How to lift one corner without damaging Airmatic
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 103
Likes: 10
From: Canada
2012 ML350 Gas
How to lift one corner without damaging Airmatic
I need to switch out the wheels for a Summer set in a month or so.
However I am reading posts about people damaging their airmatic suspension by doing so.
I am getting conflicting messages with some saying to set airmatic to max height prior to lifting, when lowering jack don’t lower completely without starting vehicle for 2 mins and then lower completely and remove jack, Lower vehicle very slowly not too fast and to leave door and hood open while doing the job so the car doesn’t compensate on the other sides.
Anyone here got any tips?
However I am reading posts about people damaging their airmatic suspension by doing so.
I am getting conflicting messages with some saying to set airmatic to max height prior to lifting, when lowering jack don’t lower completely without starting vehicle for 2 mins and then lower completely and remove jack, Lower vehicle very slowly not too fast and to leave door and hood open while doing the job so the car doesn’t compensate on the other sides.
Anyone here got any tips?
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You do not need to do anything. I've done countless lifts of one corner at a time. There will be no damage. Once car sinks all the way down (take a picture to remind yourself how good it looked fully lowered), just start the car (but do not drive it) and within a couple of minutes it will level itself to the default mode.
Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 207
Likes: 30
From: Ontario
ML350
You do not need to do anything. I've done countless lifts of one corner at a time. There will be no damage. Once car sinks all the way down (take a picture to remind yourself how good it looked fully lowered), just start the car (but do not drive it) and within a couple of minutes it will level itself to the default mode.
first time i hear of potential issues with airmatic due to jacking the vehicle up. I've been lifting to change out tires without following any special process and no issues so far.
Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 97
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From: Canada
2014 ML550 AMG package
I remember some older Lincoln’s and Navigators could have suspension damage if you didn’t “turn off” the air suspension before jacking it up. But I’ve never heard of that with Airmatic. I jack my ML up all the time and it’s fine.
Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 207
Likes: 30
From: Ontario
ML350
I've found it best to leave the car off/parked for a bit, then just jack it up normally and swap the tires. Why i say off or parked for a bit before starting the swap, I've noticed if i recently pulled into the driveway to swap the tires, sometimes as im jacking the car or as it is up and im swapping the tires, the airmatic will lower the car a bit while it is parked. I think after turning everything off the airmatic at some point will release a bit to let the car "sit" lower while parked. It scared me the first time it happened because i thought something went wrong.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 103
Likes: 10
From: Canada
2012 ML350 Gas
I noticed that the airmatic adjusts after a minute or so of sitting. I think it happens when I keep opening and closing the door.
Anyone know exactly what triggers this? I don’t want the suspension to adjust while one tire is in the air and i need to open/close the door.
Anyone know exactly what triggers this? I don’t want the suspension to adjust while one tire is in the air and i need to open/close the door.
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Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 97
Likes: 18
From: Canada
2014 ML550 AMG package
You can pull out the fuse for the airmatic. Im lazy and I just leave the drivers door open so it won’t adjust. Maybe there’s another way but I also noticed it auto adjusts the height every time I open and close the drivers door. You can also set the alarm and lock the doors, and that way it shouldn’t adjust until you open and close a door again.
Last edited by Doubleredrolex; Mar 1, 2022 at 02:23 AM.
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I need to switch out the wheels for a Summer set in a month or so.
However I am reading posts about people damaging their airmatic suspension by doing so.
I am getting conflicting messages with some saying to set airmatic to max height prior to lifting, when lowering jack don’t lower completely without starting vehicle for 2 mins and then lower completely and remove jack, Lower vehicle very slowly not too fast and to leave door and hood open while doing the job so the car doesn’t compensate on the other sides.
Anyone here got any tips?
However I am reading posts about people damaging their airmatic suspension by doing so.
I am getting conflicting messages with some saying to set airmatic to max height prior to lifting, when lowering jack don’t lower completely without starting vehicle for 2 mins and then lower completely and remove jack, Lower vehicle very slowly not too fast and to leave door and hood open while doing the job so the car doesn’t compensate on the other sides.
Anyone here got any tips?
Last edited by shotgun_banjo; Mar 13, 2022 at 03:47 AM.
