Rear Air Shocks

First Off I am new to this site and LOVE it. There are some great resources here. I just bought this 2000 Montana and then a new remote and learned how to program it here.

My question is this:
The rear shocks on this thing are getting spongy and I want to replace them. It has the auto leveling suspension and from what I have found it looks like my choices are ACDelco and Monroe. Also I want to tow a small utility trailer and wonder if one kind is preferrable to another. If any of you know of other brands that would be a direct replacement and do a good job please let me know.

Thanks in advance,

Tony

P.S. Flatrater and GMGremlin You guys are a real asset to this forum!!!!

Hi, I have the same problem than you. My 1998 Pontiac Montana (rear self-leveling) needs change the rear shock absorbers, but nobody know the kind of shock absorbers that fits the vehicle.
The Pontiac dealer sells the original shocks in $ 160. dlls. each. ($ 320. dlls the pair is very expensive)

Some persons has suggested me the shocks absorbers Monroe part number MA824 but nobody are sure that this shock fits like the original equipment. (The price is good, about $ 80. Dlls the pair)

Also the Ac Delco part number 504-549 is suggested but is very expensive ($ 234 dlls the pair)

Do you find some shock less expensive that fits your vehicle? or do you install some shocks mentioned above (MA824 or 504-549)?

I will appreciate your help.

Hi guys,I had a 97 Venture with rear air schocks that went bad around 70k miles.I decided to just put the regular non air shocks back on.The dealership suggested this if I was not going to be doing a lot of towing,and told me the air shocks was not one of the strong points of this vehicle platform.Lots of problems with air compressors as well.

I have a 2000 montanna with air shocks. They didn't last long for me. We do light towing (jet ski) a handful of times each summer. The rest is family driving. Left rear shock went at 30k and replaced under warranty. The right rear shock went at 40k and I had to pay half of bill (about $80). Not very good life in my opinion. They started leaking air and black fluid when they failed. In the future, especially if the compressor fails, I will most likely go to the regular shocks.

Keith

Same here mine are at 80,000 and they need to be replaced now. I haul alot of people alot of the time so im inclined to go the air shock route again. Anyone here used the normall gas shocks with large loads yet?

I am going to replace my rear air shocks. They are leaking oil and bounce pretty bad. I can get a pair of AC Delco direct replacements or a pair of Monroe Max Airs for about the same price. The Monroes are supposed to plug directly into the stock airline just like the AC's. Anyone have any idea which is better. RockAuto.com has them for about $100 shipped for a pair. I can't beat that price anywhere.

I just replaced my air shocks with some $23 gas charge performance ones I picked up at autozone. I noticed while I was there that they also sell a direct replacment air shock for $60 a pair, and he said they had to order them but that they were a bolt on replacement. I would have bought them, but my compressor is no good. Lemme tell you, boy what a difference having the new gas shocks on there, no more bouncing all over the place!!! Woo hoo, the front struts are next.....

I saw those, but they are Gabriel Air Shocks. I talked to Gabriels tech support and they said I need an airline kit to adapt the factory line to the air fittings on their shocks. The kit is $20-30, so the price is about the same. To install the airline kit you have to cut the old fittings off and splice on their fittings. I didn't like having to do that so I think I am going to get the AC Delco replacements.

I just got my AC Delco shocks and they are not the same as the GM part. I thought that the AC Delco parts are what GM used, but I guess not in this case.

I replaced them with the Gabriels and they are great. The part number was 39230. The OEM connectors had a 90 degree bend in the tube that went through the spring fitting. All I did was use my Craftsman handy cuts to cut the little barb off the end of the original tubing and I took up a little slack in the routing and then used the o-rings and plastic fittings that came with the Gabriels. They work great for $60 a pair

I sent my AC Delco shocks back. I have a set of Monroe Max Air MA824 coming from RockAuto.com. I talked to Monroe Tech Support and they are supposed to connect directly up to the stock air lines without any modification. They are supposed to have the same clip on connector as the GM shock and they were $10 cheaper. We will see when they get here. I will post my results.

I just got the Monroe Max-Air 824 shocks put on last night. They bolt right up and have the same air connection nipple as the stock GM shocks. The pair cost me about $90 shipped from RockAuto.com. I had to cut the bottom bolts off because they were seized to the shock bushing, but the top bolts came off easy. The whole job took about an hour in the driveway.
The dealer told me that they have looked and never been able to find any shock other than the GM ($172.00 per shock) that will work. I did a search on the internet and verified with Monroes tech support that they would work. Saved me lots of money. These are a good replacement for anyone with the Self leveling suspension.

Anyone know of a kit that i can install that gives me the load leveling shocks + hoses etc to connect. I have searched several times on google with not much luck.

Thanks in advance

Anyone know of a kit that i can install that gives me the load leveling shocks + hoses etc to connect. I have searched several times on google with not much luck.

Thanks in advance
Do you currently have the self leveling system with the compressor on your van or do you want to add the whole system?

I would also like to find info on adding the self leveling or an air shock system to my van. I don't have the compressor or anything, but could get parts out of a wrecking yard easily. But I don't know what all I would need!

Thanks

The system consists of a compressor, air shocks, and a leveling arm (sensor) that tells when the compressor should turn on and off. I don't know how many more smaller pieces there are though.

I placed to my 1998 Montana the Monroe MA824 and they functioned great. (My vehicle has auto-leveling rear system)
The work necessary to placed them was minor, I lasted less than one hour and it was not necessary some kit adaptor to place them...I recommend you the Monroe rear shocks absorbers


First Off I am new to this site and LOVE it. There are some great resources here. I just bought this 2000 Montana and then a new remote and learned how to program it here.

My question is this:
The rear shocks on this thing are getting spongy and I want to replace them. It has the auto leveling suspension and from what I have found it looks like my choices are ACDelco and Monroe. Also I want to tow a small utility trailer and wonder if one kind is preferrable to another. If any of you know of other brands that would be a direct replacement and do a good job please let me know.

Thanks in advance,

Tony

P.S. Flatrater and GMGremlin You guys are a real asset to this forum!!!!

I have a 1998 Chevy Venture with 120,000 miles and am curious about replacing the rear air shocks with regular shocks. It still has the original shocks. Is it easy and safe to permanently disconnect the air compressor and the self leveling system? A service advisor at a national auto repair shop refused to replace with regular shocks saying doing that will mess up the electronics/computer. He also said that the Monroes referenced in this thread don't hook up to the compressor. I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

Tell the guy he if full of s***. I went through the same crap with my dealer. He said they wouldn't work and I need the $350 set of GM to work right. The techs at Monroe assurred me that they would work, so I ordered them. It took me 1/2 hour to install both of them and they fit just like the original GM shocks, and ride nice too. The nipples for the air lines are exactly like the GM shock.

I order them from RockAuto.com for something like $90. They came in about 2 days. The dealer wanted $179 per shock ($358) for the GM shocks. I felt like going down to the dealer and showing them to him just for my satisfaction.

wow those prices are crazy. midas did my van for around 110 installed. always ask for a little help on the price. most times theyll help me out.

I too just did my air shocks with the Monroe Max-Air 824 perect fit cost 172 canadian for the pair and did the struts at 94 dollars each had to replace a stut bearing at 103 dollars all in all it took about 3 hours to change them all in my driveway garage wanted 6 hours at 85 dollars a hour....Crooks :)

My rears just don't handle well when 2 adults sit in the back. I went to my local Napa and bought the MA824 (I don't have auto leveling) and the AK29 kit. I was wondering if anyone else without atuo load leveling has attempted this? I also bought a nice new heavy air compressor. My big problem is where to install the air line t-valve. I want it easily accessible, but not where it can get broken off. It is a plastic t so I assume it would break easy. It also needs to be within 24 feet of the battery. The cable on the compressor is a battery clamp style and not a cigarette type. That cable is 8 feet and the coiled air hose is 16 feet.
My plan is to start the work tomorrow so if anyone has a suggestion before then!

Thanks

Jeff

Well, I added the MA824's today. Other than trying to locate a good spot for the air valve, it took about 10 minutes per shock at the most. Took me about 30-45 minutes to find a suitable place for the valve and to run the hose. I might eventually permanently mount my new compressor and rig an auto leveling system.

When I did my rears, I was amazed at how easy they were to get on and off. The lower bolts and nuts were rust welded but those were quickly taken care of by an angle grinder. The top bolts just came right out. Someone was obviously sleeping when they engineered the rear...it shouldn't be that easy. They more then make up for it though with the front struts.

I replaced them with the Gabriels and they are great. The part number was 39230. The OEM connectors had a 90 degree bend in the tube that went through the spring fitting. All I did was use my Craftsman handy cuts to cut the little barb off the end of the original tubing and I took up a little slack in the routing and then used the o-rings and plastic fittings that came with the Gabriels. They work great for $60 a pair

Now i am not shure what brand of shocks are in mine but i know it doesnt have the original air conector. It has a rubber ring around the tube that pushes into the shock and then a plastic piece with threads inside that keeps the tube from pulling out. My van only has 65,000 miles on it and i dont know when the first ones whent bad but now the air side of these shocks has gone bad. It makes a load poping noise when you go over a bump. I disconected the air lines and the noise stoped and it appears that the outside portion has slid down on the shock. The other portion of the shock is still functional. If they were Gabriels they didnt last very long and now it will be tough to find something else that fits this air line.

... If they were Gabriels they didnt last very long and now it will be tough to find something else that fits this air line...

Hi,

If you buy the Monroe MA824's there is a 'conversion kit' that has the same OEM connectors and C-clips that you can buy for about $12 CDN, US cost would be less. That way, you can hook everything from the pump to the shocks up the way it was when factory installed. In my case I didn't use the kit because the shocks were a direct replacment.

The shocks are usually guaranteed for about 2 years, but I think they will last longer, depending on road conditions and the like. Running them without air will damage the air bladder though.

Hope this helps....

Hi,

If you buy the Monroe MA824's there is a 'conversion kit' that has the same OEM connectors and C-clips that you can buy for about $12 CDN, US cost would be less. That way, you can hook everything from the pump to the shocks up the way it was when factory installed. In my case I didn't use the kit because the shocks were a direct replacment.

The shocks are usually guaranteed for about 2 years, but I think they will last longer, depending on road conditions and the like. Running them without air will damage the air bladder though.

Hope this helps....
There is no need for a conversion kit with the Monroe MA824's. They are made to be a direct factory replacement for the GM units. They bolt right up and the air connector is the same as factory

...Now i am not shure what brand of shocks are in mine but i know it doesnt have the original air conector....

Tmorris1, - agreed that the MA824's are a good OE replacement.

However, in reading the post carefully, Sparky65 states that the shocks and connectors are not OE.

That having been said, in order to bring it back to OE with Monroes, the kit would be required.

This assumes that the original plastic hose or connectors was removed in the first installation and replaced with aftermarket!

Tmorris1, - agreed that the MA824's are a good OE replacement.

However, in reading the post carefully, Sparky65 states that the shocks and connectors are not OE.

That having been said, in order to bring it back to OE with Monroes, the kit would be required.

This assumes that the original plastic hose or connectors was removed in the first installation and replaced with aftermarket!
Got ya! Sorry.

tmorris1,

Thanks so much for your experience and homework on the Max-Air 824 shocks. Based on your message, I bought a pair of these shocks from RockAuto delivered to my house for $67. Installed them in about an hour and the air lines are a direct fit. It was terribly easy. Backed the van up onto ramps, supported the chassis by using a floor jack on my hitch and used a long extension for my socket wrench with a breaker bar allowed my to not have to remove the tires. I have thought about doing the front struts myself but I may wimp out.

Thanks again.

Andy

I just got the Monroe Max-Air 824 shocks put on last night. They bolt right up and have the same air connection nipple as the stock GM shocks. The pair cost me about $90 shipped from RockAuto.com. I had to cut the bottom bolts off because they were seized to the shock bushing, but the top bolts came off easy. The whole job took about an hour in the driveway.
The dealer told me that they have looked and never been able to find any shock other than the GM ($172.00 per shock) that will work. I did a search on the internet and verified with Monroes tech support that they would work. Saved me lots of money. These are a good replacement for anyone with the Self leveling suspension.

Good to hear that they worked for you. They must have came down in price since last year.

I have thought about doing the front struts myself but I may wimp out.If you can even get one side off in an hour, you are doing good. Like the intake manifold, it's not hard, just a PITA to get to everything. There is very little clearance to get to the 3 bolts holding in the top of the strut tower. A ratcheting box end wrench is invaluable.

tmorris1,

I bought a pair of these shocks from RockAuto delivered to my house for $67.

This was the pair for $67? I checked locally and they want $50 each. Guess I have to place an order considering they are nearly half price.