Replacing Rear Air Shocks 00+ LeSabre

[pcmos]

I've done a lot of research in determining my aftermarket options for replacing the rear air shocks on my 2000 LeSabre. Looks like the only two brands I can think of that actually make replacements for this car are Gabriel and Monroe. While the Gabrial HiJacker shocks use a different air inlet, the Monroe Max Air units have an air inlet identical to OEM. Essentially I'm wodering if anyone out there has performed this replacement and if you could weigh in on your ride quality. I'm worried that both the Gabriel and Monroe units will be designed to handle much more loading than what was intended for the original factory shocks. If so, the ride on the aftermarket shocks may end up being way too stiff. I'm hoping to avoid shelling out 190 bucks per unit from the dealer if possible, these Monroe Max Air shocks are about 80 dollars for two and are direct bolt on replacements. I guess most of the aftermarket air shocks are intended to be inflated to much higher pressures than these OEM units, I can tell from the construction alone that they are a whole lot bulkier. I really don't want to feel like I'm driving a truck.

Thanks,
Andrew

[HotZ28]

I replaced the AC-Delco "air struts" on my Ultra with Monroe Sensa-Trac air struts. It was a bolt on replacement and the ride is excellent! I did notice in the link below, that the 2000 LeSabre does not have a listing for the "Sensa-Trac" but does list the Max-Air. I cannot speak for that particular strut, however, Monroe has always had a good ride quality when used on Buicks. If you prefer AC-Delco, the price in the link below should be appealing!

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,7556

By the way, air pressure required to maintain "level ride" should be very close to the same between the brands. The ALC system is designed to maintain level rear height, regardless of load in the rear of the car (up to 1000 lbs)! The more weight applied to the rear, the higher the air pressure required to maintain "level body height". I usually run 18-26 psig depending on load in the trunk and you can go as high as 60 psig max, if you ever have the need to carry 1000 lbs in the rear of the car. I converted mine to "manual fill" to eliminate the ALC system. I adjusted the car to the best ride and handling to fit my needs. I currently have about 24 psi in the system and have added air only one time, (2 psig) in the last year.

[stuzman]

Originally Posted by pcmos

I've done a lot of research in determining my aftermarket options for replacing the rear air shocks on my 2000 LeSabre. Looks like the only two brands I can think of that actually make replacements for this car are Gabriel and Monroe. While the Gabrial HiJacker shocks use a different air inlet, the Monroe Max Air units have an air inlet identical to OEM. Essentially I'm wodering if anyone out there has performed this replacement and if you could weigh in on your ride quality. I'm worried that both the Gabriel and Monroe units will be designed to handle much more loading than what was intended for the original factory shocks. If so, the ride on the aftermarket shocks may end up being way too stiff. I'm hoping to avoid shelling out 190 bucks per unit from the dealer if possible, these Monroe Max Air shocks are about 80 dollars for two and are direct bolt on replacements. I guess most of the aftermarket air shocks are intended to be inflated to much higher pressures than these OEM units, I can tell from the construction alone that they are a whole lot bulkier. I really don't want to feel like I'm driving a truck.

Thanks,
Andrew

I've replaced the front struts and rear shocks on a 2000 LeSabre with Monroe and the ride is excellent. Although the rear shocks from Monroe are bigger in diameter, I didn't notice any "stiffness" in the ride.

[pcmos]

Just to follow up, I did replace those rear shocks with the Monroe Max Airs. I can definately detect a much stiffer ride back there, much more than OEM. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet, I definately want a sportier feel in my suspension but I still pick up too much body roll in hard turning. I was hoping a stiffer rear shock would vastly improve body roll but even with the heaviest sway bars available and stiff rear shocks its still bad. I should mention this car does have the gran touring package, so I'm trying to take it above and beyond that. My new tires are V rated bridgestone turanzas, which are awesome. I'll probably go ahead and replace the front struts with a better brand like Tokico or such and play with the sway bar end links and bushings to try and reduce body roll. I don't care if my ride is firm as long as the handling performance is exceptional. Wish I could get a chance to drive a bonneville SSEI and see how it feels compared to my LeSabre because theres's a lot more available for the bonny in the aftermarket. It would be nice if I could adapt some of the bonneville parts, either OEM or aftermarket, into my LeSabre, but it may not feel a whole lot different. I'll figure something out, by the time I get done with this thing I'll be ready to enter autocross events with it, lmfao.

[maxwedge]

Originally Posted by pcmos

Just to follow up, I did replace those rear shocks with the Monroe Max Airs. I can definately detect a much stiffer ride back there, much more than OEM. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet, I definately want a sportier feel in my suspension but I still pick up too much body roll in hard turning. I was hoping a stiffer rear shock would vastly improve body roll but even with the heaviest sway bars available and stiff rear shocks its still bad. I should mention this car does have the gran touring package, so I'm trying to take it above and beyond that. My new tires are V rated bridgestone turanzas, which are awesome. I'll probably go ahead and replace the front struts with a better brand like Tokico or such and play with the sway bar end links and bushings to try and reduce body roll. I don't care if my ride is firm as long as the handling performance is exceptional. Wish I could get a chance to drive a bonneville SSEI and see how it feels compared to my LeSabre because theres's a lot more available for the bonny in the aftermarket. It would be nice if I could adapt some of the bonneville parts, either OEM or aftermarket, into my LeSabre, but it may not feel a whole lot different. I'll figure something out, by the time I get done with this thing I'll be ready to enter autocross events with it, lmfao.

Involved with the same thing with a 2003 Lesabre no touring susp. I added the rear sway bar stock and put Moog 8989 urethane frt sway bar end links, but the touring suspension sway bar is larger in the front, my car corners pretty good with the 15'' not 16" wheels, but a Buick will always be a Buick.

[charlietuner]

I recently replaced the rear shocks on my 03 lesabre limited with Monroe max airs. Completly simple "do it yourself" direct fit. Completly DIFFERENT ride. Too stiff. Too bad monroe doesnt make a sensatrack unit with air lift feature. The maxairs are for LOAD leveling, not RIDE leveling. If you're trying to duplicate the original lesabre ride, maxairs wont get it done. On the other hand if you're going to haul bricks in your buick, these will do the trick.

[pcmos]

Way back when I had the 00 LeSabre I did end up going with those Monroe units. You are correct, they ride much stiffer, although I eventually decided that I really liked that because it helped reduce body roll during tight cornering. The result was a much sportier feel in combination with polyurethane sway bar links and bushings. I ran the Monroe shocks for about 50k miles with no problems. I'll probably use them again on my 2004 when it needs new rear shocks. I was also really glad to have them on my long road trips when I tend to load the trunk with an absurd amount of stuff.

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

I replaced the AC-Delco "air struts" on my Ultra with Monroe Sensa-Trac air struts. It was a bolt on replacement and the ride is excellent! I did notice in the link below, that the 2000 LeSabre does not have a listing for the "Sensa-Trac" but does list the Max-Air.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,7556
.

I am concerned about the shock replacement. I wonder if the struts for the Ultra PA were truly Sensa-Trac. The shocks for the rear of the H-bodies appears to be an air load shock. Period.

On Rockauto or gmpartsdirect, the rear shocks for AC used to be hundreds; one side was substantially more expensive than the other side.

But now the link on Rockauto for AC/Delco goes to this
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...,parttype,7556

which has a label "AC Delco Air Lift Shocks." I'll bet, if that's allowed, that these are the SAME shocks as the MA822s by Tenneco (Monroe). I'll bet again that they are made right here in Kettering (Dayton) at the nee Delco now Tenneco plant where Delphi used to make struts but sold it to Tenneco.

I've been browsing replacements as my leSabre gets closer to 100K. I am sure the SensaTrac for front struts would suit me after having them on 2 previous Buicks. But I'm very leery of the rear shocks.

[maxwedge]

Just to jump in here, I have had poor ride performance with just about any Monroe shock/strut, jusst as stated above, the harder ride than oe. BTW guys, try not to resurrect 3 year old threads, thanks.