When it comes to a soft and comfortable ride, few do it better than Cadillac. This has long been a selling point for GM's luxury nameplate, and thanks to its adaptive air suspension, the XTS can tame the roughest of city streets. Even though it is well designed, the suspension is designed to absorb impacts, and over time components will inevitably wear out and need to be replaced. This is especially true for air suspensions, which are more complex than traditional coil spring and shock setups. Repairing them can get expensive, with repair bills easily topping ,000.
How Can I Tell if the Air Suspension is Failing on my XTS?
There are several ways to tell if something is wrong with your air suspension. An obvious sign is if the rear or one side sits low to the ground. This often points to a leaking or damaged air spring. Another test can be done when braking, and if the nose dives toward the ground more than normal, the front struts are probably worn. Additionally, you can push down on each corner of the vehicle. The suspension should compress and rebound. If it doesn't, something is likely amiss with the air suspension. Lastly, a warning light may be illuminated in the instrument cluster. The code can be pulled using a scan tool to further diagnose the problem.
How Long Does an Air Suspension Last?
Things like front struts and rear air springs are regarded as wear items and usually have to be replaced between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. Other items like the compressor and ride height sensors are done on an as-needed basis, although it is not uncommon for them to fail before reaching 100,000 miles.
Are They Expensive to Fix?
Repair costs can get expensive as there are more things that can go wrong. Replacing the air compressor or pair of struts will likely cost about
,000 with parts and labor. Smaller items like air lines and ride height sensors are less costly to replace but can still set you back a few hundred dollars.
What Options Do I Have?
As the miles rack up, it's just a matter of time before problems appear. This is not unique to the XTS, and the same applies to all vehicles equipped with air suspensions. Owners must decide if it is worth spending a few thousand dollars on suspension repairs, especially on an older or high-mileage car.
However, an Arnott coil spring conversion kit is a more reliable and cost-effective option. It replaces the factory air suspension components with traditional coil springs and sealed shocks. Tuned to match the original ride quality and handling characteristics, it is a direct bolt-in replacement with no cutting or welding required. Also included is a bypass module that turns off the dashboard air suspension warning light. Engineered in the USA, the Arnott XTS conversion kit is preassembled and ready to install.
