Removing air suspension, replacing with coils

[USMC_Buckaroo]

Howdy Ed,

Again, thanks for the advice.

I just now ordered those specific part #'s from gmpartsdirect.com that Egan listed in his original post...guess I'll just have to cross my fingers and 'soldier thru' any difficulties.

I don't suppose anybody knows/remembers exactly what size the bolt/nuts were that our good Egan mentioned...? " For the shocks, remove the bolts at the bottom. For the swaybars, it will be easier to remove the bolt up top " I'll be taking it to one of those DIY shops ( Don't Laugh!) where you can either do it yourself, have them help, or let them do it for you, and just wanted to make sure I brought the correct tools with me (to potentially lessen the 'chuckle' factor).


Thanks in advance for any help.



Regards,

Buck.

[Easy Ed]

Buck, Even though it is kinda cold out here in Ohio I went on out to the garage crawled around on the floor and check what size sockets you would need for those bolts. The shock bolt takes a 21 mm socket, the upper sway bar bolt takes a 18 mm socket. Might be a good idea to also have box end wrench's in those sizes also to hold the other end of the bolt. (This is on a 2003 and do not know if different on newer models)

Good luck, Ed

Originally Posted by USMC_Buckaroo

Howdy Ed,

Again, thanks for the advice.

I just now ordered those specific part #'s from gmpartsdirect.com that Egan listed in his original post...guess I'll just have to cross my fingers and 'soldier thru' any difficulties.

I don't suppose anybody knows/remembers exactly what size the bolt/nuts were that our good Egan mentioned...? " For the shocks, remove the bolts at the bottom. For the swaybars, it will be easier to remove the bolt up top " I'll be taking it to one of those DIY shops ( Don't Laugh!) where you can either do it yourself, have them help, or let them do it for you, and just wanted to make sure I brought the correct tools with me (to potentially lessen the 'chuckle' factor).


Thanks in advance for any help.



Regards,

Buck.

[USMC_Buckaroo]

Ed, you are a Prince!!


I genuinely appreciate your determined endurance against both the chilly garage floor and the mid-west's piercing cold and send you a Titanic-sized "Thank You!" pard'...... 21mm & 18mm box end wrenches it is!



Buck.

[pdxrealtor]

Just RE-DID my rear springs today. Don't ask!

In any event when installing the OEM rear springs you do have to disconnect the sway bar at the upper mount as mentioned above, AND , you have to get the rear end down low enough to insert the springs. Lower than you have to get it for removing the OEM air bags!

On another note. I STILL have not received an error message on the DIC about the air suspension.

My battery has gone dead for more than 3 days, I've changed batteries, I've gone from lowered to OEM height springs, ............ nothing on the DIC regarding the air suspension.

I'm not sure if installing the custom diablew tune has anything to do with it or if after you re-set a number of times it just goes away but in any event I haven't had the error message in months.

[USMC_Buckaroo]

"...AND , you have to get the rear end down low enough to insert the springs. Lower than you have to get it for removing the OEM air bags!..."



I assumed that would be the case, but thanks for the confirmation...I guess I'll be letting everyone know later on, since TODAY is the day I'll be doin' mine.



Buck.

[Easy Ed]

How did it go ?

Originally Posted by USMC_Buckaroo

"...AND , you have to get the rear end down low enough to insert the springs. Lower than you have to get it for removing the OEM air bags!..."





I assumed that would be the case, but thanks for the confirmation...I guess I'll be letting everyone know later on, since TODAY is the day I'll be doin' mine.



Buck.

[USMC_Buckaroo]

Howdy Ed,


"...How did it go?..."

I'm almost ashamed to admit that the whole thing went as smooooth as silk!

But, as the head mechanic said (funny how the presence of a Hummer in a crowd tends to gather the gearheads...) " Usually the anticipation of doing something, is more stressful than the actual DOING of something"

The DIY shop I went to was fabulous, and having the support at arms length was priceless even though I did all the work myself. Once I got it up on the lift I was entertained to see that the air bags were so completely deflated that they weren't even in contact with the lower seat (axle), but instead were all shriveled up and hangin' by the upper body mounts! Sheeeesh!

All in all, subtracting yakkity-yak time with the other mechanics, I think it took me all of 30-35 minutes. And that included removing the air compressor pan, tie wrapping up all the harnessess, and pulling all of the air lines.


OH!...almost forgot, 1) I didn't need to disconnect the battery cables to allow the system to 'reset'...everything just settled down all by itself with no 'air suspension' warnings.
And 2) I didn't have to remove the height level sensors either. Figured they weren't in my way, and it wasn't really worth the affort if it wasn't going to set off any alarm bells.

Next up, replacement of the driver's side rear window mechanism (recent break-in).



Can't tell ya all how GOOD it is to not be runnin' on the bump stops anymore!


Thanks again for all the sage advice, and the kind encouragement.


Warm regards,


Buck.


PostScript: FYI, I tried to post a couple of photos, but for some reason I can't get ElcovaForum to accept the link addy....