Air shocks or convert

Hi Don, and thanks for using 2CarPros.

The picture you attached shows shocks with helper springs. They are used when the coil springs are weak and sagging or you carry heavy loads. If you install new coil springs, the height will be fine. Remember, it is the coil spring that holds the weight of the car and not the shock. The shock is nothing but a dampener that slows and controls bouncing.

Now, with that in mind, the call is really yours. Being that it is 21 years old, you may start running into other problems with the system which can get expensive.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe

Thanks for including the photo. Unless those are listed specifically for this purpose, those springs will not hold the car up at all. Those are helper springs to be used to get the suspension ride height up back up to specs after the original coil springs have sagged from age. As proof, you can collapse those shock absorbers by hand. There is no way those can be strong enough to hold up a thousand pounds of car. I could be wrong about those. Original coil springs for this car model are pretty light, so it could be possible these in the photo will do the job.

As a suspension and alignment specialist who has test-driven a lot of cars, I can assure you there is little noticeable difference in ride quality between air springs and coil springs. The big advantage to the air springs is the systems can adjust for different loading.

Look at the rear suspension to see if the pockets and mounts are already there to install a pair of standard coil springs. All of the shock absorbers listed for this car are air shocks which will allow you to keep the self-leveling capability.

Hi JACOBANDNICKOLAS. Didn't mean to butt into your conversation.

Welcome back:

Yes, they are fine for controlling the bouncing. The ride may be a bit firmer since the shock has the additional spring, but other than that, it's fine. Just make sure, as Caradio mentioned, get a good coil spring in addition to these shocks. I believe he felt you weren't installing coil springs along with the load lever shocks and he is correct. The shock in your picture will not hold the vehicle's weight.

Regardless, let us know if you have other questions. Also, Caradio, never feel the need to apologize. I'm glad you jumped in.

Take care,

Joe

Sorry for my misunderstanding. I was thinking about air springs that are huge airbags that can be used in place of coil springs. The replacement coil springs I described are what you already have.

The issue is still correct ride height, and that has to be measured at specific points to be sure it's right. Your old shock absorbers are air adjustable to correct ride height as you add more and more dead bodies in the trunk. Those in your photo are designed to handle the majority of height problems when the original shock absorbers stop working. Ride quality is likely to be improved, not from switching to shock absorbers with helper springs, but from replacing mushy and worn shock absorbers.

Not a problem. And yes, you have to install coil springs in addition to the shocks you identified. They come as a set in the conversion kit.

Feel free to let us know if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

There should be coils there now, but when you get the conversion kit, that usually replaces everything. I attached a picture for you to look at. The picture is what you should have presently. You will see a coil spring and an air shock. The air shock is replaced with the original picture you sent me. The coil spring in the picture is usually part of the conversion kit and gets replaced at the same time. Check your vehicle and confirm the picture is the same as what you have.

I hope this helps. Let me know,

Joe

Once you install the kit, the only thing I can think of would be to remove the fuse for the compressor. Other than that, you should be fine.

You are very welcome. Let me know if you run into trouble or the outcome.

Take care of yourself,
Joe