Hello just curious is there a difference in the ride between air shocks and regular gas shocks? Mine have been retrofitted (prev.owner) with air lines so you can manually put the air in them, instead of the auto level motor controlling them. Ride is Ok but seems kind of jittery/jiggly in the back, even with no air in them. Appears to be the original springs and the current shocks look pretty rusty, not even sure if they are original or not because I can't see any labels. When I take the air out of them the "auto level" light keeps going on and off so I may have to keep some air in them, though I can't figure out why the light is not always on (motor is disconnected)
One more thing, is the ride with no air in them the same as a normal gas shock, or is there something else that's different other than the extra air inside?
Air adjustable shocks ride like crap, unless you tow or load that Riv down, replace those air shocks with regular type
One more thing, auto leveling is a gimmic, air bags on cars instead of coil springs never worked that great either.
So the air shocks ride badly even with no air in them? I did notice that the ride is jittery in the back but I thought they all ride like that. Def. not as soft as a caprice or Cadillac Brougham
I still have the ELC (Electronic Level Control ) in my 98 Riviera. When I first bought the car in 2004, it was not working and I didn't realize it until one day when a friend was riding behind me and told me both my rear tires had noticeable negative camber. Thinking it was an alignment issue, I took it in for a check, nope, no adjustment for camber on the rear. Turns out the back of the car was low. Proper camber depends on proper ride height. So through the Chassis manual I go looking at the trouble charts. 3 days later, I am able to narrow the problem down to a single wire break between the level sensor and ELC relay under the seat. The system has worked flawlessly ever since. Whenever you start the car, the compressor comes on for 3-5 seconds as a check of the system. I listen for it all the time. The back of the car stays up now as well. Replaced the Delco shocks with a Monroe equivalent that ride fantastic and last as well, AND they cost less than 60.00 for the pair. Not sure if the 84 uses the same type of system or not, probably not. My 98 has an independent rear suspension, and like I said, proper camber depends on ride height. Some guys with the 95-99 Rivieras have replaced the entire system with regular shocks or regular air shocks with air lines. Probably an option for the 84. You can probably troubleshoot the system with the Chassis manual and fix it so it works right.
These are the Monroe replacement shocks for your 84, https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=61810&cc=1021857&jsn=465 https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...cid+v8,1021857,suspension,shock+absorber,7556
Its possible, I've never drove with air shocks deflated, but I would say its entirely possible. When you say "jittery" you mean one or more tires jumps up and down after a bump? If so, the hydraulic portion of the shocks is shot. Id see if a standard replacement shock is a viable solution instead of replacing with air shocks again.
Use a service manual to diagnose the system. The most common failure was the height sensor. They were expensive back then so most people converted to manual air shocks. You more than likely can no longer get the sensors.
What I meant is that it rides more like my dads Honda Accord in the back than a soft riding American car, even with no air. Springs look pretty original (rusty) so I don’t think they were replaced. Sensor works because if I take all air out the light keeps going on and off. Motor was disconnected from the shocks by the PO who retrofitted manual air lines to each shock. I’m not sure if the shocks are orig or not because they are pretty rusty looking. I guess my question was would regular gas shocks ride softer than the air shocks with no air in them?
Gas shocks usually ride a bit firmer, so if ride is what you are after, just get a regular shock. How is the ride height with no air in the current shocks?
Is what I am understanding the original leveling system has been disabled and you currently have air shocks on it that you manual inflate? If that's the case, there is no comparison between how the car rides now and how it would have rode when new with the proper air system. I would ditch the air shocks and get yourself a good quality set of shock and you will be far happier with the ride. That type of air shock has no business on your car unless you are towing or hauling heavy loads. You may want to have the original system checked out but parts may be hard to find to replace if needed. A proper working leveling air system give a fantastic ride, I have had it in probably 10 or 12 cars and always liked it and always appreciated the proper ride height regardless of how many people were in the car or how much load I had
Any recommendations for a regular non-gas shock that would fit an 84 Riv? The ride height appeared to be slightly lower after I took the air out, maybe 1/4 inch difference? It's' not what I'd call stiff riding, but definitely not like my Lincoln Town Car, much firmer than that in the back, even with no air in the shocks. Did they ride firmly from the factory, or did they have a Cadillac-like soft ride? The front does seems softer than the back though.
Is there a way to post a pic (attachment) here? I could post a pic of the shocks/springs that I took on my phone
When air shocks are deflated their control of the spring goes out the window. The ride either soft or firm SHOULD come from the springs, shock absorbers only control oscillations of the spring. That's why air shocks suck, as soon as you start inflating air shocks and the instant they start raising the vehicle, the load (weight) is starting to transfer from the spring (where the load is designed to be carried) to the air shock ( where the shock mounts were never designed to carry weight) The car should sit level in the back WITHOUT air in the shocks, if not, new springs are needed. Any suspension designed to carry a load will ride pretty firm to harsh unloaded, but put a load on it, and it rides nicer, and handles the load as it was designed. Air shocks are a poor compromise of having your cake and eating it too. Air bags are the way to go with coil springs, they work with the spring by resisting the springs compression, being they install INSIDE the springs AND they carry the load where it was designed to be carried, on the much beefier lower spring perch, as opposed to the metal tab welded to the axle for the lower shock mount.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...cid+v8,1021857,suspension,shock+absorber,7556 Above are the shocks for your car. KYB sells a gas shock that eliminates the level control shock. If it was my car, I'd get the leveling system working and use the shocks for that system. I have the Monroes on my 98 Riviera. They ride very nice and are very inexpensive. The ones for your car are the MA791, https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=61810&cc=1021857&jsn=401
