1998 Buick Regal Grand Suspension Diagram
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Manual Shocks replacing Dyna Ride
- Thread author penspuck73
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Anyone ever installed normal rear shocks to replace the "Dyna Ride" thing? If so, well, any advice?
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- 1996 Roadmaster Limited Collectors Edition 58k - 1996 PAU 2019 Regal GS
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Yeah, I do have the air assist rear suspension... Seems as though the system is no longer working properly. Rear end is a bit saggy and bounces around alot on the highway (kinda like Uncle Buck's Ford LTD). Instead of fixing the air assist, I would like to just install a couple of good ol' shocks... though I'm not sure if its easier to fix the current system or to install normal shocks, if its even possible.
There are two things here.
#1) The car has struts at all 4 corners: there are no shocks on the 1998.
#2) The struts are probably very badly weakened if they are the originals especially. That would explain the wallowing. I could push in and out on the front struts with two fingers on my 2003 at 110,000 mi after I had them off. They offered almost no control. Mine should have been changed at 80K.
a) The wallowing also could be because the sway bar links that
connect the ends of the sway bars to the suspension are broken
due to rusting. That is very common. Has there been any clanging
or metallic sounds on driveways, e.g.?
b) the low height could be the air bladders or lines not holding air.
But it also could be because the pump does not work. I found mine
worked but the power line to it had broken where it exits through
the trunk to the underside of the car. So diagnosis is best here.
Summary:
Replacing with proper struts is minor extra expense, if any. Avoiding the air controlled height feature is a false economy. I believe many people have heard about the _computer_ controlled electronic suspension that was on certain Bonnevilles or LeSabres or Park Avenues. Those were very costly to replace--if they are even available any longer. Note that that type of computer control on suspensions is a major feature on certain newer cars if i read the press info correctly on the new Cadillacs, e.g., I believe people confuse the height control air feature with the electronic struts on a few high line cars from that era.
Diagnose. And good luck at getting it riding better. My brand recommendation is SensaTrac struts by Monroe. Stores and Monroe sometimes run sales or rebates on product and/or installation costs. Currently it's a truck shock rebate-- http://www.monroe.com/promotions
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I'm not aware that you can find any struts like this post 1999. That's the last the Dynaride system was used. Gran Touring lasted longer--until 2005. Most people opted for Gran Touring if they cared, or wanted to pay the price tag--I've had both Gran Touring and Dynaride, and personally liked Dynaride better.
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http://forums.aaca.org/f115/gran-touring-vs-dynaride-suspension-164927.html
No big deal to get air shock system working properly again. For me, the car would go slightly sideways when hitting a bump at highway speeds.
Had to replace the rear air shocks on both LeSabres. Very easy and inexpensive $85 at Autozone for a pair of Gabriels.
If your air compressor is bad, you can replace it. Access it through the floor of the trunk.
I have struts in the front and air shocks in the back on the 03 and 04. I read somewhere that air shocks were standard.
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Posted by: collingubbins.blogspot.com
Source: https://buickforums.com/forums/threads/manual-shocks-replacing-dyna-ride.26634/