2001 Venture rear suspension

Need some help...wife called today and said our van suspension was gone. She hit a few pot holes, heard a big "whoosh" sound and then parked for work. Came back and went to drive it and the whole van bounces. I figure that the rear struts are gone as she said the back end has raised up. Could it also be that the air ride compressor is shot? Is there any quick way to tell if it is the strut or compressor?
Have not seen the van yet but leaving shortly to have a look at it.

Welcome to AF, may have damaged the leveling sensor in the rear or knocked the link off the arm, gotta crawl under there and see what's what.

Update...well it is definately not the compressor, it is still working. I think the struts are gone. It was a pretty bouncy ride home. First I am not a mechanic so my terms and knowledge are limited. But I am willing to try and save some cash. Are the struts mounted close to the rear axle by the springs. They look like cylinders mounted by a yoke. I am assuming the other end mounts to the body. 3 or 4 bolts somewhere under the carpet? It is either I attempt to change myself or take it to the local shop for about $500.

More then likely the rear struts actually just shocks like on a truck or something. I haven't looked at mine yet, but generally vehicles with struts have a shock rear end. Should just be the bolt through the yoke in the bottom and one in the top of the shock.

It sounds like the shocks gave up the ghost. When the shocks no longer work properly, the springs are allowed to compress and extend freely, which gave you the boucing ride. In the picture below, item 1 is the shock absorber with a bolt mounting at the top and at the bottom.

http://www.trademotion.com/schematics/images/mechanical/T009070.gif

Update...well it is definately not the compressor, it is still working. I think the struts are gone. It was a pretty bouncy ride home. First I am not a mechanic so my terms and knowledge are limited. But I am willing to try and save some cash. Are the struts mounted close to the rear axle by the springs. They look like cylinders mounted by a yoke. I am assuming the other end mounts to the body. 3 or 4 bolts somewhere under the carpet? It is either I attempt to change myself or take it to the local shop for about $500.

Tucker, just turn it off and check in later in the day. The suspension may return to normal as mine '97 w/141k miles does now after I carry some people in the last row, they get out, it stays bouncy, but returns to normal after the van it shut off for a while. Had new leveling shocks put in last year after they leaked, etc., I blew the fuse for the system, with compressor no longer working. Replaced the shocks and fuse, with the compressor taking a long time the first time powered again the refill the shocks. Of course the tire store wanted to also replace the compressor since they felt "it was taking too long to fill the shocks." Unbeliveable. I still live with the slow fill and bouncy rear suspension a year later since it is still cheaper than replacing that expensive compressor. Keep us posted on which route you took.

Tucker. I have a 02 Silhouette with air suspension and I believe that your van is like mine. I replaced the origional air shocks with Monore MA824 I think, you can call and ask the auto store if they carry Monroe and get the right ones. It is very simple to replace them. I didn't even have to put the van on ramps to get under the van. Look at the rear tires inner fender and you will see the hole where the head of the bold is for the top of the shock. The nut is welded to the body so you won't need a wrench on the other side. From under the vehicle you can get at the bottom bolt/nut. I should have mentioned that you have to take off the air hose from the shock first. You just move the wire clip 90 degrees and pull the hose off of the shock. Before you put the air hose on the new shock you will have to move that clip back 90 degrees and just push the connector on the shock until the clip slides into the groove that holds the connector on.

Tighten the shock bolts to 63 ft.lbs and you are done. Good Luck.