Rear Shock Replacement - FE3 Compatable

[89OldsRocket]

Other than an Olds Delta 88 with FE3, what models of H-body have an equivalent rear shock to an 89 Olds Delta 88? Will shocks out of a Olds 98 work? Bonneville SSE?

Also, I think my Olds has the autolevelling rear suspension as it has wires hooked into each shock and into some kind of conroller on the right rear. How does this work and can I bypass by just not hooking it up if I can't find FE3 shocks and go with a regular shock?

[89OldsRocket]

Picked up an air shock from a 1989 Buick Park Avenue today at the wrecking yard. Wasn't too hard to pull, broke an extension and adapter though. Hopefully the install goes smoothly.

[89OldsRocket]

With the rear sway bar, whats the best way to undo the nut and bolt holding it to the bracket that attaches to the control arm/rear shock?

Mines rusted quite a bit, is it easier to just cut and replace? The rear sway bar seems to be under a bit of load, will I just be able to have someone use a crowbar to force it into position when I install the lower 2 shock bolts?

[Zeik75]

I didn't need to take off the sway bar to do my rear struts on the 88. And if it is under load that should be relieved once its up in the air.

[89OldsRocket]

I didn't need to take off the sway bar to do my rear struts on the 88. And if it is under load that should be relieved once its up in the air.

As you said sway bar wasn't under any real load. Got one of the 2 big bolts out, lower one is being stubborn, nut is off but been hitting it hard and it won't budge. Sprayed it with PB Blaster, will try again tomorrow. New air shock is cleaned up, painted and ready to go in.

[89OldsRocket]

New airshock is in, tested the compressor, and ELC is working fine again. No more sagging rear end, rides tall now.

Old airshock was leaking and had broke in two pieces.

[Zeik75]

yeah that might make the compressor function a bit weird. glad you got it fixed though!