If you need new hoses or shock mounts, they have all that at NAPA.
Air leveling (?) on Buick PA
- Thread starter Benzadmiral
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MONROE MA822
Is the part number for your rear air shocks!
Is the part number for your rear air shocks!
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
MONROE MA822
Is the part number for your rear air shocks!
If I understand which rear suspension Benz has, they aren't
Quote:
MONROE Part # MA822 {Max Air Shock Absorbers / Packed in pairs / Includes air line, air fittings, and air fill kit where applicable.}
REAR; Sedan & Coupe; Exc. Elect. Adjust. Susp.
MONROE MA822
Is the part number for your rear air shocks!
If I understand which rear suspension Benz has, they aren't
Quote:
MONROE Part # MA822 {Max Air Shock Absorbers / Packed in pairs / Includes air line, air fittings, and air fill kit where applicable.}
REAR; Sedan & Coupe; Exc. Elect. Adjust. Susp.
Thanks for all your help, Merkava!
But as XS650 pointed out, that's what stopped me -- the exception for the electric or electronic adjustable suspension.
The other site, gmpartshouse, has the OEM pair for only $6.00 more (including shipping) than gmpartsdirect, and as you point out, there's an actual contact phone number. I'll try them next week.
In any case, I bought my replacement tire today, and the car is driving almost normally again!
But as XS650 pointed out, that's what stopped me -- the exception for the electric or electronic adjustable suspension.
The other site, gmpartshouse, has the OEM pair for only $6.00 more (including shipping) than gmpartsdirect, and as you point out, there's an actual contact phone number. I'll try them next week.
In any case, I bought my replacement tire today, and the car is driving almost normally again!
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: XS650
Exc. Elect. Adjust. Susp.
I don't know why they're saying that; I'm thinking Electronic Adjustable Suspension is something other than Automatic Level Control. I got the MA822 part number directly off of Monroe's site. That same part number also applies to my LeSabre which is not surprising. I'm thinking they just need to be air shocks with a port to run a small air line into; and that's what the MA822 is.
Exc. Elect. Adjust. Susp.
I don't know why they're saying that; I'm thinking Electronic Adjustable Suspension is something other than Automatic Level Control. I got the MA822 part number directly off of Monroe's site. That same part number also applies to my LeSabre which is not surprising. I'm thinking they just need to be air shocks with a port to run a small air line into; and that's what the MA822 is.
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: XS650
Exc. Elect. Adjust. Susp.
I don't know why they're saying that; I'm thinking Electronic Adjustable Suspension is something other than Automatic Level Control. I got the MA822 part number directly off of Monroe's site. That same part number also applies to my LeSabre which is not surprising. I'm thinking they just need to be air shocks with a port to run a small air line into; and that's what the MA822 is.
They don't make it easy do they.
I think you are onto something. High end GM cars in that era had something called "Computer Command Ride" as an option. It varied damping according to car speed from what I have read. It was definitely different from ride height control.
Originally Posted By: XS650
Exc. Elect. Adjust. Susp.
I don't know why they're saying that; I'm thinking Electronic Adjustable Suspension is something other than Automatic Level Control. I got the MA822 part number directly off of Monroe's site. That same part number also applies to my LeSabre which is not surprising. I'm thinking they just need to be air shocks with a port to run a small air line into; and that's what the MA822 is.
They don't make it easy do they.
I think you are onto something. High end GM cars in that era had something called "Computer Command Ride" as an option. It varied damping according to car speed from what I have read. It was definitely different from ride height control.
[Channeling John Travolta here] "I'm so confused --!"
There's a big NAPA store on the East Bank that I can call next week. It might be worth a try, esp. if I can return the Monroes if for some reason they don't work.
And, just to confuse the issue further, Autopartsgiant.com has this:
http://catalog.autopartsgiant.com/item.w...=autopartsgiant
If these folks are to be believed, it *is* possible to deactivate the self-leveling system with this strut and strut boot kit. The struts are $86.00 each. Their website doesn't seem to have a part number search, so I couldn't find the matching "strut boot kit," but one with a similar part number and description for the front is $15. So we're right back to the $100/side again.
There's a big NAPA store on the East Bank that I can call next week. It might be worth a try, esp. if I can return the Monroes if for some reason they don't work.
And, just to confuse the issue further, Autopartsgiant.com has this:
http://catalog.autopartsgiant.com/item.w...=autopartsgiant
If these folks are to be believed, it *is* possible to deactivate the self-leveling system with this strut and strut boot kit. The struts are $86.00 each. Their website doesn't seem to have a part number search, so I couldn't find the matching "strut boot kit," but one with a similar part number and description for the front is $15. So we're right back to the $100/side again.
Shouldn't this repair be covered under the used car warranty? You bought this vehicle from a dealership, right?
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
And, just to confuse the issue further, Autopartsgiant.com has this:
It looks like those KYB gas shocks will indeed replace your ALC air shocks, but why on earth would you want to do such a thing? Having ALC is great; I can fill up the trunk with six 50 pound bags of rock salt for the water softener and have a perfectly level car on the way home.
And, just to confuse the issue further, Autopartsgiant.com has this:
It looks like those KYB gas shocks will indeed replace your ALC air shocks, but why on earth would you want to do such a thing? Having ALC is great; I can fill up the trunk with six 50 pound bags of rock salt for the water softener and have a perfectly level car on the way home.
I did, Critic, but the bumper-to-bumper warranty was up several months ago. I still have some drivetrain warranty, but that's all.
Are you saying this is awfully early for rear shocks to go out? I would have thought of them as a normal wear item.
Are you saying this is awfully early for rear shocks to go out? I would have thought of them as a normal wear item.
Well, when the cost of OEM is over $100 more than the cost of the KYB struts plus boot kits together, and the stuff can be returned if it doesn't fit, that's a powerful incentive.
So are the facts that some of these parts houses don't even have the original GM parts in stock, and they consider the parts to be special order -- thus nonreturnable.
So are the facts that some of these parts houses don't even have the original GM parts in stock, and they consider the parts to be special order -- thus nonreturnable.
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
I did, Critic, but the bumper-to-bumper warranty was up several months ago. I still have some drivetrain warranty, but that's all.
Are you saying this is awfully early for rear shocks to go out? I would have thought of them as a normal wear item.
Yes, it does seem awfully early to me. I have 110k+ on my original shocks/struts in my 96 Saturn. While they may not be in top condition, I wouldn't consider them candidates for immediate replacement either.
I did, Critic, but the bumper-to-bumper warranty was up several months ago. I still have some drivetrain warranty, but that's all.
Are you saying this is awfully early for rear shocks to go out? I would have thought of them as a normal wear item.
Yes, it does seem awfully early to me. I have 110k+ on my original shocks/struts in my 96 Saturn. While they may not be in top condition, I wouldn't consider them candidates for immediate replacement either.
I would think you could return them if they were the wrong item as long as they're returned in their original packaging. One thing I can't figure out though, is why your PA would need new rear shocks being that it's a 2003; and mine are just fine being three years older. Are they holding air alright?
Well, GMpartsdirect's web site says the OEM shocks are "a special order item" (?). There's no phone number, so all our communications have to be by e-mail. I'll give 'em my VIN and see what they have to say; it can't hurt to have a backup source.
Yeah, 50K does seem a bit early for shocks to go out, huh? The car has recently had a tendency to "bound" over some of the awful surfaces that pass for pavement around here, and after 10 years in more stiffly sprung cars like Benzes, I thought this car wa behaving normally. It didn't seem to bounce when I was driving in properly-paved Mississippi and Arkansas in November, though.
Well, I've ordered the replacement struts and boot kits from Autopartswarehouse.com. The total is $168, and the stuff is returnable. I might get out of this with a whole wallet yet. . . .
Yeah, 50K does seem a bit early for shocks to go out, huh? The car has recently had a tendency to "bound" over some of the awful surfaces that pass for pavement around here, and after 10 years in more stiffly sprung cars like Benzes, I thought this car wa behaving normally. It didn't seem to bounce when I was driving in properly-paved Mississippi and Arkansas in November, though.
Well, I've ordered the replacement struts and boot kits from Autopartswarehouse.com. The total is $168, and the stuff is returnable. I might get out of this with a whole wallet yet. . . .
Hey, all,
I got the parts from autopartswarehouse, and they are not correct. They are struts, and despite the website and their customer service assurances, my mechanic sees no way to bolt these in place even with the "strut boot kit." I'll be returning those, of course. Nor do they have either of correct GM parts numbers (see below).
But I'm still floundering. GMPartsDirect e-mailed me with a totally different part number for the shocks, which they say supersedes the number form the dealer. Fine -- except they consider these a special order part, and won't take them back if they're wrong (I've e-mailed for clarification on that, since e-mail is the only way to contact them). I'd be out almost $250.
GMPartsHouse does not have this "new" part number. They have the old ones, and they will take the parts back . . . once I pay for return shipping (and they don't refund the original shipping cost). There's also a 20% restocking fee. This means if they're wrong, I'm out almost $100 right there.
Since nobody seems to have the right answer, I'm actually gritting my teeth and thinking of going with the dealer! Presuming they'll take the parts back without this kind of hassle!
Any ideas?
I got the parts from autopartswarehouse, and they are not correct. They are struts, and despite the website and their customer service assurances, my mechanic sees no way to bolt these in place even with the "strut boot kit." I'll be returning those, of course. Nor do they have either of correct GM parts numbers (see below).
But I'm still floundering. GMPartsDirect e-mailed me with a totally different part number for the shocks, which they say supersedes the number form the dealer. Fine -- except they consider these a special order part, and won't take them back if they're wrong (I've e-mailed for clarification on that, since e-mail is the only way to contact them). I'd be out almost $250.
GMPartsHouse does not have this "new" part number. They have the old ones, and they will take the parts back . . . once I pay for return shipping (and they don't refund the original shipping cost). There's also a 20% restocking fee. This means if they're wrong, I'm out almost $100 right there.
Since nobody seems to have the right answer, I'm actually gritting my teeth and thinking of going with the dealer! Presuming they'll take the parts back without this kind of hassle!
Any ideas?
Turns out GM has a still newer part number for a kit with both replacement shocks, hoses, fitting, et al. And it's considerably cheaper than the original quote for the two shocks alone. Much sturdier-looking shocks, too.
Total cost winds up at $320 ($212 for parts, $108 for my shop guy's labor). Now the car rides more firmly -- almost Mercedes-like -- and doesn't bounce.
I'm just glad it's all over. Thanks to all for the searches and input!
Total cost winds up at $320 ($212 for parts, $108 for my shop guy's labor). Now the car rides more firmly -- almost Mercedes-like -- and doesn't bounce.
I'm just glad it's all over. Thanks to all for the searches and input!
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