[TRS300]

Hi Folks, Besides "replace it" or "tear it out", what would you wish that the OEM QL system could, would, or would not do to make it a better system for you? Use your imagination. Pet peves are encouraged! Even list the things you like about the system that you would not like to see changed.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I never found it lacking, honestly. They did improve performance in the updated version in the WL with the dual action so height changes are faster.

 

[Four Litre Beater]

• better ride quality at off-road settings
• more customizable settings ( I hate auto areo, auto normal, ect) allow the user to override factory defaults.
• I wish all components (other than air lines) were in one, easily serviceable location.
• lifetime warranty

 

[2slo]

OMG! YES to lifetime warranty!!!

 

[TRS300]

• better ride quality at off-road settings
• more customizable settings ( I hate auto areo, auto normal, ect) allow the user to override factory defaults.
• I wish all components (other than air lines) were in one, easily serviceable location.
• lifetime warranty

I personally feel that the vehicle rides better at OR1. NRH feels like wobbly boat at times IMO. As for bullet 2, I agree completely. Having the QL drop to Aero when turning on Sport Mode is annoying at the least and stupid at worst. I can understand why they want to drop the height at higher speeds (for rollover safety) but it makes it feel like you are always fighting with the system. I also think the constant adjustments put undue wear on the system. An override would be nice, but for legal reasons I doubt they would do it... As a minimum they should allow you to set the rake (nose down) position. I hate that stance. Great input, thank you.

 

[TRS300]

I never found it lacking, honestly. They did improve performance in the updated version in the WL with the dual action so height changes are faster.

A lot of folks gripe about QL but to be honest I like it. Like Everthing else there are tradeoffs... Is it the best off road suspension system (no way). Is it versatile (very much so IMO). I tow a trailer at times and love that it will self level the rear. It is harsher when pumped up but I've never found it to be uncomfortable or rigid feeling. Anyway, I'll never remove the QL for the type of driving that I do... Thanks for the input.

 

[ByronB]

I'm mostly happy with the QL as is. My main complaint on my 2016 is the very loud and sudden stop at full extension which is more frequent at higher ride heights. Just seems like a little bit of rubber in there to absorb the hit would be reasonable.

 

[Four Litre Beater]

A lot of folks gripe about QL but to be honest I like it. Like Everthing else there are tradeoffs... Is it the best off road suspension system (no way). Is it versatile (very much so IMO). I tow a trailer at times and love that it will self level the rear. It is harsher when pumped up but I've never found it to be uncomfortable or rigid feeling. Anyway, I'll never remove the QL for the type of driving that I do... Thanks for the input.

Most of the gripes are to do with failures, and reliability after the first repair.
incompetent diagnostics, and throwing money at a unreliable system.
sadly a lot of technicians give the system a bad wrap..,
Instead of figuring out what the root cause of a problem is they will throw parts at it.. all at insane dealer mark up prices.

“compressor is fried, gonna need a new one for $3,000”
Then the second compressor fails because it ran too often due to a leak ect.
or air and moisture get in and ruin the system in cold climates.

when working properly not many people dislike the system.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I'm mostly happy with the QL as is. My main complaint on my 2016 is the very loud and sudden stop at full extension which is more frequent at higher ride heights. Just seems like a little bit of rubber in there to absorb the hit would be reasonable.

There are rubber bump stops there. But there's very little suspension travel left at the higher levels, so you're smacking into the bump stops when going too fast and hitting "surface features". Sometimes "going too fast" even means crawling which is all that you can really do at OR-II level. (by design) OR-II is for that last half inch of clearance needed to get over an obstacle. OR-I level is a little more forgiving and is where you want to run when off-road and don't need that last little bit of clearance.

 

[ByronB]

No arguments on any of those points.
The clunking surprised me the first time it happened. I read up on it and everything I found said normal, don't worry about it, not hurting anything, but remember the title on this thread is "wish list." I wish it was a little less jarring and a little quieter, but the clunking doesn't make me a QL hater by any measure.
I could be going a little slower, but when I'm running back mountain roads, I like to be in OR-1 so I feel like I'll clear without dragging the occasional pretty impressive water bar put in for the winter. I like to then cruise easy on the relatively smooth road between them without cycling back to normal height. It's those stretched I get the clunks from time to time. Or it's nice to be at OR-1 so I can get to OR-2 faster than from normal ride height when the obstacle needs a slow crawl over. Really nasty water bars, small trees, fallen rock, maybe a water crossing.
I think it's a good system overall. Mine's been problem free.

 

[TRS300]

I'm mostly happy with the QL as is. My main complaint on my 2016 is the very loud and sudden stop at full extension which is more frequent at higher ride heights. Just seems like a little bit of rubber in there to absorb the hit would be reasonable.

From what I've read I think folks install spacers on top of the front air struts to help the topping out issue. The spacers don't make the vehicle ride higher, it makes the air shock sit lower in its travel at a given height (like OR2). That way there is more down travel before it would top out.
Anyway, I'm going to look into that a bit more but I think I understand it...

 

[moparado]

Don't know about the new Jeeps but other than reliability concerns is a simple user control to keep it in Aero mode for city and highway driving until the next start cycle or a user control of getting it back to factory settings.
Hate it when it cycles from Aero to Normal and then from Normal to Aero at multiple highway stops.
IMO an unnecessary burden on the compressor under certain driving conditions.

 

[TRS300]

Perfect. Just the kind of feedback I was looking for... I agree. I think the system taxes itself too much with the constant automatic height changes... And again. It's annoying to witness it doing these things.

 

[TRS300]

So considering the amount of problems the QL system can have I was surprised on how little technical information is available. Even the service manual describes how the system operates but does not get into details (like what exactly reverse valve 1 and reverse valve 2 do ect..) I cannot even find one complete detailed schematic if the system showing plumbing and all solenoid valves etc..

So I decided to study Mercedes air ride systems (which jeep pretty much uses)

This is a good read...

The Definitive Guide To The Mercedes-Benz AIRMATIC Suspension System

Newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles come equipped with air-ride suspension. Learn what you need to know about the Mercedes-Benz AIRMATIC suspension, here.

blog.fcpeuro.com

If anyone knows where to find a complete system diagram for the Quadra lift system I'd appreciate getting it.

 

[moparado]

So considering the amount of problems the QL system can have I was surprised on how little technical information is available. Even the service manual describes how the system operates but does not get into details (like what exactly reverse valve 1 and reverse valve 2 do ect..) I cannot even find one complete detailed schematic if the system showing plumbing and all solenoid valves etc..

So I decided to study Mercedes air ride systems (which jeep pretty much uses)

This is a good read...

The Definitive Guide To The Mercedes-Benz AIRMATIC Suspension System

Newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles come equipped with air-ride suspension. Learn what you need to know about the Mercedes-Benz AIRMATIC suspension, here.

blog.fcpeuro.com

If anyone knows where to find a complete system diagram for the Quadra lift system I'd appreciate getting it.

There are a few brave people here that have fixed their QL themselves.
I think part the reason for the scarcity of information regarding it could be its done on purpose to fatten dealership bank accounts.

 

[TRS300]

There are a few brave people here that have fixed their QL themselves.
I think part the reason for the scarcity of information regarding it could be its done on purpose to fatten dealership bank accounts.

I'm not sure you need to be too brave. I think if you have reasonable mechanic skills it's not like a black box or something... I know I started the thread about "wish list" for the system. I'm asking for a reason. And it's parallel to me trying to learn as much about how the system works as I can. As you pointed out it's not well documented. And likely for the reason you mentioned. Dealership profit... That said, I think if I had the right level (pun intended) of information on hand. It would not seem so daunting to maintain the system myself.

This video seems to imply the same thing.

I'm finding that there is more info available about this system outside of jeep official documentation...

 

[leadfoot4]

I'm reasonably satisfied with the performance of my 2015 QL system, so far. However, what I really find frustrating was the necessity of having to order the ORII package, simply to get the ELSD. I drive my GC primarily in the winter, and to me, an LSD is a requirement, but Jeep feels that for some reason it shouldn't be a "stand alone" option. Therefore I have the QL suspension.

The good: It does provide a fairly smooth ride.
The less than good: the overly high ride height. (it makes the vehicle look strange, and makes it more difficult to get in and out of....

 

[ByronB]

From what I've read I think folks install spacers on top of the front air struts to help the topping out issue. The spacers don't make the vehicle ride higher, it makes the air shock sit lower in its travel at a given height (like OR2). That way there is more down travel before it would top out.
Anyway, I'm going to look into that a bit more but I think I understand it...

I can picture how that would reduce the full extension noise or at least reduce its frequency. Though I have to wonder if that comes at the expense at the other end of the travel and losing compression distance and bottoming out more often. Over the past few years I've read a little here and there about working on the QL system, so when it comes time to replace a strut or compressor I'll feel comfortable taking it on. My warranty is gone, so it's on me now.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

The same issue you've noticed at the high settings exist when in park mode...you can hit the lower stops in the same way. That's a big reason why that level is also speed limited. There is only so much suspension travel available in either direction and each QL height setting puts "normal" in a different place relative to each end of that travel.

 

[Mopar_guy]

Don't know about the new Jeeps but other than reliability concerns is a simple user control to keep it in Aero mode for city and highway driving until the next start cycle or a user control of getting it back to factory settings.
Hate it when it cycles from Aero to Normal and then from Normal to Aero at multiple highway stops.
IMO an unnecessary burden on the compressor under certain driving conditions.

This here.⬆ It drives me nuts that it does that. It'll cycle 3-4 times on my way to work. I agree that it's running the compressor more than it has to. Other than that, I love it. It rides nice, I like it that I can drop it for my short wife to get in and out of easier. I have mine set lower than stock because I like the look and the handling. A plug in controller that you could control would be the cats asss to fix some the issues. 😁