Installing rear shocks on 04 Bonneville

[zamjohn]

Just installing new Monroe rear air shocks (MA822) on my o4 Bonneville but can't get the airlines out of the old shocks(also MA822 shocks). What do you do just cut airline off as close to shock as possible and then insert plastic line end in to new shock? I've installed 2 pairs like this before on bonnevilles I've had but can't remember what I did. On hold till I hear from someone with better memory. Thanks!

[00Beast]

I disconnected the old shock and connected the line to the new shock. I don't know how else you'd do it, the factory connectors are kind of specific for that.

[zamjohn]

Did your lines come out the old shocks easy or did you have to cut the plastic line? I just can't pull my lines out of the old shocks. The clip comes off easy enough and the connector does as well but the line is not coming off.

[00Beast]

Mine came off easily, but my car was a FL car, so there wasn't much rust. Not like a car from MB...

[zamjohn]

Rust we get plenty out here! I guess I'll just cut the line a little shorter and re-insert into the hole in new shock and connector and clip to hold in place will be easy enough. Thanks.

[00Beast]

Yeah, gotta improvise. Hopefully it holds up. Good luck!

[zamjohn]

Did cut the plastic line back a bit, beveled the end and it seems to be holding air. It is the little O-rings at the end of the line that seal the connection. Took much longer than anticipated but good to go for a few more miles.

[harofreak00]

I've had all to many of them get seized in there. It is a flare fitting on the end of the plastic. The o-rings just hold the proper pressure on the fitting. How did you make the bevel? I'd assume that boring out the end with a soldering iron would work.

[nos4blood70]

I ended up just forcing everything together the second time around, but I'm not super sure that it holds pressure.... LOL

In any case, I plan on replacing all of the lines this Spring. I believe they are less than $20 off of Amazon.

[zamjohn]

I used a sharp file to bevel the end. Its' only approximate I guess but it is the o'rings that do the sealing. Mine are holding air nicely. Had to do multiple hack saw cuts on the shock nipple to get the o'rings out without damaging them. I don't give up easy as there are no replacement lines available here. The other two times that I used these shocks I did not have the big problem with the end being seized. Don't anticipate doing this car again.

[dustytrader]

Got my shocks at Autozone for $64 and it came with all new hoses, o rings, and fittings. I just cut the old ones off close to the end and installed the new hardware. Shocks completed in no time.

[Abbby]

I just did this two weeks ago. Tried every method possible to remove the air line and gave up. What I recommend is to buy the Monroe AK29 air line kit. Its only about $15 and O-Reilly has it. Also buy 2 compression fittings for this line size. You will cut off about 8" on the car and also using the new ends cut about 8" off that. Splice it in using the compressing fittings being careful not to over tighten the fittings, Before slipping plastic lines into fitting make sure the inside is clean of burrs from your cut. I used the appropriate drill bit size and spun with my fingers. When done use a zip tie to keep line back out of the way but do not secure it tight. Just loosely. The compression fitting may gather ice and snow versus the smooth plastic line.

[96 SSEi]

i also struggled with the lines - I got fed- up and put duck tape around the connection, then I used pliers to turn the hose on the shock spout until i could pull it off.

cutting it may make it too small to fit properly