Manual Shocks replacing Dyna Ride

[penspuck73]

1998 Buick Lesabre
Anyone ever installed normal rear shocks to replace the "Dyna Ride" thing? If so, well, any advice?

 

[dcraig1000]

dyna ride is just the name gm decided to call the suspension. its not a specific type of strut or shock.

 

[HotZ28]

Dyna Ride was used to describe the soft ride suspension for Buick, and does not identify any particular suspension components. Basically, Dyna Ride was the stock suspension on Buick PA & LeSabre during this time. Do you have the the air assist rear shocks, which were an option?

 

[penspuck73]

Yeah, I do have the air assist rear suspension... Seems as though the system is no longer working properly. Rear end is a bit saggy and bounces around alot on the highway (kinda like Uncle Buck's Ford LTD). Instead of fixing the air assist, I would like to just install a couple of good ol' shocks... though I'm not sure if its easier to fix the current system or to install normal shocks, if its even possible.

 

[HotZ28]

When you first turn the ignition ON (no start) after about 10-sec do you here the compressor under rear passenger side of car running? Typically, the rear air bladders develop leaks after about 10-12 yrs and need to be replaced. If the compressor is working as it should and pumping enough psi, it would be better to replace the rear air assist struts with new set of Monroe Sensa-Trac Part # 171798 Quick-Struts.

 

[imidazol97]

Yeah, I do have the air assist rear suspension... Seems as though the system is no longer working properly. Rear end is a bit saggy and bounces around alot on the highway (kinda like Uncle Buck's Ford LTD). Instead of fixing the air assist, I would like to just install a couple of good ol' shocks... though I'm not sure if its easier to fix the current system or to install normal shocks, if its even possible.

There are two things here.

#1) The car has struts at all 4 corners: there are no shocks on the 1998.

#2) The struts are probably very badly weakened if they are the originals especially. That would explain the wallowing. I could push in and out on the front struts with two fingers on my 2003 at 110,000 mi after I had them off. They offered almost no control. Mine should have been changed at 80K.

a) The wallowing also could be because the sway bar links that
connect the ends of the sway bars to the suspension are broken
due to rusting. That is very common. Has there been any clanging
or metallic sounds on driveways, e.g.?
b) the low height could be the air bladders or lines not holding air.
But it also could be because the pump does not work. I found mine
worked but the power line to it had broken where it exits through
the trunk to the underside of the car. So diagnosis is best here.

Summary:
Replacing with proper struts is minor extra expense, if any. Avoiding the air controlled height feature is a false economy. I believe many people have heard about the _computer_ controlled electronic suspension that was on certain Bonnevilles or LeSabres or Park Avenues. Those were very costly to replace--if they are even available any longer. Note that that type of computer control on suspensions is a major feature on certain newer cars if i read the press info correctly on the new Cadillacs, e.g., I believe people confuse the height control air feature with the electronic struts on a few high line cars from that era.

Diagnose. And good luck at getting it riding better. My brand recommendation is SensaTrac struts by Monroe. Stores and Monroe sometimes run sales or rebates on product and/or installation costs. Currently it's a truck shock rebate-- http://www.monroe.com/promotions

 

[drsocal]

Actually, Dynaride, while a Buick marketing name, was actually a type of shock they designed. The inside of the strut had a layer of rubber disks of different shapes stacked like a pyramid. They were filled with oil, and worked to cover most needs for most road conditions (in the floatiest manner possible).

I'm not aware that you can find any struts like this post 1999. That's the last the Dynaride system was used. Gran Touring lasted longer--until 2005. Most people opted for Gran Touring if they cared, or wanted to pay the price tag--I've had both Gran Touring and Dynaride, and personally liked Dynaride better.

 

[gnhbodyguy]

Started to read this but the ZZZs set in…

http://forums.aaca.org/f115/gran-touring-vs-dynaride-suspension-164927.html

No big deal to get air shock system working properly again. For me, the car would go slightly sideways when hitting a bump at highway speeds.

Had to replace the rear air shocks on both LeSabres. Very easy and inexpensive $85 at Autozone for a pair of Gabriels.

If your air compressor is bad, you can replace it. Access it through the floor of the trunk.

I have struts in the front and air shocks in the back on the 03 and 04. I read somewhere that air shocks were standard.

 

[redmondjp]

As stated above, I'd stick with the air-leveling rear struts if your car has them. It makes a big difference in the safe high-speed handling of the car (not to mention headlight aim) when you have passengers in the rear seat and/or a trunk full of luggage.