a machine employing controllable mounts and a method for controlling such mounts to maintain ideal snubbing height and provide mount diagnostics are disclosed . the controllable mount may include a housing , a pin , rheological fluid within the housing and coils provided proximate to the rheological fluid . the pin may be held in the housing with a limited degree of play by an elastomeric member and in so doing hold the pin at the ideal snubbing height . over time the elastomeric member may degrade and begin to sag . sensors associated with the housing may monitor this sag and if necessary energize a field across the rheological fluid or pressurize gas within the housing so as to adjust to the position of the pin back to the ideal snubbing height . the data gathered by the sensors can also be stored and used to determine the remaining serviceable life of the controllable mount and diagnose when it should be replaced .