Low Cost (Cheap) Ebay Air Shocks vs. Vigor Air Shocks for the GM SUV's (+ Slow Mo under vehicle)

Since Vigor Air Suspensions asked if I would do a couple of Installation Videos for them, while I had this opportunity, I figured I would compare them to the Low Cost (Cheap) ones I had on the Escalade. The other two Installation videos are considered a Paid Promotion (since Vigor provided the shocks and compressor), but this is a comparison video I did separately while I had this opportunity.
I included some cool under vehicle suspension video as well to see how the suspension reacts.
Although my cheap ones were still holding air and I thought they were still ok, turns out one had gone bad and the air bag had slid down and was no longer lifting. I guess the cheap ones did ok, but definitely had some design issues that needed to be addressed.
If you are looking for where to purchase these Vigor shocks, I here’s an Affiliate link for Amazon I setup that should take you to them (it gives me a “commission” so to speak if folks use the link if interested in them) : amzn.to/3W7P9qV

[@mikemike7473]

Thanks for this video i been on the edge but now im more comfortable

[@StevesDIYs]

👍. Yep, so far the Vigor ones are still holding up good (I still have them on the Escalade ever since making the video). All the best ! Steve

[@28704joe]

This video is first class, answered every question. Even saw the cheap ones going in the trash :). People watching your series on this issue are going to save a lot of money and time in the long run. I sure am.

[@StevesDIYs]

Thanks man 👍. Yep, it was interesting to see how they held up (or didn’t actually, lol) over the years. If someone does buy them and already spent the money, then has to fix them, the 1st video would be helpful to make use of them. If these are just used as normal, but not abused then the 1 year later video might give some peace of mind, but ultimately they sure aren’t the best option for heavy loads or years of use. I think I’ll put all three into a separate playlist so maybe they will play one after the other for folks…that way maybe it will be easier to see the progression until they failed. Thanks again and all the best ! Steve

[@JackJack-oi8py]

I just ordered, and waiting for a set of these for my 03 Yukon, glad to see this.

[@StevesDIYs]

Thanks man 👍. Yep, so far these are doing good…just hooked up the 24 foot pontoon boat to the Escalade to go out this weekend and they pumped up and leveled it right out.

[@xrunner800]

Did you ever install these on your yukon?

[@Jerroh6]

Thanks for the video, I probably will buy the vigor shocks for my 05 Yukon so your informational video did them good. I also need a impact sensor, front shocks and tires so money will be tight but it is a must.

[@StevesDIYs]

Glad the video was helpful 👍. So far the Vigor ones are holding up good since the install. For my front shocks, I didn’t like the magnetic ride as it made a vibration after hitting bumps so I swapped them out for some heavy duty regular shocks and bypassed the magnetic ride sensor. There’s a video on the channel for doing that as well that saved some money and improved the ride too. Thanks again and all the best ! Steve

[@Jerroh6]

@@StevesDIYs I think all 4 of my shocks are original. I really like the Yukon XL, it is a perfect travel vehicle especially with the tow package. This is the first time I ever dealt with air shocks so it has been a steady stream of videos trying to learn everything I can. I need to test my compressor today.

[@abdullahal-shimri3091]

Stay away from air suspension. It’s designed to die after 5 months of use - read online reviews.

[@henryramirez9013]

Sir, thank you very much for your video, very good, my situation with those shock absorbers is that the abs light and the stabilizer track came on, and I couldn't even turn them off with anything, I even bought another set of shock absorbers and nothing

[@StevesDIYs]

Hello, I didn’t seem to have any issues with errors from them on mine after the install. Have you tried resetting the abs and stabilizer errors to see if they come back? I’ve gotten abs errors before on my other vehicles before (not related to the shock or struts) when I’ve had dirty or broken wheel speed sensors.

[@ovalwingnut]

Very scientific.Thanks so much!

[@StevesDIYs]

Thanks 👍

[@davntelisha19]

My cheap speed max bushing are shot just bought vigor shocks let’s see how they hole up now I have air shocks just like yours for my Cadillac Escalade 2007

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey man, yep, so far so good on the Vigor shocks after a couple of years now 👍. Hopefully they will last several more years to come. All the best ! Steve

[@mohammedjalal736]

I ordered them and fixed them and they are amazing.. what about the front magneride shocks what do you recommend ? For Escalade 09

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey man ! Good to know they worked good for you as well 👍. For the front shocks, I switched out to regular heavy duty gas shocks and bypassed the mag ride sensors with resistors. The ride is so much better with the heavy duty shocks now as all of the harmonic vibration from the mag ride is gone. Here’s a link to the video on the channel for what I did if it helps any: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJiYeHmwZdt_etk . All the best ! Steve

[@darrenmos3]

I’m curious, how have the Vigor shocks held up? Also what brand pump did you install and how did it hold up over time?

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey again, the Vigor shocks are still holding up great from when the video was made and pump up just like they should when load is added to the vehicle 👍. I also installed the Vigor compressor and it’s doing fine as well…I hear it cut on when I start the Escalade then cuts off very consistently. I figured it would get noisier over time like compressors do, but so far it’s about the same. Overall I’m pretty pleased with the setup as I haven’t had to do anything on them yet 🤞. Hope this helps and all the best ! Steve

[@Foundmylsswap]

I have a lowered c10 with a c notch. I want to tow approx 2500lbs with the truck. If I air the shocks up when the trailer is attached will I be able to level back up? Or are they only made for compression and rebound? Can I use these in replace of an airbag? Thank you for your time

[@StevesDIYs]

Hello, these will definitely pick up the rear of the vehicle, but it really depends on the trailers tongue weight vs. the weight the truck is pulling. They lift my tandem trailer up which has several hundred pound tongue weight, but if I front load the trailer too much (like when I hauled like 4 tons of gravel on it one time lol), it couldn’t get the Escalade all the way back up. If it was me, unless I had the automatic leveling system and compressor installed on the vehicle, I’d go with some low cost air bags that just get aired up with static air pressure if possible as they are much easier to deal with and would be much better at lifting and leveling for periodic trailer hauling. Hope this helps a bit and all the best ! Steve

[@giohuncho]

I had a question, Are you running them with the vigor air pump or with the Dorman air pump?

[@StevesDIYs]

Hello, I was originally running the eBay ones with the Dorman pump for a year or so, but changed out both the shocks and the pump to the Vigor shocks and pump all together.

[@giohuncho]

@@StevesDIYs so if I get the vigor shocks you’d recommend to run them with the vigor pump? And also how have they held up so far (vigor shocks) I have to replace the shocks in in my Escalade but I was looking at OE replacement and they’re honestly way out of my budget it’s almost $900 for both plus the pump. I just wanted to ask if they ride pretty good and if it improved your ride quality?

[@rpdiggs3558]

I did this and all the lights came on, how do you turn off the lights and do you have to reprogram?

[@StevesDIYs]

Hello, there shouldn’t be a need to reprogram the vehicle (at least I didn’t have to and haven’t seen comments of folks having to anyway). When I originally swapped to the eBay ones, it made my service suspension light come on, but I disconnected the battery for about 10 mins and then it went away. It flashed a couple of times after that, but then never came back on. For the vigor ones, it didn’t trip the error. Hope this helps a bit and all the best ! Steve.

[@1322Marlton]

Did the shock make a clunk that the noise I have

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey man ! Yes, when I would hit a big bump or pot hole, the bad shock would bottom out and make a clunk that could be heard inside the vehicle. I guess since the air bag had pushed down on the drivers side, it allowed the shock to collapse too far.

[@1322Marlton]

Thanx for the reply. I have replaced the sway bar bushings and links. I am going to disconnect the shock and see if the clunk is still there.

[@mikebelcher6692]

so you have pn’s? 05 yukon denali

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey man ! I didn’t see a part number listed on their website, but if you google “Vigor Air Suspension” or go to their website: vigorairride.com, the GMC ones are in a group and these ones have the title “Chevy Cadillac Escalade GMC Yukon XL Tahoe Rear Air Suspension Shock Strut Absorber”. Hope this helps and all the best! Steve

[@steverodriguez4871]

So how do you fix that connector issue

[@StevesDIYs]

Hey man ! There’s actually another video on the channel that shows how to fix the issue with the connector…here’s a link to it if interested: Low Cost (Cheap) Aftermarket GM Air Ride Rear Shocks - Waste of money or Worth it? kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4OaoaiNbseens0 All the best ! Steve

[@steverodriguez4871]

@@StevesDIYs thank you Steve

[@Peterbilt-tm1or]

Go with original parts. Don’t buy cheap parts. I installed vigor it was not a good idea

[@josephbrown4782]

Why? What happened with ur vigor suspension?