The Jeep Cherokee is as iconic as it gets for an American SUV. Rugged and capable, it has long been a favorite of drivers who love putting their vehicles to the test. However, Jeep Cherokee air suspension issues are a common issue for vehicles equipped with an air ride. Many owners have seen the “Service Air Suspension” light on their dash panel come on, leading them to look for answers.
Our experts created this guide to help explain the causes of these issues and how to spot them. We also cover ways to address your Cherokee air suspension issues, and which option may be the best for you.
Jeep Cherokee Air Suspension: How It Works
Air suspensions work by using pressurized gas or air to inflate “air springs.” Commonly referred to as air bags, they do the work of suspending the car off of its wheels and the ground. Let’s examine the main components, how they work, and how they can fail.
Jeep Cherokee Ride Height Sensors
The suspension uses mechanical ride height sensors mounted at each wheel to determine how far the body of the vehicle is from the road surface. These sensors take constant readings, which your Cherokee’s suspension system uses to make adjustments.
Suspension Control Module
Readings from the ride height sensors get sent to a specialized computer in your Jeep Cherokee called a suspension control module, or an electronic control unit. This computer determines whether each corner of the vehicle needs to be raised or lowered. Once it does, it tells the rest of the system what to do.
Jeep Cherokee Air Suspension Compressor
The suspension system has a specialized air compressor that generates the pressurized air used to inflate the springs. It also pushes that air into other parts of the system. This air compressor is a common site of problems with the Jeep Cherokee air suspension, as it tends to wear out over time like most mechanical components with moving parts.
Air Delivery Lines
Once air from the compressor reaches the manifold, it is distributed through flexible tubing to get to the air springs. These air delivery lines can be the source of leaks, either due to worn out seals and gaskets or from punctures and tears.
Jeep Cherokee Air Springs
The air springs — also known as air struts — are the part of the suspension system that supports the weight of the vehicle and provide adjustability. They are made from inflatable rubber air bags mounted atop steel struts. These air springs can raise or lower the height of your Jeep Cherokee with the amount of air inside the air bags.
Many Points of Failure
This process happens thousands of times every time you drive your Cherokee. If you were counting, that’s five major components involved in just one process. This process includes mechanical, electronic, and pneumatic elements.
In other words, it’s highly complex. Air suspensions also rely on expensive computer chips and parts that move to function. All of these components are individually very expensive. They are also rather difficult to repair or install.
Ignoring these issues could put you and your vehicle at risk. In a Reddit thread about Jeep Cherokee air suspension issues, one user highlighted the potential danger saying, “It could be anything related to the air suspension from major to minor issue. This may also affect collision and adaptive cruise systems.”
Endless Jeep Cherokee Air Suspension Issues
Another issue with air suspensions is that once you do fix something, you’re likely to be right back at the mechanic in the near future. The reason for this is that while the wear and tear on your suspension is never 100% even, the parts are all made to the same quality.
That means that one failing air bag should tell you that more or on the way.In addition, due to the nature of how they work, many components need to be made of flexible and less robust materials. This leaves them open to breaking or wearing out very easily.
Jeep Cherokee Air Suspension Repair Cost
Fixing the air ride in your Jeep can be expensive. According to RepairPal, the average cost to replace one air spring in a Jeep Cherokee is just over $600. And, once one fails, the others are likely soon to follow. That means you’ll eventually end up having to spend well over $2,000 to fully fix your air spring issues. Then, you’ve also got other components like the compressor, control unit, and ride height sensors to worry about.
Jeep Cherokee Air Suspension Conversion Kit
You do have another option for fixing your air suspension problems — and one that’s cheaper at that. The Strutmasters Jeep Cherokee air suspension conversion kit enables you to replace your failing air ride with a brand new coilover suspension for around the same cost as replacing a single air strut.
This conversion kit uses robust coil springs mounted on sturdy steel struts to provide the resistance and damping power for your Cherokee. With no moving parts or flimsy materials that wear out easily, you get a suspension you can depend on for years to come.
Jeep Cherokee Suspension Kit From Strutmasters: The Best Fix
This kit is the simple, durable suspension solution your Jeep Cherokee deserves. Made of high quality materials and manufactured right here in the USA, Strutmasters suspension conversion kits are designed to provide an ideal ride for many, many miles. They are even designed to be easy to install yourself, saving you tons in labor costs, too.
Get your Jeep Cherokee back on the road (or off it) without breaking the bank. Order your suspension conversion kit on our site or call our hotline to talk to one of our Suspension Experts for guidance or information. We can also help you find a Strutmasters-certified installer near you through our preferred shop network.
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