock inside of it. The new air suspension on these will have a MRC shock in it. Similar to luxury brands.


Oh gotchya. Too bad they went that route...maybe they have figured it out since the last model MRC, because that certainly was a joke of a system.
 

Flydex

TYF Newbie
Joined
Aug 27, 2019
Posts
16
Reaction score
29
Eh not quite. The Ram and Grand Cherokee both have air suspensions but they aren't adaptive. This new option is, somewhat similar to Volvo and Land Rover. Should be interesting. Regular MRC is still available as well but I'm curious if it will still feel like a Mexican hay wagon like the current one.

I’ve heard the MRC system quite to accurately described. I’ve been soul searching lately trying to figure out why it’s so rough on some road types and speeds and just glides along some of the roughest freeway stretches at freeway speeds.
 

sickk23

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2012
Posts
755
Reaction score
269
Location
New Mexico
Oh gotchya. Too bad they went that route...maybe they have figured it out since the last model MRC, because that certainly was a joke of a system.
This new gen has a new "improved" gen of MRC so hopefully they got it more dialed in. The Premier has MRC, the High Country has air+MRC. Denali has MRC and optional air+MRC is my understanding. Yeah I HATE the way our 18 burb Premier rides. Everyone that gets in it comments on how ****** it rides.

I’ve heard the MRC system quite to accurately described. I’ve been soul searching lately trying to figure out why it’s so rough on some road types and speeds and just glides along some of the roughest freeway stretches at freeway speeds.
You can get yours to glide along at all? Mine makes a smooth surface feel jittery and a rough surface completely jarring.

There's a couple reviews online where GM had reviewers out to Michigan and picked them up in Platinum Expeditions and took them over a course. Then again in a High Country Tahoe. Everyone is saying the tahoe is riding better and more quiet and that's a good first sign if you're wanting the MRC+air.. its pretty well known the Fords have a better ride over the 2015+ GMs. Maybe GM has found away to get their crown back. Hopefully.
 

Flydex

TYF Newbie
Joined
Aug 27, 2019
Posts
16
Reaction score
29
This new gen has a new "improved" gen of MRC so hopefully they got it more dialed in. The Premier has MRC, the High Country has air+MRC. Denali has MRC and optional air+MRC is my understanding. Yeah I HATE the way our 18 burb Premier rides. Everyone that gets in it comments on how ****** it rides.

You can get yours to glide along at all? Mine makes a smooth surface feel jittery and a rough surface completely jarring.

There's a couple reviews online where GM had reviewers out to Michigan and picked them up in Platinum Expeditions and took them over a course. Then again in a High Country Tahoe. Everyone is saying the tahoe is riding better and more quiet and that's a good first sign if you're wanting the MRC+air.. its pretty well known the Fords have a better ride over the 2015+ GMs. Maybe GM has found away to get their crown back. Hopefully.

That sounds promising! I’ll go look those reviews up and read up on it. As far as how mike rides? There is no rhyme or reason to when it’s smooth or not. I hate it 50% of the time on most roads, other times it just floats over. I will say that freeway speeds, on MI concrete roads will suck in any car. If I can get onto asphalt, it is better. It seems to struggle with a certain type of bump too. It hits ******* the seams between the concrete sections. I clench when I see one coming.
 

AllenC

TYF Newbie
Joined
Oct 19, 2020
Posts
20
Reaction score
3
Are there any updates on the air suspension ride quality?? I have been reading a few reviews online where they seem to be trashing it but then seemingly blaming it on the 22" wheels. If that is the case, what can one do? The 22" wheels already look almost too small as it is. I can't imagine what 20" wheels would look like but perhaps it would be worth it if the ride quality is really that much better.
 

Campingfamco

Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2016
Posts
79
Reaction score
56
So I can’t comment on MRC for the Yukons/Tahoes, but I can say the system is absolutely amazing in the Corvette! My C7 in tour mode would float and make you feel like you were on butter. In Track mode, you could feel every bump and it was jarring. I’m guessing the same technology is in these trucks. Try switching between the different driving modes to see if you can tell a difference. With the air suspension I’m curious to see how it changes things, but you should be able to tell a difference between the different modes.
 

PG01

Elite Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2016
Posts
15,927
Reaction score
21,853
Location
Up here to the right
So I can’t comment on MRC for the Yukons/Tahoes, but I can say the system is absolutely amazing in the Corvette! My C7 in tour mode would float and make you feel like you were on butter. In Track mode, you could feel every bump and it was jarring. I’m guessing the same technology is in these trucks. Try switching between the different driving modes to see if you can tell a difference. With the air suspension I’m curious to see how it changes things, but you should be able to tell a difference between the different modes.
Not sure about the 21+ but on the previous gen only the Cadillac has the option to ‘switch’ ride types..
 

Goldenbear03

Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2020
Posts
74
Reaction score
72
I bought a 2021 Yukon AT4 on Monday and really like the ride quality of the air ride and magnetic ride control. I sense a difference (whether it is there or not may be in my head) when I move from normal ground clearance to maximum (2wd) ground clearance as it seems a little stiffer up high. Nonetheless, the ride is fantastic and "pillowy." I don't know how else to describe it. It floats down the road and even the big bumps I'm used to hitting on my commute from home are almost nonexistent.

If you're asking, "is it worth it?," I would tell you that I have not one regret about spending the extra money for this ride.
 

Stbentoak

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
Posts
2,283
Reaction score
2,772
At maximum height it has to be stiffer because it doesn't have much more travel to go "UP". If it wasn't it would hit the upper stops on a good bump and really jar you...
 

AllenC

TYF Newbie
Joined
Oct 19, 2020
Posts
20
Reaction score
3
I bought a 2021 Yukon AT4 on Monday and really like the ride quality of the air ride and magnetic ride control. I sense a difference (whether it is there or not may be in my head) when I move from normal ground clearance to maximum (2wd) ground clearance as it seems a little stiffer up high. Nonetheless, the ride is fantastic and "pillowy." I don't know how else to describe it. It floats down the road and even the big bumps I'm used to hitting on my commute from home are almost nonexistent.

If you're asking, "is it worth it?," I would tell you that I have not one regret about spending the extra money for this ride.
Thank you! I appreciate you sharing with me your perception of the air suspension.
 

Toasty

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2020
Posts
260
Reaction score
133
At maximum height it has to be stiffer because it doesn't have much more travel to go "UP". If it wasn't it would hit the upper stops on a good bump and really jar you...

The "max" he's referring to in 2wd is not the max overall height possible, which is only in 4Lo (2iches up vs 1)
 

B520044

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2020
Posts
329
Reaction score
236
I don't have the air suspension, just stock. I'm pretty disappointed with the ride quality. They had to perform road force balancing during first week of ownership. However, I still feel a slight shake.

Below is a video of water bottle shaking while traveling down a smooth stretch of interstate at 65 mph. You can see that my wallet even falls back due to the vibration. Am I being to **** with this? It's not terrible and I know a water bottle probably isn't the best testing tool. LOL

Just wondering how others perceive this, as I've complained about almost everything so far and am little biased now.

Video:
 

tabraha

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2020
Posts
86
Reaction score
136
Location
S.C.
I have the air ride on my AT4 and am very pleased. It rides as smooth as my MRC '15 Suburban on the road, and as smooth at medium speeds as my Land Cruiser on gravel roads and smoother than the Cruiser at low speeds. I have a couple really crappy RR crossings on my commute and it is by far the smoothest vehicle I have at soaking up those hits.

Probably my only downside is it can catch you off guard when you get out or approach it with the engine off when it hisses to level itself out. :confused:
 

Forum statistics

Threads
138,110
Posts
1,999,299
Members
103,037
Latest member
Durobans

Latest posts

Back
Top