Smith Publicity, Inc.

Bought a used Escalade myself last year and paid for a proper inspection beforehand, genuinely saved me from a suspension nightmare since they found a leaking strut the seller conveniently forgot to mention. Definitely confirm upfront exactly what’s covered before booking, some places really do just check fluids and call it done.

Brake rotor runout measurement is a nice bonus most basic inspections skip entirely, usually just a visual pad thickness check. If you’re already worried about the 6L80 and mag ride, make sure whatever inspection you book actually road tests it long enough to catch shifting issues under load, not just idling in a lot.

Had a similar inspection done on a Tahoe with the same platform underneath, worth every penny since they caught a rear main seal starting to weep that wasn’t visible without actually getting underneath. Definitely push for something more thorough than a basic pre-purchase check.

Air suspension compressor duty cycle testing is the one people skip most often, and it’s exactly where the expensive failures hide on these Escalades. Ask specifically if they measure that rather than just eyeballing ride height, big difference in catching a failing compressor early.

A proper inspection should absolutely include dropping underbody covers, that’s where most sellers hope you won’t look given how common leaks are on these trucks. If they’re only doing a quick OBD scan and visual, you’re not getting the full picture on the transmission or suspension.