Does My Vehicle Have Electronic or Air Suspension? How to Check Before Ordering

One of the most common — and most frustrating — ordering mistakes we see is customers purchasing standard shocks or struts for a vehicle that has electronic or air suspension. Standard shocks will not work on these vehicles, and the result is a return, restocking fees, and wasted time. Here's how to check what your vehicle has before you order.

Why This Matters

Vehicles with electronic or air suspension use specialized dampers, air springs, or electronically controlled valving that communicates with the vehicle's computer. If you install a standard shock on a vehicle equipped with one of these systems, you may experience:

• Dashboard warning lights and error codes
• Incorrect ride height (vehicle sits too high or too low)
• Loss of adjustable ride quality features
• Potential damage to other suspension components

The replacement parts for these systems are different — and often more expensive — than standard shocks and struts. Knowing what you have upfront is the key to getting the right parts the first time.

Common Electronic and Air Suspension Systems

Here are some of the most common factory electronic and air suspension systems, organized by manufacturer:

Manufacturer	System Name	Common Vehicles
GM / Chevrolet	Autoride, MagneRide, Air Ride	Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon, Escalade, Silverado/Sierra (select trims)
Ford	CCD (Continuously Controlled Damping)	F-150 (select trims), Expedition, Navigator
Ram / Dodge	Auto-Level Rear Air Suspension, Active-Level Four-Corner Air Suspension	Ram 1500 (select trims), Durango, Grand Cherokee
Toyota	AVS (Adaptive Variable Suspension), KDSS	Tundra TRD Pro, Land Cruiser, 4Runner (select trims), Sequoia
Jeep	Quadra-Lift Air Suspension	Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer

Important: These systems are typically found on higher trim levels, not base models. Two vehicles of the same year, make, and model can have completely different suspension systems depending on the trim and options package.

How to Check What Suspension Your Vehicle Has

Here are four reliable ways to determine whether your vehicle has electronic or air suspension:

1. Look Under the Vehicle

The most definitive check is a visual inspection:

• Air springs look like inflated rubber bladders or bags — very different from traditional coil or leaf springs. You'll often see them at the rear axle on trucks and SUVs.
• Electronic shocks will have a wire harness and electrical connector plugged into the top of the shock absorber. Standard shocks do not have any wiring.
• Look for an air compressor — usually mounted near the spare tire, under the vehicle, or in the trunk area. If your vehicle has an air compressor, it has air suspension.

2. Check Your Dashboard and Controls

• Look for a ride height adjustment button or switch — many air suspension systems allow you to raise or lower the vehicle
• Look for drive mode or suspension mode selectors (Comfort, Sport, Off-Road, etc.) — these often indicate electronically adjustable dampers
• If you've ever seen a "Service Suspension System" or "Suspension Fault" warning light, your vehicle has electronic suspension

3. Check Your RPO Codes or Build Sheet

Your vehicle's RPO (Regular Production Option) codes list every factory-installed option. For GM vehicles, you can find these on a sticker in the glove box. Key codes to look for:

• Z55 — Autoride electronic suspension (GM)
• MX0 — MagneRide suspension (GM)
• AHC — Air ride suspension

For other manufacturers, check your window sticker (if you still have it), your owner's manual, or enter your VIN on the manufacturer's website to pull up your build sheet.

4. Contact Us with Your VIN

If you're not sure, the simplest solution is to contact our team with your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). We can decode your VIN to determine exactly what suspension system your vehicle has and recommend the correct replacement parts.

What If I Have Electronic or Air Suspension?

If your vehicle does have electronic or air suspension, you have two main options:

1. Replace with OE-equivalent electronic components — This keeps your factory system working as designed. Brands like Bilstein, KYB, and Monroe offer electronic-compatible replacement shocks for many applications.
2. Convert to standard suspension — Conversion kits from companies like Arnott replace air springs with conventional coil springs and standard shocks. This eliminates the electronic system entirely, which can be a cost-effective solution for older vehicles where air suspension components have failed.

The Bottom Line

Before ordering shocks or struts, take two minutes to check whether your vehicle has electronic or air suspension. Look for wiring on the shocks, air bags instead of springs, or ride height controls on the dashboard. Getting this right upfront means you'll have the correct parts the first time — no returns, no delays, and no frustration.

Not sure what you have? Send us your VIN and we'll confirm your suspension type and recommend the right parts for your vehicle.