A front strut on my 2016 Chevrolet Suburban LTZ developed a leak and all the fluid leaked out.

It has the Magneride system that uses the fluid with magnetic particles in it to adjust the damping up to 1000 times a second.

The strut list price is $955 EACH. Even at Rock Auto, it cost me almost $500 with shipping.

HHR parts don't seem as bad now.

Steve

 

Some people have to much time to be thinking about the magnetic fluid and the sensors to adjust dampening 1000 times a second. And GM charging that much! Yikes!

I wonder if the magnetic field deflects radar signals and toll collection sensors along the highway? I don’t know why a Tahoe would need that kind of suspension for a family vehicle seems like over kill!
Does the dash light up when all that stuff leaks out?
Does Bilstein or Rough Country or even KYB off alternate options? Or would that upset the computer?

 

Properly tuned magnetic shocks make a dramatic difference in ride and handling, changing to Bilstein or most other normal shocks will result in a worse ride under many or most conditions. Also, you might need a way to convince the computers it still has the original shocks or find an OS for a version of your vehicle that didn't come with fancy shocks but has everything else.

 

Just as I thought. Computers are not gonna like a KYB or Monroe set of struts and shocks.

 

Yep, when the fluid leaked out, the dash showed a message "SERVICE SUSPENSION SYSTEM" that showed up at every startup, You could remove the message with a button push but it came back every time you start the Suburban. Since only higher trim levels of the Suburban came with the magnetic struts (and magnetic rear shocks), I'm sure there is a standard-type strut and shock that fits from the lower models.

The problem is getting the message every time you start the car if the connector is not plugged into a magnetic strut/shock. You might be able to fool it by plugging a small coil (of the right value to mimic the shock) into the connector.

The Magneride system does work very well to provide a smooth ride and also good handling.


Steve

 

Hmmm not surprising. Have not heard of this technology but glad to know it will be there if I ever need it.
Like if bring a trailer goes out of business and there is no longer access to a classic mode of transportation I can decipher!
"Parts are parts..." the "salvage" (not junk) yard manager used to say. adding you don't have the wrong parts you have the wrong car!
Almost bought a well cared for 2010 Audi A8 high mileage all stock, until I priced the set of new struts. Good to have lots of tech that works nice until it don't.

Does my gas furnace need a original equipment silicon nitride coated flat hot surface ignitor when I could jerry-rig a universal one at less cost?
I choose to stay with the manufacturer's designed replacement.

You want to play youz got to pay sometime$ more than expected.