Suspension conversion, bad rear air suspension, leaking air, Buick RainIer - VOTD
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ย. 2014
- Air suspension conversion: 2 to 4 hours. ($180 / $425 / $1,100)
This video will show you how to replace the rear air suspension in a Buick Rainier from the air bag system to standard spring and shock. It was filmed on a 2006 vehicle but I'm pretty sure it is the same on all models from 2004 - 2007. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Thanks! Now I know what the dealer will be charging me for. Not something I care to tackle anymore. They claimed this was cheaper than replacing the original stuff.
I believe them.
Thanks for the video.
I can confirm. ZERO need to use compressors for springs.. lower BOTH sides together and remove shocks to allow rear diff to hang lower. bags come out super easy, springs go in SUPER EASY.
Fold the air lines and zip tie together.
1hr start to finish
Thanks for the info!
Alright bet
Good video. Having just completed the air to springs conversion on my 2004 Buick Rainier, I have a few suggestions:
1. It is significantly easier if you have a floor jack and 2 jack stands. You have to move the jack around frequently and a floor jack speeds up the job considerably.
2. If you put a jack stand on each side of the frame ahead of the wheels (where it is shown on the video) and remove both back wheels, you can avoid using the spring compressors.
3. Put the jack stands in place, and remove the lower bolt from the shock by jacking each side (one at a time) at a point just ahead of the lower bolt on the shock.
4. Once you have the shock bolts removed on each side, let the jack down so the axle is extended as far toward the floor as it will go. There will now be sufficient slack to remove the air bags without puncturing them and also to install the springs without using the spring compressors. It is tight, but they do slide in. You may need a large screwdriver as a lever to slide them in. I did the job by myself but if you had another person, then could step down on the wheel lugs to push the axle down slightly which should give you plenty of room to slide in the spring.
5. Once the springs are in place you can use the floor jack to jack each side and reinstall the lower bolt on the existing shocks (mine where still in good shape so I did not replace them) or remove the old shock and put on a new one.
6. You do not need to unplug the level sensor, I just detached the arm on the level sensor and pushed it to the fully extended position which tells the sensor that the airbag is fully inflated and the pump will not turn on.
The above points notwithstanding, the video was very helpful and convinced me to do the job myself which saved me hundreds of dollars.
+T Dean Hey Dean, thank you for the info.
Glad i read this...
Thanks.
Thank you. Glad I read this too. 1 hr start to finish
Excellent vid, I think you did a great job explaining the steps you took, to complete the job. Thank you sir!
you are welcome. Thanks for watching.
Very informative video...thank you for taking time to explain step by step in detail...my conversion kit is coming in later today and looking forward to finally removing those air bags and have no more worries about when and where the compressors may fail or if the leak got to outta hand and will no longer stay inflated
I understand. Thanks for watching.
I have just picked up a used 2004 Buick Rainier and one of the few concerns I had was a future issue with the "usual" issue of the rear air bag compressor. You have given me peace of mind to deal with this in the future when it fails. Thank you - and all the best in 2021
thanks
Thanks for the video!!! Gonna do this conversion on my mom's Rainier!
Cool, hope all goes well.
Thanks for the video Robert. Huge help with our Saab 9-7x (same car different badging)
Interesting.
great video. did the same to my rainier. pretty easy. the video was helpful. saved a pile of money
+roy tordiff Thanks for watching.
Great Video! Just used it to replace the air bags with the Moog 81049 springs and spring insulators mentioned below. Did just what the video called for.
Some pointers I can suggest are:
1) The Moog 81049 springs caused the car to ride slightly higher in the rear - about 1 to 1.5 inches. Nothing too crazy, but just noticeable. Hoping it settles over time, but if not no big worry. Not sure if there is a different spring that is "more correct".
2) Car rides smoother. Probably because the airbags weren't holding air and made the car feel wobbly.
3) Use an impact gun on the coil compressors and place them toward the bottom-middle of the coil. This will help from getting the coil compressor too far up or too far low where it might hit other parts of the suspension and make it impossible to undo the compressor.
4) The coils will have different openings at the top and bottom. The larger opening goes to the top and the smaller spiral opening goes to the bottom. The springs I bought didn't have instructions. The larger opening on the top will also accommodate the spring insulators better. It will make more sense once you have the coils in person.
5) I disconnected the motor as opposed to the sensors as mentioned in the video. Motor is located near muffler on passenger side of car. I used black tape to cover connections. It will probably never be used again as lines to airbags had to be cut to remove them. On board tire inflator probably was rendered useless due to the lines being cut - no big loss.
I know there are kits offered for about $250+, but the springs and insulators from Amazon where less than $60 with shipping. I didn't replace the shocks which seemed to still be good.
Hope this helps
Thanks for sharing.
this is a very good video. You're very smart. And know what you're doing thank you very much for posting this.
+Paradigm Prophecy You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
when ever i used those spring compressors i use an impact gun it makes the whole job much easier and faster. worth every cent.
Pat Dempsey I believe you.
Thanks bro for this video great job
You are welcome
Nice video, thank you for the tips.
You are welcome
good video, explained it good enough to do this myself
Thanks for watching
you don't need to replace the shocks. Moog 81049 springs and you'll want the spring insulators so you dont get any noises. You'll also need to disable the suspension pump so it doesn't run on and no the inflator will not work anymore when you disconnect the air springs as both air springs and the air hose connection are all connected and the system will no longer be able to pressurize. I own 2 Rainiers and converted both using only new moog springs and upper spring insulators.
I paid about $60 for the springs on eBay and about $12 for the upper insulators.
+Charles Hall nice.
Thanks for info. About to convert my moms Buick. It has been weird since new! Nice vehicle in one way but not so much in others. Airbags have leaked and been unreliable since new in 2006. Still don’t have 100k on it yet. Maybe 70k. Abs goes wild in slow driveways turning sharp when bumpy. Pedal falls and abs clicks wildly almost losing control of brakes. Sensitive to tire wear and size which much be awd system? Makes a weird popping sound in hard turns. 5.3 engine uses excessive oil sometimes and sometimes not. Dealer said it needed new rings. Bought extra warranty as told by dealer and dealer said bring it for overhaul and then they changed story and poured in engine restore! That worked for about 700 miles then back to using oil. Now it chooses when and when not to use oil. My mother is 75 and she has had it since new. Retired school teacher. She’s easy on cars. Unhappy with some thugs about the car. I’m about to convert her airbags to regular rear suspension. Oh, also, why is the steering so slow? Seems like the steering box has slow ratio compared to my sisters same model explorer. Great torque in this ride. Just an odd weird vehicle. Strange ergonomics. But nice in some ways....perplexing design. Thanks!
Thanks, great video!
You are welcome.
Make sure you remove the brake line from the plastic clip on the frame above the brake rotor. It gives you extra space between axle and car body. I didn't have an assistant so I stuck the bottle jack between the frame and axle and pushed them apart to get the springs in place. Very easy to replace. I also removed compressor. If you remove compressor you will have no clearance under sides of car for your jack. I had to move my car after compressor removal and had a fun time. Good luck and be safe.
thanks for sharing.
Dude is an awesome teacher. I feel like he possibly had a military background at some point.
Yep
Hello... I currently have a 2006 Buick Rendezvous I was in form to change my standard shocks to air shocks and now the air shocks are not holding any air once they put them on and I take a test ride 2 minutes later back the first lady I don't have a air compression system on my car do you have any recommendations for me I really need help
Not really, maybe whomever installed it should fix it. If not, maybe you can go back to standard suspension and install heavy duty springs.
Hello I have 1993 Buick Roadmaster limited edition it's it best to leave the air bags in or use springs suspension? Thank you
That's a preference. Which would you prefer?
@@RobertDIY Good morning I really do not know what would be better an what's the difference between the two.Thank you for responding.
Robert, dumb question, but after the spring install, will the compressor that's in the rear hatch still work for the spare tire, in case I need to air it up?
I don't think so.
There is a french made car that is so smooth that it can drive along side horse racing and film it without jitter, it works really well :-))
Its the Citroën C6, it has hydractive suspension, electronically controlled springing and damping.
I would imagine those new springs will last the car out, the dampers wont last as long but they look easy to swap if they fail :-)
zx8401ztv The ride is not bad but now I see that the front struts are going bad. :/
The Citroen Hydropneumatic suspension is a wonder of the world! Amazing technology to behold
I cut a 2 Foot piece 3/8 chain and added 2 Clevis to the chain with 2 each 3/8th breakover bars through the clevises. This I used to hold the Compressed Spring in order to get another bite after installing the special tool (Chain Tool) to compress the spring smaller for ease of installation into vehicle. Once the spring is compressed again the chain can be released and removed for installation into vehicle in correct position. Also I held the rubber on the spring with wire ties. Hope this helps someone.
thanks for sharing.
WHERE CAN I GET THOSE SPRINGS?
I believe I ordered these from Rock Auto. Did you check the description area?
Where did you order parts?
Hi Robert, my A/C has a clicking noise when its turned off... I have to run the A/C or Heat at all time, any suggestions?
No, what kind of car do you have?
+Robert DIY 04 Buick Rainier
There are three or four damper actuators, depending on the model, in the heat/AC system. They have small electric motors in them driving nylon gears. Without going into the technical of details, they tend to chew themselves up over time. In my 2005 Buick Terraza I've replaced 1. Three of them are identical and one is a different model. The latter controls which vent is selected. Two are relatively easy to locate and replace, the one I replaced was way up under the dash in a nearly impossible place to remove. You'll have to remove the glovebox and the lower trim, get your hand under there and feel/listen to which one is doing the clicking and then go from there. The dealer will want to pull your dash out to get to it - big bucks.
Can you use the original shock\Struts and just replace the spring? Thanks and nice video.
No.
Andrew Sands you don't need new shocks.
Thanks for the Vid Robert I just wanted to no did u use a conversion kit or just standard coil springs ? I was thinking it may all be the same , all but the prices that is please let me know ?
+Dontae Lee what ever the video explained.
🔥👍thanks bro
+Fumanchu you are welcome.
which shocks are the cheapest and most dependable air or normal springs?
+weez daily probably normal.
To convert my bad rear air suspension all I need is Shocks & Coil Springs?
+Brooklyn Skye I think I got the parts from Rock Auto.
I had my air bags changed a year ago & my car in riding low once again, so I'm going to convert to coils & shocks... Thanks, for the video it was really helpful.
2024 I’m dealing with this 😂
I understand.
So is the compressor just going to continually run now because there is 0 pressure? Why not take all the other parts of the system out.
Time
If you watch the entire video you would see that I unplugged the pump.
Pull the fuse
it's also probably a good idea to do the rear differential fluid while you're under there.
Michael Sackstein Not! Just got done doing a "water pump" on a Mercury Villager. That thing like ta killed me. On and on and on and on, more and more and more and more. Took 4 days. Started Thursday and just got done today.
was it the same one with the broken door handle?
Yes, which has already broken again.
Why am I not surprised!
I can’t get the air suspension out. The top plate separated from the actual suspension
ouch
all you have to do is call autoparts and ask for coil springs for rear there cheap 89.00 oriyles
Jason Aldi Cool, thanks for the info and for watching.
you should've been like, "underneath the backseat you'll find a bunch of crumbs & litter that dates possibly to the bush administration" lol
Michael Sackstein LOL, Vehicles smell awful from all that food stuff.