95 caprice rear coil springs

[94HeavyChevy]

im replacing the rear springs in my 95 caprice 4.3 V8. Do the caprice wagon springs fit right in? I want the most HD springs. Are the wagon springs stronger/stiffer than the HD springs that are sold for the sedan?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 94HeavyChevy

im replacing the rear springs in my 95 caprice 4.3 V8. Do the caprice wagon springs fit right in? I want the most HD springs. Are the wagon springs stronger/stiffer than the HD springs that are sold for the sedan?

get the 9c1 springs..

use air shocks in rear when your hauling heavy loads..keep vehicle level or you will have U joint problems..

[94HeavyChevy]

are 9c1 springs the strongest springs i can get. pep boys has HD springs for the sedan for 85 bucks and the wagon springs are 95 bucks. where would i find 9c1 springs. i have rear end sag that im trying to eliminate when i have a few people in the vehicle or when im towing my jet ski thats y i want to get the stiffest/strongest springs.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 94HeavyChevy

are 9c1 springs the strongest springs i can get. pep boys has HD springs for the sedan for 85 bucks and the wagon springs are 95 bucks. where would i find 9c1 springs. i have rear end sag that im trying to eliminate when i have a few people in the vehicle or when im towing my jet ski thats y i want to get the stiffest/strongest springs.

what you need is the hd springs. then install the air shocks .. using a small foot pump you can adjust the height to level when towing or big guys in the back seat..

I have used air shocks in these type vehicles since 1967. properly installed and about 100.oo cost they last about 6 yrs..

you will have a very niece ride over poor road surfaces..also when the roads get snowed up I would put 400lbs of sand in the trunk..then add about 90 lbs of air to the shocks to get the vehicle slighly above level.. never got stuck...

since I have a 4wd truck no need to use the sedan for snow travel any more...

[94HeavyChevy]

so i should get these HD springs for 85 bucks? what r some decent brands of air shocks.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 94HeavyChevy

so i should get these HD springs for 85 bucks? what r some decent brands of air shocks.

monroe MA-819 air shocks/kit ..manual air adjustible 1200lbs capacity..

these monroe air shocks have been around for a very long time had good luck with them///

when you install the air lines they have small O rings these must be coated with silicone grease..this silicone grease prevents these o rings from cracking ..when cracked it will leak ..never had a leak..


the shocks do wear out like any shock ...air portion adjusts the height then the shock fluid/piston keeps you steady on the bumps..the air gives you a cushion type ride ...not soft, but very smooth..especially with the big guys in the back makes control of the loaded down vehicle better because the rear end is level not up too high ..

[96capricemgr]

Airlift helper bags in the stock springs and good shocks like Bilstein. That setup will last the life of the vehicle

I screwed around with 9C1 springs for a few years but the rear high stance they offer when the car is lightly loaded really sucks for winter traction so I found myself swapping them seasonally.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AIR-60755/
They keep the load supported by the spring supports instead of the shock mounts, they operate at lower pressures(5-35psi) too which makes them much easier to adjust. I plumbed them separate with the fill ports on either side of the gas cap behind the license plate, you can balance an offcenter load or if you go to the dragstrip you can put more pressure in the passenger side to keep the car level at launch.

Air shocks operate at MUCH higher pressures and you might find it hard to get enough pressure to fill them if heavily loaded. Found that out the hard way when I made the mistake of putting them on one of my wagons. According to Monroe they can use up to 150psi. http://www.monroe.com/products/maxair.asp where do you think you are going to find that much pressure on the road?? Not a gas station air pump that is for sure.

[CD Smalley]

+1 to 96capricemgr's suggestion on the Airlift bags. A much better overall solution than air shocks. I've had them in my 89 for close to 10 years now. Had them in my 86 for years as well.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 96capricemgr

Airlift helper bags in the stock springs and good shocks like Bilstein. That setup will last the life of the vehicle

I screwed around with 9C1 springs for a few years but the rear high stance they offer when the car is lightly loaded really sucks for winter traction so I found myself swapping them seasonally.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AIR-60755/
They keep the load supported by the spring supports instead of the shock mounts, they operate at lower pressures(5-35psi) too which makes them much easier to adjust. I plumbed them separate with the fill ports on either side of the gas cap behind the license plate, you can balance an offcenter load or if you go to the dragstrip you can put more pressure in the passenger side to keep the car level at launch.

Air shocks operate at MUCH higher pressures and you might find it hard to get enough pressure to fill them if heavily loaded. Found that out the hard way when I made the mistake of putting them on one of my wagons. According to Monroe they can use up to 150psi. http://www.monroe.com/products/maxair.asp where do you think you are going to find that much pressure on the road?? Not a gas station air pump that is for sure.

since I have had these type air shocks since 1967 ..I have to say 150lbs of air is outragious !

with normal standard load 25psi ...with 400lbs measured of sand 80-90 psi vehicle slightly high from normal...

unless your carrying an elephant in this caprice you do not need the expensive air BAGS...on a truck yes..maybe a wagon since it has a bed like body..

I got more than 6 yrs with these type shocks..also towing 4,ooolbs boat trailer with brakes no problem vehicle kept level and that took fully loaded about 75psi in the shocks...


no need for a power pump as well very small volume is needed to adjust height...

to keep the vehicle level with what he is doing from time to time , is what is his issue..

[silicon212]

My last vehicle was a 1975 Pontiac Grand Am and it had air shocks. I would often have to add more than 125-130 psi into them in order to maintain the stance when the car was loaded.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by silicon212

My last vehicle was a 1975 Pontiac Grand Am and it had air shocks. I would often have to add more than 125-130 psi into them in order to maintain the stance when the car was loaded.

thats some pressure you needed...LIke I stated before 85-90 psi with the 400lbs of sand and a full 23 gallons of fuel.. these caprices are not that hard to lift in the rear for a level no U joint angle operation.

these shocks are good for 1200lbs but I do not recommend getting anywhere near that amount of weight..

[96capricemgr]

I expected the complaint when I said up to 150psi which is why I linked to Monroe's own website, 20psi is minimum. The chamber is small diameter which is why it takes so much pressure for them to work. The AirLift bags are larger diameter so they run lower pressure, the volume is still pretty small though so they fill easily.

Far as a small manual pump for filling I bet most of the bicycle type pumps max out by about 60psi and if loaded it is VERY likely you need more than that with the shocks.

jcat, when are you going to come to terms with the FACT there have been advances and changes in the world in the last 30-40years. Pretty much everything you say is wildly antiquated as if you have lived under a rock since Carter was in office.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by 96capricemgr

I expected the complaint when I said up to 150psi which is why I linked to Monroe's own website, 20psi is minimum. The chamber is small diameter which is why it takes so much pressure for them to work. The AirLift bags are larger diameter so they run lower pressure, the volume is still pretty small though so they fill easily.

Far as a small manual pump for filling I bet most of the bicycle type pumps max out by about 60psi and if loaded it is VERY likely you need more than that with the shocks.

jcat, when are you going to come to terms with the FACT there have been advances and changes in the world in the last 30-40years. Pretty much everything you say is wildly antiquated as if you have lived under a rock since Carter was in office.

your 1975 pontiac body skin was more like tank armor compared to the 95 caprice body skin..lean too hard on a 1995 and you will put a dent in it ..not so on those 1975 vehicles..

foot pump of a good quality is good..not those arm/hand operated bicycle pumps.. I have used this foot pump to top off the tire pressures..goes up to about 100psi.. 2inch bore 12inch throw.

had this pump since 1977........

the air bags I was going to get for my truck..want to keep the truck level when hauling heavy stuff ...costs are in the 300.oo range...

the air shocks are cheap easy to install and good for a sedan..
the pressure with a normal load is about 25psi..with normal sized persons loaded with luggage you need about 50psi ..

these caprices are old technolgy...old design ...new controls on engine management...same body frame/steering /rear end/same tranny setup..not much different than the body frame setup from a 60's full size box made by GM..

[Blt2Lst]

I installed a pair of Gabriel Hi-Jacker air shoocks ($60/pair at autozone with lifetime warranty) on my wagon after blowing out a pair of air-Lift bags. I find that the air shocks provide a smoother ride than the air bags did. When I pumped up the air bags to get the desired ride height, the ride was way to stiff for me. With the air shocks, I run them at about 60-70 psi to get the desired height I need to keep my trailer hitch from scraping on dips. The tag on the shocks say 25 - 200 psi operating range but I have never had more than 120psi in them.
Like 96 said, it's hard to find a gas station these days that have more than 80 psi at the pump islands. You need to carry your own pump to get the higher pressures.

You are doing it right by replacing the worn springs and not relying on air shocks to compensate for weak springs like so many do (myself included). New springs with air shocks sounds like the way to go..

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by j cAT

your 1975 pontiac body skin was more like tank armor compared to the 95 caprice body skin..lean too hard on a 1995 and you will put a dent in it ..not so on those 1975 vehicles..

You got 96 mixed up with me ... I am the one who had the '75 pontiac.

these caprices are old technolgy...old design ...new controls on engine management...same body frame/steering /rear end/same tranny setup..not much different than the body frame setup from a 60's full size box made by GM..

I didn't know they had 4L60E transmissions in 1969. Odd.