If you are constantly hunting for car parts online through Marketplace or other shopping sites like most car enthusiasts tend to do, you might come across a really good deal on an air suspension kit that fits your car from time to time. So the question stands, should you buy that used air suspension or is that a bad move? Here we will try to help you decide if the bargain is worth the potential risk of not buying new.
What to consider when buying used air ride
The best way to look at air suspension is that over time it can wear out just like any other maintenance item on your car. So there is a chance that the used air suspension that you are looking at could be at a later point in its life cycle, meaning that the pillowball bearing or nylon upper bushing (depending on the exact suspension you are looking at) could be worn already. You should replace these bushings or bearings before installing the used suspension kit on your car so that you don't immediately need to tear all of your suspension out again in the event that they feel sloppy.
Another potential downside to used air suspension is that depending on how old it is, you could be missing out on some of the more up to date tech that would come on a newer kit. For example, our in house air suspension “Super Low '' has features that will expand the longevity of your suspension such as a radial bearing instead of the pillowball bearing typical to older kits which would wear out much easier overtime. So a used kit could be a lower price but you might be missing out on some more modern features that could make your life on air easier.
The most important factor for used air suspension
The biggest thing that could make or break a used air suspension kit is how well the previous owner took care of it. If they weren’t super knowledgeable on setting up air suspension, they could have made some crucial mistakes that were actively decreasing the lifespan of the suspension, such as threading their strut as far down as possible and topping out while driving. This is something you wouldn’t really be able to tell when purchasing the suspension from them but it is a recipe for a blown damper in the future. So in summary, if they treated their suspension poorly you will have to suffer the consequences of that once you buy it for your vehicle.
So is used air suspension worth buying?
The overall idea we want to get across is that if you buy used air suspension, those parts are already going to last you a fraction of the time that a new air suspension kit would. When making your decision, take into consideration if the amount of money that you are saving is worth the shortened life span of the air suspension during your ownership. If you find that you would rather not deal with the hassle of an old kit, we recommend that you buy fresh air suspension which will last longer and comes with a warranty as a second layer of protection to the consumer if something goes wrong.
Check out the video below to learn more about the pros and cons of used air suspension!
If you have any questions about air suspension, let us know! Hit the chat button on the site to chat with us directly, shoot us an email at sales@bagriders.com, or give us a call at (844)-404-7344.
