I put my car on an alignment rack the other day and I noticed that it had -2.1 -2.5 camber on the rear wheels. You can visually see the negative camber and the rear rides like crap the shocks are blown and the air pump might not work but to not eat threw my new tires should the springs be replaced to lift the rear up to flatten the wheel or should I look into the shocks and air pump? It has that bump jerking deal as well.

The pump with air shocks work as an auto leveling device. If you dont hear the pump kick on 30 sec. to a minute after you start the car you have a problem with the pump or the power going to it. Those springs usually dont go bad just for the hell of it unless they have really been worked over or have a break i wouldnt think the springs would be bad in an 01 (mine arent with 150K) Start with replacing the shocks and take care of the pump if not working ( will take care of that bump jerk+nicer ride and dangerous with blown out shocks) and if it still has the negative camber you can check the springs. Only other thing it could be is one of the hard connections from the hub to the control arm as there is not adjustment in the rear (not SE at least) but i believe you wouldnt be going anywhere if there was an issue there.

My air shocks work fine, and I've replaced most of my rear suspension parts, but I still have a drifting back end and what you call bump-jerking. I'm looking at replacing rear subframe bushings next (the back ones that bolt into the underbody). I have not replaced rear springs, but I don't see any obvious problem with those.

Ken_W

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2000 SSEi "Gypssei" - 206k miles - Light Bronzemist Metallic - stock
1999 Grand Am GT - 168k miles - Red - stock DEAD -- transmission died
2004 Pontiac Montana Ext 2WD - 207k miles - Blue Black Metallic - stock

Yes.. there are more reasons than just shocks that can cause the "bumpjerk" issue but the negative camber seems like an odd issue outside of something other than the rear riding at a more compressed state/control arms riding at a higher level than what they are supposed to. Anyone have any other thoughts?