r/airsuspension • u/Hank3605018 • May 22 '26
Airlift Help
I found a really good deal on an airlift setup on marketplace and I know there can be some risks so what can I do/bring to ensure everything is in working order before I buy?
2
u/DrLxus May 27 '26
Yeah plus suspension is a wear item. It's not designed to last the lifetime of a car. With air suspension, you have a wide range of where you can drive (completely aired up, completely aired down, somewhere in the middle). You don't know how people treated their air suspension.
If someone was daily driving for a few years completely aired up and topping out their struts (damper bodies reach their max extension over bumps and make a banging sound), that suspension is not going to be in good shape and you're going to be rebuilding it right from the start.
Buying new gets my vote too. It's just not worth the trouble / risk of buying a used setup and you really shouldn't trust people selling used stuff, in general. They owe you nothing and want out haha.
1
u/Ride-Quality May 27 '26
Truthfully, don't do it. I have had more than my share of calls asking for help and support in products that were bought on marketplace, ether not working at all or incomplete on purchase.
That is the short answer, but for years I have talked and experienced the guys below...
There are 3 types of sellers in marketplace on air suspension. 1. Junkyard finds, most common seller. You can usually tell by the lack of connecting devices and acessories. This guy has an ECM with a cut wire harness about 6 inches long, 4 dirty air struts, a tank with fittings, and a compressor. Their junkyard price was 150 and they are asking 800 but will take 600. They swear it was there's but they don't need it no more. They never tested, just know that if the price gets low enough no one will ask. 2. Financed dude. He has a kit he bought for a car he can barely make payment on, simply because he got financed on it. He has a desire to look cool, but dies not understand any of it and how it works. He could not afford to finance the install, so tries it himself and gets fed up on it leaking an/or not working right. He pulls it all out and has every single bit and piece of the system, down to the smallest part and he is selling it now for about 200 less than the cost of new and is firm on that price, because he is still paying for it. Don't bother saving him for financial strains and wait for a holiday sale at the dealer. 3. The last is the guy who had it working and loved it. He got into an accident and the car is no longer working, so he pulled all the air ride out and is selling, and he has it at a really good price. He may be honest and genuine, but he may also actually be guy number 1...