INSTALLED AIR LEVEL SHOCKS ON MY 78 CADILLAC

[R Schroeder]

Don't know if this will interest anyone, but I couldn't find anything , on a search, on them before I did the job.

Bought through Amazon a pair of Gabriel Hi-jacker shocks.
I needed the fitting to connect them to my air pump on the car. There is a Schrader valve on the shock hose line. You need the adapter to screw on the Schrader valve to accept the fitting from the air pump line. After much searching I found all the parts. Had them installed yesterday.

Gabriel Shocks number 49131
Gabriel adapter kit - 141248 You will get a bag of junk , but all you need are a couple of parts out of the set.

$75.66 to my door for everything from Amazon.com. Free shipping too.

  Roy

Any questions, I'll be out of town until Monday.

[76eldo]

Roy,

I assume same as 76?

Brian

[R Schroeder]

Hi Brian.
What I found was this for rear air shocks for a 76 Caddy Deville. They are from Monroe.
The adapter will be the same for any car. It just screws unto the Schrader valve and then to the 1/8 air line feed.

I could not find Gabriel air lift shocks for the 76 Deville , but these are good too.

For the DeVille 1976

http://www.amazon.com/Monroe-MA719-Max-Air-Shock-Absorber/dp/B000C57S4E/ref=au_pf_ss_6?ie=UTF8&Model=DeVille%7C406&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Cadillac%7C46&Year=1976%7C1976&carId=001

These for the Eldorado 1976.   Also will fit my 1978 Deville. Same shock. So the Gabriels I have listed will fit the Eldorado ,not the Deville in 76.

http://www.amazon.com/Monroe-MA751-Max-Air-Shock-Absorber/dp/B000C53XK2/ref=au_pf_ss_5?ie=UTF8&Model=Eldorado%7C408&n=15684181&s=automotive&Make=Cadillac%7C46&Year=1976%7C1976&carId=002

[76eldo]

Thanks.

Brian

[TJ Hopland]

The last several sets of air shocks I have purchased have come with the air hoses and fittings needed to do the manual fill.   If your original system still works the new hoses have always been the same size as the originals so all you need are a couple of fittings like a T that should be available at a decent hardware store.   

[R Schroeder]

TJ
I tried to go that route, but all that I could find were brass compression fittings for 1/8 inch copper line. You then would have to remove the brass compression ring and install two or 3 small rubber O-rings in there , so you could compress the line and seal it tight.
This kit I mentioned makes it real easy. It just screws right on the Schrader valve , after removing the valve inside, and the old line hooks up on the other end. 1 minute tops to install.
I tried to find the T for plastic line , but they didnt have any that small.
Roy

[EldoradoRedd1]

I put Monroe air shocks on my '80 Eldorado fit right in all the pieces were'nt necessary.
Now the Fleetwood needs shocks all-around Gabriel air shocks 59.99@Auto Zone

[R Schroeder]

I went to Auto Zone site and could not find Monroe shocks on there, but I did find Gabriel shocks and they included the adapter kit with the shocks for your car, the Eldorado.  Same price I paid. 75.00 bucks.

I had to order the adapter valve , because the air pump on my DeVille is an option, where as the pump on a Eldorado probably was standard equipment. That's probably why it was included.
Roy

[TJ Hopland]

Guess I must have better hardware stores around here.  I thinking it was Menards but now you got me wondering. 

[R Schroeder]

They must carry the 1/8 plastic line connectors someplace. I just couldn't find them. Went to NAPA and a few other parts stores and several hardware stores. All they could give me was the T for copper lines. 1/4 inch line fittings were easy to find though for plastic.
Roy

I did just find this on line from Fastenal. You would have to order it, but still not sure it would work.

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=442005&ucst=t

[TJ Hopland]

Mine were brass.  I remember having trouble finding them at one time but 2-3 years ago I had one spot in a line that got rubbed through and I was shopping for something else and saw the brass ones that looked like they would work and they did.  Im not sure what a normal homeowner would do with lines that small, I was very surprised they were easy to find.   

[R Schroeder]

I can buy the brass connectors for 1/8 lines. The problem I found was when they were tightened the brass furrel tipped inside because the plastic line was to soft. They didnt seal because of this.
I then put 3 small O-rings in them , on each connector ,  and this solved the problem. I too had a kink in the line and this was the way I fixed it , but for the shocks I used the adapter connection .
The hardware store did have brass connectors for the 1/4 inch plastic lines. As you know they are made a little different.
Roy

[76eldo]

Photos would really help here...

Brian

[R Schroeder]

Brian. What can I get you a photo of ? The picture below shows the parts needed for the adapter kit. Red dots near the parts.
The adapter , 3 , O-rings and the cap. Valve stem removed.
Roy

[R Schroeder]

This might be what you want.
Furrel next to the pink dot is discarded. You need to find 2 to 3 , O-rings that just slide unto the 1/8 tubing and fit under the brass cap. These in the picture are a little big. I used all of the ones I bought , so I used these for example.
Mine took 3 to make a tight connection. The cap compresses the O-rings as it is tightened. they will compress around the tube and compress because they are stacked. You don't need to over tighten them either. Just snug them down.
This set up would be used if you don't want to use the adapter kit. I found the kit a lot easier than going around and finding all the parts.
Hope this is what your looking for.

Roy

[76eldo]

Excellent.  Thanks.

Brian

[Glen]

I’ve had pretty good luck with the 1/8th inch compression fittings using the rings.  Of course you must put the ring in straight and maybe lube the outside so it slides as it is compressed. 

[R Schroeder]

Does anybody know what that big spring is for that comes with the kit. It is driving me nuts trying to figure out what that was for.
Roy

[76eldo]

Big spring?  I think that's a coil of plastic tubing.

Brian

[R Schroeder]

No it is a big metal spring that came with the kit.
Roy