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2000 Suburban Auto Leveling Questions

flamedsierra

By flamedsierra
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flamedsierra Enthusiast

flamedsierra

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I have a 2000 Suburban, 1500, 4wd with 132k miles on it. The rear shocks are leaking and the compressor kicks on all the time and it is really annoying, and I also need to fix this before I start towing. I plan on towing my show truck, an 03 GMC Sierra on a 22" car hauler trailer, to the shows and all, so I want everything to be safe. I've priced the shocks and they are just under $800 for aftermarket replacement shocks from NAPA. I've just replaced all the tires, all new brakes, including both front rotors, done a full service job on the burban, so I dont have much left for the shocks. Can I just remove the Auto Leveling system completely and get some good shocks for the front and rear? If so, what shocks are recommended? Will I need to swap out the coil springs for some heavier duty shocks? Thanks for any help.

flamedsierra Enthusiast

flamedsierra

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Have you isolated the leak are you sure it's the shocks?

 

 

I've used soapy water and sprayed around the compressor, all the fittings that I could find, over the air lines that I could see and the only leaks that I could find are right around the rear shocks where it looks like a clamp or boot towards the middle of them. Its a really small leak on each side which leaves me thinking that there is a leak else where. The compressor kicks on every 5-10 minutes. The suburban doesnt really seem like its sagging or leaning to one side. The only time it sags is if a trailer is hooked up to it, and then you can see the rear of the suburban lift up and then it'll slowly leak off. Both sides are about the same though, I dont notice any difference from the left side to the right side. Is there a check valve anywhere that could possibly be bad? Is there anything else that I can check? It has 132k miles so the shocks definately have some wear and I'd really like to just do away with the auto leveling system and get some regular shocks, I just dont know which shocks and the local parts stores cant seem to help me any with what shocks would work. They just want to sell me the over priced factory replacement shocks.

flamedsierra Enthusiast

flamedsierra

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Well I towed an S10 about 100 miles yesterday with the Suburban. The air shocks in the back leak so the compressor ran constantly pumping them up. The compressor is now shot, so I'm taking off this auto leveling stuff. I'm not spending that much on all of this stuff when I plan on getting rid of the suburban this fall. What shocks is recommened and is there a stiffer coil spring I can get for the back?

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