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2001 Pontiac Montana Self Leveling Rear Suspension replacement.


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oldsmoblecutlassciera
User

Aug 31, 2016, 12:20 AM

Post #1 of 7 (2499 views)
2001 Pontiac Montana Self Leveling Rear Suspension replacement. Sign In

2001
Pontiac
Montana
3.4L V6
305,714

I need to replace the rear shocks but I noticed the air suspension part is broken. The hose that supply's the air to the shocks is rotted and the plastic T connector is just hanging underneath the body not connected to anything. I notice that the bolts that hold the shocks to the body appears to be hollow and has no threads where the nut is. it appears smooth. How would I go about removing these shocks. Do I cut the bolt out and replace with fresh bolts? Is there a part number for the bolts?Since the self leveling part is broken can I replace with normal shocks or do I need to replace the air line. I don't even know if the compressor works if that's what supply's the air. I think the air compressor is located near the driver side rear shock under the van. The reason I want to replace the shocks is the van bounces allot when going over bumps. I need to do the struts too but those are easy.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 31, 2016, 4:17 AM

Post #2 of 7 (2490 views)
Re: 2001 Pontiac Montana Self Leveling Rear Suspension replacement. Sign In

It sounds to me like you are not even close to be qualified to tackle these problems.

What makes you think you can resolve all these issues yourself if you don't even know if the compressor works?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 31, 2016, 5:12 AM

Post #3 of 7 (2488 views)
Re: 2001 Pontiac Montana Self Leveling Rear Suspension replacement. Sign In

From top......
2001
Pontiac
Montana
3.4L V6
305,714
---------------------
Are those miles correct? Is this vehicle as a whole worth any more work at all? It could be - I'm just asking as that's enough miles to need tons of assorted stuff so annoying if not even mechanical for suspension/drivetrain just not worth it anymore,


T



oldsmoblecutlassciera
User

Aug 31, 2016, 8:38 AM

Post #4 of 7 (2480 views)
Re: 2001 Pontiac Montana Self Leveling Rear Suspension replacement. Sign In

@ hammer time I didn't come here to be criticized and harassed. How am I supposed to test the compressor when the air line is rotted and the T connection just hanging not connected to anything HMMMM. Do you have a idea.. hook up a 12 bolt battery charger and see if the thing runs? I feel like a bobble head everytime it hits a bump. I don't have the $$$$ to have the whole air suspension replaced and it's not worth it so would rather replace with normal shocks but with how rusty the bolts are I would rather replace with fresh bolts also. Guess I will just go to the hardware store and try to match up the bolts since I will have to cut the old shocks off.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 31, 2016, 10:05 AM

Post #5 of 7 (2475 views)
Re: 2001 Pontiac Montana Self Leveling Rear Suspension replacement. Sign In

Nobody is here to critisize you! All here as volunteers trying to help folks out.


Save me some looking up for this. Is suspension spring part of the strut air now or totally separate? Does it have real springs holding it up and separate struts/shocks?


Many who can live without auto leveling there are struts with springs to replace air ones and just forget the air leveling. You can't if that's all the holds it up.


Rusted bolts. You called it that but first hollow which I didn't understand. Are they thru bolted with a nut known at the other end or is nut crimped or welded in body metal such that you must have that?


If you can get a grip on just bolt and nut worth a dang just tighten them till they snap off. Then match up with better stuff marked with lines for hardness on bolt heads. Don't go for just plain nuts and bolts - up one level from the base stuff - hardware items or good parts stores will know what to get you.


If you can delete air ride and just unplug motor and tie that wiring away safely AND vehicle sets at a good level I'd go for that - depends on exact design and didn't go hunting for the layout - might be different on models within models?
If struts that is a shock then requires an alignment - know that.


Asked about miles because whacko stuff just wears out - spring in seats - latches locks - the whole shooting match just can only take so much. Most cared for vehicles will never see 300K without something so expensive it is no longer worth the cost of repair,


T
(edit to fix typo)



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Aug 31, 2016, 2:02 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 31, 2016, 12:28 PM

Post #6 of 7 (2472 views)
Re: 2001 Pontiac Montana Self Leveling Rear Suspension replacement. Sign In

You don't need an air line to know if the compressor runs or not.

These are your words

Quote
I notice that the bolts that hold the shocks to the body appears to be hollow and has no threads where the nut is. it appears smooth. How would I go about removing these shocks.


There is nothing special about these shocks. They are held in by regular nuts and bolts so before you start cutting things, you need to just pay a local mechanic to replace them without cutting the car up.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 31, 2016, 2:22 PM

Post #7 of 7 (2465 views)
Re: 2001 Pontiac Montana Self Leveling Rear Suspension replacement. Sign In

! OK, just looked up what show for this. Regular shocks (don't call them struts - a different thing) and coil springs.


OE air level must be air shocks = fine but fine without too IMO.


Hard to do? Cutting anything, hollow aren't words for the nuts and bolts common this age old style.


As Hammer Time said for the aggravation alone saved to get "shocks" out and new in if rust is the issue with this send it out for a while you wait job! Not that hard even if rusty for those that deal with it all the time.
Shock alone shows like this.........

Never saw that type that didn't use a shock bolt and nut at one end. One end could be rounded flat with two flat sides to grab - this is nothing with the right tools and suspect a common "shock bolt" almost generic is what's at each end if that look up was correct,


T







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