95 PA ride leveling system??

[whturner]

Re GTS; When I researched it a few years ago - the Option code for the Grand Touring Suspension for the Buick was the same as a Chevy "Sport Suspension" option which would be much firmer, and handle better, at the expense of the pillow soft ride. (Guess they thought "Sport" would not appeal to a Buick buyer.
As far as the compressor noise I can't hear mine in the car, but can outside. On my 95 Roadmonster Wagon, it is up front.

Cheers
Warren

[Jrs3800]

The suspension system on the 97+ Parks Avenues differs quite a bit from the 91-96 Parks..

But the GM H body 91-99 and C body 91-96 all share the same components...

If you had one of these Buicks with the Grand Touring chances are you have the F41( Firm Ride and Handling ) Suspension... This would equate to a quicker acting Rack... Larger sway bars front and rear, and stiffer springs..

Dynaride was an FE1 suspension set up, but even an FE1 from a Bonneville would be firmer in every way..

87-93 Bonnevilles could be had with F41 but they were without Load Level...

88-99 Bonneville could have had FE2 Ride and Handling suspension( if you have it on a Bonneville you also have ELC )

87-99 Bonnevilles could be equipped with FE1 Soft Ride..

I have driven F41 suspensions that were firm but not harsh... And other that were almost glued to the road.. It all depends on what you want these cars to do, they can be set up for semi firm to OMG I don't want to drive through North Carolina anymore...lol

[ZiggyPA]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

First, we should ask if your car sagging in the rear? Usually the F41 package is part of the Grand Touring Suspension, SPID code (Y56) which includes HD-struts, (air assist in the rear) HD-sway bars, computer selected springs & quick ratio steering.

The compressor has a time delay of 45 sec before it will run when the ignition is turned ON, or shut off. While sitting in the car, turn the ignition switch ON and wait quietly to see if you here the compressor activate. If you are hard of hearing, raise the hood & follow the same procedure while standing next to the driver’s side front fender. If the compressor never comes on, check the fuse under the driver side dash labeled “ALC”. If you have a leak in the strut air-bladders, the compressor will run for an extended period which will cause the fuse to blow. Sometimes, the previous owner will remove the fuse to keep the compressor from draining the battery.

I have been checking under my 91 PA, none of the struts or springs have sensors or wiring. Is this correct for this year? Behind the fuel tank, there is some kind of switch which is connected via a lever to the rear stabilzer bar (if I recall correctly...) I believe this must be part of the rear levelling system. I disconnected the lever and moved it with the engine running, but I could not notice any effect.
There is a compressor which activates if you leave the ignition on for 45 seconds, but this is the only time that it will work.
The noise would be too soft to hear with the engine running, but my understanding is it will also activate with the engine off. ?
The rear never sags, also not with people in the back or with the trunk full. Still the compressor never comes on. But the springs are kind of harsh.

How does the levelling system work, are there supposed to be airlines connected to the rear struts? Are these airlines in the car? I can't find them underneath.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by ZiggyPA

How does the levelling system work, are there supposed to be airlines connected to the rear struts? Are these airlines in the car? I can't find them underneath.

If you have ELC, you have an air line running underneath the center of the car where it is connected to a "T" in front of the gas tank and from the "T" to each strut. If you jack up the rear, you should should be able to see the air line connection near the top of strut by looking in the wheel-well above the rear tire. BTW, if you do not here your compressor running except when your testing the system, that means your struts are holding air. Every time you turn the ignition switch on, after a 45-sec delay, the system will go through a replenishment cycle, then open the dump valve to maintain 10-17 psig, (or more) depending on load. This function is necessary to maintain ride height and provide better handling & control. It should do the same replenishment cycle after you turn the ignition switch off!

[ZiggyPA]

So when I turn the ignition off the compressor should also activate briefly after 45 seconds? I'm positive this does not happen. Also it seems the rear struts are "normal" and do not have airlines.
Should the compressor activate when I press that lever connected to the rear stabilizer bar?

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by ZiggyPA

So when I turn the ignition off the compressor should also activate briefly after 45 seconds? I'm positive this does not happen. Also it seems the rear struts are "normal" and do not have airlines.
Should the compressor activate when I press that lever connected to the rear stabilizer bar?

It sounds like someone replaced the air-assist struts on your car with standard struts and left the remains of the ELC system in place. Do you have a fuse in the ELC slot under the dash? If the system is not hooked up, it will not work, no matter which way you move the lever!

[ZiggyPA]

Yes the fuse is ok.
Are the air assist struts more comfortable, or do they provide better handling?
I still feel the suspension is kinda harsh compared with a couple of other PA's I test drived. Elswhere on this forum you recommended Monroe sensa track strut's. Are these also air assisted?

[HotZ28]

Yes, you can get Sensa-trac air assist struts, or regular Sensa-trac. IIRC, the air strut is part # 801798 for your car. If the car was originally equipped with ELC, yes it will ride & handle better with an air strut. The coil springs were tuned for the ELC suspension.

[scott62]

well I have dynaride on my 95 pa and had the front struts replaced last year which ruined the soft ride. I want to restore the softest ride I can, but I need some info when the fronts were changed last year they changed the struts with new springs. I went to napa to check on a set of sensa-tracs they had sensa-tracs without springs and the rears were without air bladers item #'s 71822 and 71798 when I said I really wanted springs and bladers they quoted napa regal ride struts made by monroe item #'s 201798 and 201822 these came with springs on the front and air bladers on the rear. For the softest ride should ( I go with the sensa-tracs and use the old springs from the noname struts that were put on last year and the rears without air) or (the regal rides) or (go some where else and start over)

[Jrs3800]

Am I to understand that you had the struts replaced complete with springs?

If you did this then yes you did kill off your Dyna Ride..

When you get the replacement struts that come with springs you are not going to get the softest spring..

Sensatrack struts are quite good, and just about every monroe is going to give you a ride that firmer than stock especially on a Soft Ride suspension..

Chances are you'll never get that soft ride back..

I personally like firmer, but even my 95 Bonneville with FE1 soft ride was stiffer than just about any buick I drove, with the exception of the Grand Touring models...

Even if you did get the softer springs chances are the replacement springs will be a Variable rate and will be a bit stiffer than what you had.. Unless you kept the springs that came off the car, you may be out of luck..

[GMLoyalist]

HotZ28: I just bought a '95 Park Ave and you seem to know enough about these things so I'm gonna have to keep an eye on you. But why does your "Glock" look more like a Beretta? Either way, you should just ditch it and get a Colt 1911. Hoo-Ah!

[scott62]

Maybe I'm getting old, but when I'm in the pa I dont want to FEEL the road I have a truck and a van for that. Maybe I need to go to the junkyard and find some wore out springs. Although I thought springs mainly controled ride height not firmness or softness

[C man]

Since u live in the memphis area I suggest you go to the U-Pull it junkyard on watkins st bye the MATA terminal. The have plenty of buicks from the early to mid 90's and there pretty cheap.

[GMLoyalist]

When I worked for Pep Boys (don't get me started) we sold the retrofit kits to replace the air ride. It was about $500 a side. I'm not sure what the big deal is, why one can't just replace the struts with Sensatracs or something. And this is sooo much different from my ZR2. I replaced those with the Bilsteins that came on it and that truck is so firm I was always driving it like a car with 16" less height. But this PA has so much body roll and nosedive that I don't feel comfortable even going the speed limit. I think I just need to get used to it. If I sense a problem with the air system, it's coming out.

[C man]

Maybe im the only who thinks the handling isn't so bad or i dont have fear. I have drove cars that have tighter handling the my PA but maybe im used to it becuase I drive agressive and scare most people who ride with me. I've had it up to 100+ on the interstate and this wasn't in a straight line and I didn't feel like I was losing control. I will admit if u hit a dip going at high speeds u do feel like u don't have control but I think most people just dont feel safe with the body roll.