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Air Ride sagging


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Hi all.

I am on a road trip with my 1997 Seville and am having an issue with the back end. It looks like it is sitting too low. At least 2 inches or so.

I have a bit of weight in the back and have riders. 

It is not bottoming out on the road but stones hit the front of the mufflers.

The compressor is working as I can hear it run and watch the suspension rise but when I shut the car off it looks low

Also when I am driving although it rides wonderful it feels a little too bouncy in the rear.

Seems it cannot keep up with the load it is supplied. 

I see no codes or messages from the RSS.

All is original. I have plans to replace the compressor and possibly the air shocks but all seems to have been working properly til this road trip.

I dont remember if the RSS system has a leveling valve on both sides but I am not equipped to get under the car to have a look around.

Anything that I might be able to easily check or do to get the back end higher?

Thanks all. Happy Holidays

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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Sounds like a slow leaking fitting or line. spray soapy water or "something" that bubbles on the fittings and see. Wait until you get back though, why ruin a good road trip....

THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE JOB RIGHT - THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO DO THE JOB AGAIN !!!

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The air bladders on the shocks will leak, spray soapy water on them.  I don't like that you say its bouncy though 

Its a shame, I have a new set of air shocks I am trying to unload,  the part number and applications are below, but they don't fit the 97 Seville, just missed by one year

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Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

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I think it is bouncy because of the amount of weight in it at the moment.

 

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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Maybe.  I believe the shocks dampen movement though plus raise the car.  Keep an eye out to be sure they are dampening.

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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Well was a interesting trip. 

The last 500 or so miles was no dampening. 

I might add it otherwise ran like a swiss watch.

I still got 25 mpg

80(or so) mph was comfortable.

But hitting bumps was not so fun.

When I take My Cadillac on long hauls I use it for what it was designed for. Not a ounce of free space in the trunk(wish it was bigger), 5 or 6 passengers, climate control that needs no attention, The Bose sound system, and my moonroof that I actually use now.

That v8 sleeper. Quiet cruiser but leaves others in the dust

A transmission that shifts so smooth It cannot be felt

I feel that after the ride home though that I am going to replace the compressor and shocks. I dont want to go through that again.

With all of the weight removed it looks more normal now lol. I will update when I look at it better

Also I pulled the RSS codes. There are none current or history. Did I mention this car is 20 years old and other than the headbolt issue it is nearly all original and intact

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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So I am looking at the Arnott  AS2177  rear set.

It states electric to passive conversion. I honestly have no idea what that means.

Does that mean nothing and the new shocks are not dampened by the RSS (bypassed)

or does the passive mean that it just works in a different way?

 

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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14 minutes ago, rockfangd said:

So I am looking at the Arnott  AS2177  rear set.

It states electric to passive conversion. I honestly have no idea what that means.

Does that mean nothing and the new shocks are not dampened by the RSS (bypassed)

or does the passive mean that it just works in a different way?

 

Yes, they will probably come with a resistor to satisfy the system and the air portion will work the same

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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So Oddly enough the car rides perfectly normal without a bit of weight in it.

Compressor seems to cycle normally and shut off. 

So I am a little stumped at the moment. This car has always ridden firmer than the Devilles I have owned so I just assumed it had a stiffer suspension in it. Maybe that is why it sits higher. No idea. I have yet to get underneath to check it out

Quote

 

 

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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So when its loaded with weight what happens?

Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1  >>

1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm

How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/

Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year  http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm

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it sags. 

The more weight the more it sags. I need to check to see if maybe the rod popped off of the leveling valve.

Maybe it is not seeing actual ride height. If the weather cooperates  i will try and check it out today

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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On my 98 Concours the rear suspension would be just fine for short trips but once I got it loaded and out on the road it would slowly leak down until the ignition was recycled.  I was stumped because I thought for sure the compressor would pump it back level on the road but that was not the case.  Once I turned it off and restarted it would pump up just fine and be good for another couple of hours but eventually it would leak down again (sometimes it was intermittent) and of course no codes (dealer kept saying no codes no problem :-(.   Anyway turned out it was the exhaust valve on the compressor intermittently leaking.     The point I am trying to make though is at some point the compressor is not allowed to pump the suspension back up when cruising down the road if it has leaked down.

good luck. 

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I just went through it with my 97 Deville. It got bad enough to not build at all.

I am thinking I am just going to do the same with the Seville. Replace the compressor and see what it does.

I dont really want to spend another few hundred on shocks at the moment.

Thank you very much for the reply

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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I am thinking about it.

I priced the Arnotts at 270.

I would like the replacements to be as close to original as possible.

I do have a set of those resistors somewhere that would go into the side of the shock but I have to put my fingers on where I stored them

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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  • 4 weeks later...

To update this

I have a new compressor to install but just have not had the time to install it.

I am going to replace the upper and lower insulators while I am there.

If that does not resolve the issue I will replace the shocks  either over the winter while stored or at the beginning of the next season.

It has been riding just fine as long as I dont load it up.

I still think that my Seville has the firmer suspension that the STS got. It has always been a firmer riding and handling car since I got it.

Probably has stiffer springs in the rear and that is why it is still sitting high when unloaded

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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  • 8 months later...

Update.

MY schedule is crazy like always. 

I finally installed the new compressor today and found the old one plugged at the outlet to the dryer. Likely corroded internally.

Just like all of the other ones I have done.

I have not driven it yet but it has passed the tests and I will find out more in the morning.

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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Rides like a dream. 

Sits perfectly level.  I cant believe that it can be so perfectly level.

GM FAN FOREVER

Nice, clean, luxury= fine automobile

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