Difficulty of switching from rear air suspension to regular shock 01 Eddie Bauer 5.4L V8?

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Aspitler24

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I drive a 2001 Eddie Bauer edition 5.4L V8. The rear suspension has completely stopped working and I really need advice. Please bear with me and read ——I know this has been talked about several times but most of the linked resources have been removed so I wanted to ask a few questions and go from there. Any advice or information is greatly appreciated.

My family bought this truck brand new and passed it down. They normally just replaced the rear “air bags” when one leaked, but I have read up and bc of (I’m guessing) a prolonged leak in one or both rear airbags caused the air compressor to burn up, so I have no rear suspension at all.
From what I’ve read, it’s much easier and cheaper to just replace the rear with regular “shocks”, I’m not sure the correct name. I would prefer that and I’ve heard the job isn’t very labor intensive, but it’s definitely out of my skill range.

What kind of cost am I looking at? I’m currently driving it only ten miles one way at a time very slowly, but I doubt this will last.

Also best brands that aren’t high end but considered decent? I can put better replacements on later, but at this point I just need something on the back so the entire truck doesn’t rattle loose. Please help.
 

Expd830

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You can buy the conversion kit at STRUTMASTERS or buy the pieces all separately. It should cost you around $300
 

Expd830

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It looks like STRUTMASTERS went up to $400 for the kit… I paid $200 for the same kit paid from American Air before STRUTMASTERS bought them out. But my advice is if you’re going to do the conversion by the pieces individually and get the best pieces at that particular time.
 

Expd830

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The coal Springs that STRUTMASTERS give you has a varied rate to them, so there is gonna still be some movement back there. Instead, if I were you, I would buy the AC Delco constant rate coil springs which cost around $80 and then buy a set of Bilstein shocks and be done with it the first time. Both of those should cost around $300 and labor should be around the same price.
 

jr1under

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@Aspitler24, what did you end up doing? I'm interested because, sooner or later, I expect to face the same issues with my 99 Exp.
 

Saxxist

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I have had to replace the air compressor controller for the air-ride shocks at least half a dozen times on my 99 EB Exp with 187k miles that I bought new. What I learned by trial and error is to AVOID parking the vehicle on an incline (hill or driveway) for an extended period. For some reason, the continuous effort to level the vehicle (even though the vehicle is off) burns out the controller. Maybe I have an airbag leak and don't know it The last controller was replaced in 2017, so fingers cross it will last.
 

jr1under

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Interesting about the incline. Never noticed that, possibly because most places I park are more or less flat. What were the symptoms of the controller failures?
 

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