76 Coupe DeVille Suspension Problem

[jmart67]

My 76 Coupe DeVille is riding a little low in the rear. The vacuum compressor for the suspension system is not running at all. When I purchased the car, I noticed one of the vacuum lines around the carburetor was plugged with a screw. I reattached it to the proper place, but still no air in the suspension. Any ideas? Any place to get a rebuilt compressor?

[Scot Minesinger]

Go for comfort and reliability.  Replace the rear springs and rear shocks with standard non-level control and forget about it for the rest of your ownership (cost of parts is $300 or so and 3 hours time-easy).  The level control is not worth the trouble.  Leave all the tanks, pumps, and the like under the hood as they are and forget them.  I have standard springs and shocks in my 1970 Cadillac and driving to GN with floor jack and all in trunk, the car did not look any different than when trunk is empty.   You will get a bunch of posts on how to save it, but this is one gimmick that is just not worth the trouble, kind of like car clocks today.  You need to be a computer engineer to reset it after daylight savings, but in the 1970 Cadillac just twist the knob-why did they do it? - because they can.

[Glen]

I’ve been keeping the ALC running on my 68 ELDO for years. 
The level control system can be restored with a little effort, but if you’re not the type to fix things to the way they were then you can do as Scot says and convert it to a non level control system. 

If you do that then send me the compressor and control valve.   

If you want to restore it let me know and I can guide you. 

[waterzap]

Scot is correct. You can also put in rear coil over shocks. I have a set I took out of my Eldorado. PM me if you are interested. I put them in originally, but then replaced my springs, so I didnt need them anymore.
If you have weak springs in the back, coil overs should work. If you have new springs, regular shocks will be fine.

[Aprules2]

Im working on keeping the level ride in the back of my 75 coupe also. Im half way there so once I get it figured out Ill let you know all the tricks. I can tell you Ive had a 75 without it and now my new one has it and the new one rides so much nicer. I think the air ride springs are softer than the non air ride so its super soft when you drive.... There is one place that has good rebuilt compressors, http://www.cadillacville.com/default2/webstuff/model75/75-76Cadillac.htm