Magnaride Replacement

[Flyboygt]

I know a majority of people hate the Magnaride but, my Tahoe is a soccer practice/grocery getter for the family. What are the suggestions for the replacement Magnaride/Air?

strutmasters has a kit for $1400 for all of it

rockauto (Arnott) $408/each

Gmparts?

 

Thanks

[K2xxSteve]

Checking in. Mine need replacing sometime soon also and wondering if they can be had for cheaper. They're "seeping" at the moment. 

 

Not sure what the forum consensus is on them, but to me they're AMAZING. Not gonna do a "delete" but was definitely "shocked" at the replacement cost. Had no idea they cost that much money.

 

 

[CarFan1]

Steve how many miles when the weeping started?  Did you end up getting the work done?  My Suburban just turned 4 years old and though I don't have any weeping I'm just wondering when I should start being concerned.

[Pacfanweb]

Wife's 16 has about 120k and the fronts are just gone.  Kids call it the "Bouncy house mobile" now.  

 

I have thought about doing a delete, but so many mixed reviews on the ride afterwards.  

[K2xxSteve]

On 12/2/2024 at 8:14 PM, CarFan1 said:

Steve how many miles when the weeping started?  Did you end up getting the work done?  My Suburban just turned 4 years old and though I don't have any weeping I'm just wondering when I should start being concerned.

 

Saw your message. Ended up trading the truck. 

 

Glad I dragged my feet for a year on the Magneride replacement, because by the time I was finally ready to suck it up and spend $5-6k on full Magneride replacement and airbags too late last year, the engine was letting go. Frozen/stuck lifter grinding out the cam and "tick of death". 97k miles. Master tech with 30+ years experience at my local indy shop took a look at it, and recommended I either trade since it was still under 100k miles and no check engine light yet, or get a replacement engine. Couldn't believe it. $10-15k in repairs needed on a truck with still under 100k miles? I was not expecting perfection from GM by any means, but holy moly.

 

Anyways, got $23k in trade for it, and picked up an off-lease low mileage CPO 2022 BMW X7 with tow package.  

[CarFan1]

Hopefully you'll do a review of the X7.  We still have an e70 X5 that we keep at our vacation house.  It just passed 70k and is still a pleasure to drive.  

 

Our 2020 Suburban Premier had been largely trouble free.  However it's in the shop now for strut and shock replacements.  Fortunately its covered by the extended warranty but I really wonder about a 4k repair (at once) on a vehicle that isn't even 5 years old will mean as the years and miles add up.

 

Funny thing I took it in because it was squeaking over highway imperfections.  Apparently that's a precursor to the struts failing.  My wife and I have been planning on going with the grandkids on a Route 66 trip next year for the Route 66 anniversary next year and we definitely will take our Suburban.  But I may have to consider letting her go once we get back.

 

I guess we won't see you much around here anymore.  But great to hear the other news  though!

[K2xxSteve]

Amen, brother! Found the ONE thing that matters in life.  PTL!

 

It's really a shame on my ill-fated Burban, because we just bought a near the beach property in Delaware hardly a month after I traded it. Didn't think it would happen, but finally found a place we loved and went for it. It really would have come in handy with its superb towing and hauling abilities getting stuff from MD to DE, but the X7 is a fantastic tow vehicle also. Lots of things I've been hauling wouldn't have fit in the Suburban anyways, so I've been renting U-Haul 5x8 trailers for next to nothing. The B58 will tow all day long in 7th gear, and you never know anything is there. I'd say it's as good or better a tow vehicle than the Burban, and I had max tow and 3.42 gearing. 

 

I considered a closeout Ford Expedition (the now previous model). Massive discounts $10-12k off MSRP without even negotiating. Regular Tahoe sized one and not the Max would have been fine for us now. Liked it but didn't love it, and new car prices have gotten ridiculous. The CPO X7 was the same price and not really all that much smaller inside, and drove a ton better obviously, so went in that direction and haven't looked back.   

 

I know BMW's well. This is our fourth. We had an E70 for six years also, a 2012 X5 35d which was fantastic. We traded that for the Suburban. Recently got my wife a CPO 2022 G05 X5 with a mere 4k miles on it, now my G07 X7, and still have the 2011 E93 335i that I bought new. There's a really good indy BMW shop within walking distance from me also, so it makes sense. Funny thing is the X7 has an air suspension system that's known for FIVE-figure repair bills, so this time I went for the platinum plan extended warranty.  I hope I don't need it.

 

Just to stay on topic, there's a lot more discussion about aftermarket suspension options including various Magneride deletes and other things you can do over at tahoeyukon forum dot com. I researched until I couldn't see straight, and came to the conclusion to just suck it up and do the full OEM Magneride replacement. Ride quality aspects are so nuanced and subjective that unless you can personally ride in a vehicle with the suspension setup you're considering, who the heck knows if you'll be satisfied or not? Very easy to blow tons of money on something you won't be satisfied with, and difficult to get straight answers even from the aftermarket companies. Just stick with OEM. I'd have done it, but then the stupid lifter issue on top of that and the master tech thinking things were too far gone and to just replace rather than repair, good grief.

 

Still bitter, but enjoying having a daily BMW again, and love the deal I got on it.   

 

   

[CarFan1]

Got the 'Burban back last night.  Dealer said that they were unable to reproduce the concerns I had.  Even though they initially said that the front struts were shot, the master tech says actually they aren't.  It seems that they had initially attempted to replace the front struts but once the master tech examined the install, he vetoed it even though the extended warranty covered it.  Supposedly they removed the parts.

 

The master tech said that he could see signs that the magna-ride could be in early stages of failing but nothing was occurring that would necessitate a warranty repair at present.  They did offer to do a "preemptive" repair for $2500 out of pocket.  I declined.

 

When I drove home there was no squeak and the ride seemed fine.  I'm planning on doing an hour drive with my wife this afternoon to the outlet mall to see how it drives.  I'm hoping to keep that trip under $2500.  

 

I plan to keep a watchful eye on the suspension.  My warranty expires in the fall of '26 so hopefully if its an issue before then it can be addressed under warranty.

I haven't had any other issues and as I said, after the Route 66 trip we'll have to figure out what to do.