Questions on replacing rear air struts

[MARGR4V3Z]

My 93 Bonneville bounces all around in the back when I hit a bump. I am going to be replacing both struts. Is their a write up on what needs to be done? How hard is it? I was looking at these three struts. Which would be best? Also do I have to use the Air Compressor struts or could I just get normal ones? Do I just need the strut or is their other hardware?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/monr ... ear+struts

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/monr ... ear+struts

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/monr ... 7CL3*15732

[J Wikoff]

The gas matics are Monroe's economy line, IINM. The Sensatracs will be closer to the original ride quality. It's too bad they don't make the Reflex line for us any more. I've been pretty happy with the slightly stiffer ride. I'm not sure which strut they put in the quick struts.

I think the rear will sag just a bit with the non-air struts. The springs we have take into account the air bag for providing stiffness. I think if you swap the springs with FE1s, the height will be normal, but the progressive nature (if it has that) will be softer.

Go to Willwren's site. He used to, and might still, have a chart of available struts and how they compared to stock.

Don't forget Amazon and Rockauto when looking at prices. And read the reviews on Amazon.

[Jrs3800]

I really like the Monroe Matic Plus over the sensatrack.. The matic plus seems to be stiffer.. But the sensatrack provides a good compliant ride..

If you wanted to do away with the load level portion and get standard rear struts I would say you may want to find an F41 92-93 bonneville to steal rear springs from... But I think you'll be hard pressed to find 92-93 F41... All FE2 bonnevilles from 88-99 used the rear air struts with the load level system... The 92-93 F41 bonneville used standard rear air struts without level control..

[MARGR4V3Z]

Okay thanks for the info guys, so you are saying to go with the Monroe Gas Matic ones for $60? I guess im gonna just keep the air leveling as it seems more work than worth to replace it all. I didnt wanna spend a ton on the struts either and $60 isnt bad if you have experienced them.

[J Wikoff]

Is the gas-matic the same as the monro-matic? Monroe's site doesn't list gas-matic... I've emailed them for clarification for my own curiosity.

[MARGR4V3Z]

Okay I took my wheel of to inspect the struts and from what I can see it is broke in half? Correct me if I am wrong. Both sides looks like this. Also is their just one nut on the top of the strut to remove? Is it best to do one side at a time and where do I jack it up at?

[J Wikoff]

Yeah, that strut has failed.

There's a structure that the two lower control arms mount to. You can see it peeking between the spring coils. Use a floor jack to lift the whole rear there. It's listed as a jack point. I used a block of wood between the jack and structure. I think you're right about the one nut.

[MARGR4V3Z]

Okay I am lost at this point. How does the hose come out of the strut to put into the new one?

[J Wikoff]

Dunno. I didn't install mine.

[98SSE]

The line has a fitting on the end that slides into the strut. I just replaced mine and they looked just like yours. I had to use some force to wiggle the line loose. When I got it out obviously clean it up a bit before installing on the new. Also while your under there check your rubber hoses coming from the compressor, mine were dry rotted.

[MARGR4V3Z]

The line has a fitting on the end that slides into the strut. I just replaced mine and they looked just like yours. I had to use some force to wiggle the line loose. When I got it out obviously clean it up a bit before installing on the new. Also while your under there check your rubber hoses coming from the compressor, mine were dry rotted.

Yeah I got one out and the other broke off inside so is there an oem replacement line or how do I go about that? I got the new struts in and the rear tires seems to be bowed inward a bit.

[J Wikoff]

Have you moved the car up/down the driveway? It probably just needs to settle. If you already have, then I'd say there's probably a slotted hole in the lower strut mount that can be used for setting camber and your bolt is sitting in the wrong end of it.

[J Wikoff]

I don't know if there are OEM replacement lines available (probably not). My solution would probably be to get some new generic bulk line and splice something together with elbows. Or can you maybe cut the end that's left cleanly and put a new fitting on? I don't know what the fitting looks like.

[MattStrike]

Monroe AK-29 has the OEM fittings on a length of new nylon lines. You can splice them on your old lines using push-to-connect union or compression unions. They are 1/8" diameter lines. Push-to-connect is a proper fitting for the nylon line, a compression union is not but will work if you don't over-tighten them.

Here's my writeup on how to install using compression fittings.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... ne#p344386


Yes the car will need to go down the road a few miles to start to settle in. Just make sure there is air pressure in the lines before you drive it though.

[KM AXer]

Wow, I wish I had come to the forums earlier, to offer advice/encouragement on this subject.
I replaced the rears (and the fronts) on my '93 SSE last fall.

Camber: The two bolts at the bottom of the strut allow for camber adjustment. If you do not want to spend the $ at an alignment shop, you will have to loosen them and change the tilt of the wheel yourself until it looks close. Using a standard carpenter's level is better than nothing....

Air hose: I was lucky enough to get both fittings out of the old shocks and re-use them. Alternatively, @MattStrike has the method. As has been suggested elsewhere in these forums, an issue with the automatic system does not mean you have to do without air assist, just install the generic air hoses and fill from a compressor to whatever amount seems appropriate for the load.

Your old struts were really far gone, weren't they? On my car the hydraulic fluid had pretty much leaked out, but no obvious breakage. Changing them stopped the tail-dragging/shock bottoming that happened with any load in the rear seat or trunk. I used Monroe 171798 Quick-Strut Complete Strut Assemblies from Amazon. Wish the ride was slightly firmer, but compared to before, they are GREAT!

Wow, the Amazon price is $40 less than Advance for the Quick-Strut!

[CatmanFS]

Go for the AC delco like I did after hearing that I didn't have the right struts for the last time. It's supposed to have an electrical connector he said, and pain soon followed.

[KM AXer]

So, did you get the car up and running again? Air lines connected? Camber self-set, or by alignment shop?