Quadra-Lift is the air suspension system Jeep offered on the WK2 Grand Cherokee, Overland, Summit, and Trackhawk. When it works, it is a great system. When it fails, and it does fail, it fails expensively. Compressors burn out, air bags develop pinhole leaks, ride height sensors go out of calibration, and dealer replacement quotes routinely land in the four to five figure range. That is why so many owners of ten and twelve year old WK2s are asking the same question, can I delete Quadra-Lift and put the truck on regular coils. Yes, and here is exactly how.
What Quadra-Lift is and what fails
Quadra-Lift replaces the standard front strut with an air strut, replaces the rear coil with an air bag, and adds a compressor, a reservoir, air lines, ride height sensors at each corner, and an air suspension control module that talks to the chassis network. In normal operation, the module raises and lowers the truck between five ride heights based on speed, driver selection, and load.
Common failure points, in order of frequency:
- Front air struts develop leaks at the top rubber bladder, usually at 80 to 130 thousand miles
- Rear air bags develop pinhole leaks at the fold or seam
- Compressor overworks trying to keep up with leaks, burns out, and throws a code
- Ride height sensors lose calibration, throwing a "service air suspension" message with no visible symptom
- Air lines chafe against the frame and leak
A single air strut from the dealer is roughly seven hundred to over one thousand dollars, a full four corner refresh with a new compressor runs three to five thousand in parts alone before labor.
Why owners delete instead of repair
Repair is a moving target. Fixing one corner does not stop the other three from following a year later. Full four corner replacement plus compressor is a big check that puts the truck back on the same failure timeline. Delete is a one time cost, uses passive parts that last decades, and eliminates every future compressor and bag failure.
The tradeoffs, you lose adjustable ride height, you lose the auto lower for highway aerodynamics, and you lose the raise for off road clearance. If you daily drive on pavement, none of those matter. If you routinely tow or wheel the truck, keep Quadra-Lift and repair it.
The parts list for a full four corner delete
For a WK2 Grand Cherokee, SRT, or Trackhawk with Quadra-Lift.
- Front coil springs, Eibach Pro-Kit, Mopar Performance, or Swift Springs, one pair
- Rear coil springs, same brand as the front, one pair
- Front struts, Bilstein 4600 or Bilstein B6, one pair
- Rear shocks, Bilstein 4600 or Bilstein B6, one pair
- Front upper strut mounts, one pair, non air suspension variant
- Front upper coil isolators, one pair
- Rear upper coil isolators, one pair
- Rear lower coil isolators, one pair
- Front bump stops if not included with your springs
- Console switch panel from a non air suspension WK2, to replace the panel with the air suspension buttons
Note that Bilstein struts often ship with the lower mount included, but the upper mount and coil isolators are always separate, order both. Detailed spring choice guidance in our complete WK2 and Durango lowering guide.
Removing the air system
Before touching anything, deflate the entire system to atmosphere. Do not simply retract the air into the reservoir, that leaves pressure in the lines and makes disassembly a fight. Use a bidirectional scan tool to command a full deflate to atmosphere.
- Support the vehicle on all four corners on jack stands
- Deflate all four air struts and bags to atmosphere through the scan tool
- Remove the front wheels
- Disconnect the air line at each front strut, disconnect the ride height sensor link
- Remove the strut top mount nuts and the lower knuckle bolts
- Pull the air strut out
- Remove the rear wheels
- Support the rear differential with a floor jack
- Disconnect the air line and ride height sensor link at each rear corner
- Remove the rear shock
- Lower the differential to unload the rear air bag
- Pull the rear air bag out
- Remove the compressor and reservoir from behind the rear seat area
- Remove or tuck the air lines along the frame
Installing the coil setup
- Assemble the front strut, upper mount, upper isolator, coil spring, and lower isolator on the bench
- Install the front strut assembly, torque the top nuts to 25 ft-lb, torque the lower knuckle bolts to 130 ft-lb
- Install the rear shocks first, torque the upper bolt to 65 ft-lb, lower to 65 ft-lb
- Install the rear coil, seat the upper and lower isolators
- Raise the differential back into place
- Reinstall the wheels, torque lug nuts to 130 ft-lb
- Set the truck on the ground and roll it forward and back to settle the suspension
Deactivating the air suspension module
The air suspension control module still exists on the chassis network. Without deactivation, the module will throw a dash warning and set a code every key cycle.
Use a bidirectional scan tool that supports Chrysler module adaptation.
- Connect the scan tool
- Enter Adaptation
- Select Modules
- Select Chassis Network
- Select Add or Remove ASM
- Select Air Suspension Control Module
- Set to Deactivated
- Save and cycle the ignition
The dash warning clears, no more service air suspension message, and the module stops reporting on the network. This is a soft deactivate, the module hardware stays in the truck, but the network stops expecting it to respond.
Replacing the center console switch
The center console switch on an air suspension WK2 has ride height selector buttons. After delete those buttons no longer do anything. Source a console switch panel from a non air suspension Grand Cherokee, the connector is the same, plug and play swap.
Alignment after delete
Same as any lowered WK2. Front camber roughly negative 2.0 both sides, rear camber negative 1.2 to negative 1.5, caster 5.0 degrees, total toe zero. Full alignment reference in our WK2 alignment specs after lowering guide.
Because the Quadra-Lift truck may have been aligned in the wrong ride height for years, expect the shop to find the truck out of range on the initial reading. That is normal, it will come into spec once the arms and toe are adjusted.
Which springs to use for the delete
- Want a subtle drop and factory ride, Mopar Performance
- Want a firm linear ride with the deepest fixed drop, Eibach Pro-Kit
- Want the best daily driver ride with a moderate drop, Swift Springs Mid
- Want the deepest drop possible with rear adjustable arms, Swift Springs Extreme
Full comparison in our complete WK2 and Durango lowering guide and the Trackhawk Eibach vs Swift comparison.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Quadra-Lift delete cost
Parts run roughly 1500 to 2500 depending on spring and shock choice. Labor at a shop adds 800 to 1500. DIY with hand tools and a spring compressor keeps it in the parts only range.
How long does the delete take
A full day in a driveway with jack stands and hand tools, four to six hours on a lift.
Do I need a scan tool to delete Quadra-Lift
Yes, you need a bidirectional scan tool for two things, to deflate the air system before removal, and to deactivate the air suspension module afterward. Without the module deactivation you will have a dash warning every drive.
Will removing Quadra-Lift throw a code
Yes if you skip the module deactivation. Correctly deactivated, no codes and no dash warning.
Can I keep the air suspension hardware for future reinstall
You can, but the compressor and bags start deteriorating the day they come off the truck. Most owners sell the parts to another WK2 owner or scrap them.
Will the delete affect towing capacity
The published tow rating on the WK2 with a delete stays the same as a non air suspension WK2 with the same drivetrain, since the platform is rated for coil springs from the factory. Very heavy trailers were where Quadra-Lift shined, if you tow often, keep it.
Does the delete change the caster spec
Caster on Quadra-Lift is 5.5 degrees, on standard coil suspension it is 5.0 degrees. After a delete, target the 5.0 spec.
Can I run Bilstein B8 5100 on a WK2 delete
Yes, B8 5100 pairs well with Swift Mid or Extreme, gives a slightly firmer feel than B6. B6 is the balanced pick for Mopar or Eibach springs.
Do I lose the auto lower for aerodynamics
Yes, the truck sits at a fixed ride height after delete. Aftermarket springs sit lower than the Quadra-Lift default anyway, so aerodynamic drag actually improves.
Will insurance care about the delete
No. It is a passive suspension modification.
Bottom line
Quadra-Lift delete is the right answer for any WK2 owner tired of chasing air suspension failures. Order the springs, shocks, mounts, and isolators together, do it in one weekend, deactivate the module through a scan tool, swap the console switch, and align the truck. You end up with a better looking, more predictable Grand Cherokee that never needs another compressor.
For the platform wide picture, read our complete WK2 and Durango lowering guide. Questions on your specific truck or your parts list, call Black Ops Auto Works at 855-221-9728.
Related reading
- The complete WK2 and Durango lowering guide
- WK2 alignment specs after lowering
- Trackhawk lowering springs, Eibach vs Swift
- Rear adjustable upper control arms, when you need them