'94 Oldsmobile 98 Air Ride Questions
 

Ok this is my first post on here and I'm sure I'll have many more to come in the future. Anyway, I am in the process of working on my grandmother's 94 Olds 98 regency elite. She's at the point where she cannot be driving anymore at 87 years old. So I've been driving it until the registration expires and then my family somehow, basically will break the news to her and I'll probably get the car. Ok enough back story.
The issue I have is with the air suspension, air ride, self-leveling whatever it is called. I want to replace all the struts on the car and I would like to do away with the system. Question 1 - does the front suspension have air ride?, 2 - I know the rear does, what do I have to do to put regular suspension on it? 3 - Do I have to remove the compressor and all from under the hood or just shut the system off?
I'm trying to do this as affordable as possible and prefer to do the work myself. I just want to make it right and not have to pay thousands in air ride stuff.

Does the rear have struts or shocks. All the ones I have seen have only rear air leveling. Your should be able to change it over.

The rear has springs with a shock that looks like it has an air bag attached to it. What do I do about the air lines and compressor if I change it over?

Welcome to the forum Kyle!
Monroe & Kyb make the replacement air shocks for your car. As long as the compressor still works, it is an advantage, as it keeps the car level when carrying extra passengers etc and probably offers a smoother ride. The front will be a normal strut assembly, and alignment required afterwards.
I will let others comment about how to disable air system in the best method, mine still works well in my Pk Ave.

the rears you buy standard oem air struts, delco/kyb/monroe etc. then if you want to replace the air lines and compressor you get the monroe ak29 and it gives you a air valve to fill like a bike tire, mine is this way and you only have to add air a couple times a year, for the compressor you just take the maxi fuse
https://www.gmforum.com/attachment.p...ine=1393205193
https://www.gmforum.com/attachment.p...ine=1393205193

The compressor still seems to work, because it does kick on occasionally. How much would a new compressor go for?

Also if by any chance you have part #'s for the rear struts that would be awesome

At Rock Auto anywhere from $188 to $450 for a new compressor.

If it still works, it may be a good idea to pull it and service it. No idea how much they run, but keep in mind the system is relatively simple, already works, and yes, parts are a bit more, but it's not unreasonable at all. Rears use struts. The big problem comes when you take the system out, you should change the rear springs also. The spring rates count on the air leveling, and the rear end sags badly with anything more than a small child in the back seat.

also keep junk out of the back of the car. The car should set level completely unloaded without the leveling kicking on.

There is a hose that attaches to that compressor, every once and a while I like to remove it and squirt a few drops of light machine oil in there, it should help lengthen the life of the compressor.
I had a pic somewhere of the hose/compressor where I put the oil, I cannot find it at the moment, I'll look again for it, it has to be in a post I made somewhere around here.

If you go with gas struts, and need to disable it, there should be something under the driver seat you can unplug, but I am not positive about that.