FAQ: Shocks & Struts Options

Sorry it's been a spell.
All 3 rides hanging tough.
Picked (2) of these up off Amazon the other day for the Riviera.

Moog ST8581 Strut and Coil Spring Assembly
Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc

$45.87
Condition: New

Also picked up (2) tie rod ends - total for all (4) items: $109.76

Hoping they don't raise the front too much.
Will post some before and after pics.

I hope they work out well.

I am disgusted with the low quality of wheel bearings I got from Moog several months ago - toasted them already and do not plan to ever buy another. I hope your outcome with the struts is better, would not take much.

High Chaparral wrote:

Sorry it's been a spell.
All 3 rides hanging tough.
Picked (2) of these up off Amazon the other day for the Riviera.

Moog ST8581 Strut and Coil Spring Assembly
Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc

$45.87
Condition: New

Also picked up (2) tie rod ends - total for all (4) items: $109.76

Hoping they don't raise the front too much.
Will post some before and after pics.

How's the ride quality with Moog struts?

I'm in the marketplace for front struts.  Rock Auto has the Moog you referenced, however, they're selling it for $120.89.  Each.  Makes that Amazon strut either look like something lying around in the back of someone's garage or warehouse since 1999, or a counterfeit part.  Rock doesn't sell the KBY's.  Best brand names are FCS ($73 China) Gabriel ($91 China), Monroe ($103 Mexico), and AC Delco ($150 China). I called or emailed each company.  Curiously, Gabriel asked me for the AC Delco part numbers and the nice lady said "AC Delco is our customer)"

Now we all know that SOMEBODY has to make parts and this is a world wide economy and money talks.  I've researched this to death, and while AC Delco told me the parts are manufactured to their specifications, can't we make a strut here without exporting money to other countries.  On the surface, Mexico is likely to get my business.  I replace the rears with Monroes and those appear to be quite nice.  Not looking for fancy as this is a daily driver and face it, the car is 21 years old.  Like any old car, if it's not one thing, it's something else.  I'm approaching Nirvana where everything is finally in it's place, working as engineered, and rolling along like it just came out of the factory.  Except for the trunk leak and need for a filler pipe for a '98-'99 which has a hole in it the size of a nickel (and duct taped together for now).

The replacement struts in this beautiful car are total garbage. They creak non-stop. So I'm replacing them. Me question is:
Rockauto shows struts with 3 or 5 coils. So I'm wondering if anyone knows EXACTLY which one these cars came with. I want to perfectly replicate the OEM ride. I'm guessing it is the 5 coils? I've attached pics.

Which struts did you get that are creaking?

BTW the OE struts tended to have excessive jounce and rebound IMHO. I recently installed the Gabriel quick struts and am pleased. My guess is the only way to do better would be to build struts yourself using Delco variable rate springs, KYB struts, Moog or MEvotech or KYB mounts (with *all* the parts too).

The lower picture you have looks like the Gabriels for the RockAuto web site. When I bought my struts I noticed that -- I held my nose and bought them anyway, and was pleasantly surprised that the struts I actually got don't look quite like that, they look *very* much like factory down to the boots.

They were replaced before I got the car. They creak SO LOUDLY it is disturbing!!! Think horror movie rusty hinge, non-stop, and turned up to 11. I just ordered the Gabriels.

Yardley wrote:

They were replaced before I got the car. They creak SO LOUDLY it is disturbing!!! Thing horror movie rusty hinge, non-stop, and turned up to 11. I just ordered the Gabriels.

Larry did too. I was astonished by how well they were done. They rode a bit high and tight for the first 4-6 weeks but have settled in *very * well.

Yeah, he told me. That and your answer is why I bought them. Thanks!

Newbie here. I have a fsm coming but not here yet. The 96 Riviera I just bought was crudely modified to fit the 25 inch rims that some people like. I need to replace the front struts and I want to use quick struts. I see quick struts for sale that come with a resistor to fool the automatic leveling and I see a pair that don't have that. Will there be a warning light if I don't use the resistor ones and where does the warning light show up? Thanks for the help

There's no auto-leveling feature on the struts. That must be for a different car. The shocks auto-level, but I ran a non-air shock for years and didn't get a warning light. I can't remember if I pulled a fuse to disable the air compressor though. I would get the quick struts without the resistor.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

I don't see a ready strut for the 96 at rockauto,

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/buick,1996,riviera,3.8l+v6+supercharged,1022038,suspension,strut,7584

They are amazingly cheap though. I used a Gabriel ready strut for my 98. I was very pleased with it.

I wonder if the one for the 98 fits a 96? I went ahead and ordered a pair off eBay and they will be delivered tomorrow. It a brand I've never heard of so I hope they work out ok

No, the 98 bolt in from the top.  I believe the 96 have studs and nuts.

1996 strut mount,

https://www.rockauto.com/info/143/902930_FRO__ra_p.jpg

Strut mount for the 98,

https://www.rockauto.com/info/143/902972_FRO__ra_p.jpg


What did you order off Ebay? Got a link? Was it a ready strut?

They are ready struts by Shock Masters that fit 95 and 96 Riviera's. I dont have a link though.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Pair-Quick-Complete-Strut-Spring-Assemblies-for-1995-1996-Buick-Riviera/163542105866?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item2613de7f0a:g:gM4AAOSwaKVcZI61&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAACkBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%252Fn%252BzU5L90Z278x5ickkfOCvCjTOBWK8pwriaolq5nqgifkeUwxulybLHP5ZmYYhQc8dH947AnWmvTfXJBOP7PnxkH4%252BZgTU9mDBBNT6phjN8d%252BNyMYpI7Q8btqy9RTOWEZ0tX0YhFujTJoIezcAApzSA3NThnot6aqx2J1mH8WqCMhsKztrFUALbHAgIDRUVOLII8e1sTGrZQccFUgUZQRahV7%252B5ZRiaSKfQPcPC3ft8VE6tqGWoZeiu%252BqlMCTLnchez%252FE3w0IgdkHU7jwclW06zIUwsxXcCsEjkccISpZpi3uhPziYQaMxAHYAy4BcL6aIsyOuuEmDKtyak81r4tP%252Fv3295XI1OJ0f0mAqehGlO3hOv6f1rBQPcpfEJYkHz%252Btur9pRq3WkVcTjV%252BSSzXLJoJwrwQpK30guKBPfN9LgjNa%252F0f8zqQxQWs2GKLe%252BriInyKUYRbNB2n7Q%252FreCysnryZ1Zt8iYWagX4s6OyICVPUtvWM7Vg8b7qAiTsVVyzbS4kE%252BkNAJkMETqOiAjqMgHbO2RxnPxdkZe4ArWG6zMFkPBmqHZUzcMx30KtFM9PDCp3d43Hn2NzwqPkQ2NROZNfa5coXfJA7Juayta8pguWdsua%252Fg2IB%252FyxUq09fiCKYkd416%252B1uEd1rX5kakYgZGLMpsCrAyOnDyLK1aBquakOxbP2KzavXm34ATilo4hJxdeEA6Ksq%252Fet1n%252BzXz43Q1sW1yfXekfYZ7%252BWp3S197soW6UonphguIXeGGIrSRKJXhkrI1CPOlSlMo3Jjp5tpasPMirqadGbetfvsUzTEPckirP%252FVgIiZ1q06BEM8AKJL6rreOyWRcDoVVKNXxM%7Ccksum%3A1635421058663f430d160cb040ea908f046458ae092f%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2334524

Looks good!

The old strut in the picture has had sections welded onto the tube to raise the ride height. The guy I bought the car from had those huge wheels called dubs on it.

Abaddon wrote:

So, I stumbled across something interesting today. I replaced the rear air shocks on an '07 Lucerne. As most of you may know, the Lucerne is damn near identical to the Riv, minus a few updated parts (as far as suspension/drivetrain are concerned). Anywho, there's an updated rear shock design to replace these stupid, crappy air shocks we have. This is a "new" design, much like the Yukon air suspension system.


The one major thing I noticed is that the *new* shocks are fully extended at rest, unlike the stock air shocks on the Riv. I had to physically pull the shock on the right out to make it full length. The new ones also act like a "normal" shock. Compress it, and it extends back up on its own. Now, these shocks are quite pricey. For those of you looking for good, quality air shocks, I'd get these. I'm actually going to put a pair of these on my '97.

These are not Delco's. These are GM factory shocks.
P/N 19300034 RR Shock
P/N 19300035 LR Shock

Another incentive to have them installed is that they come with a LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Hi, I see something similar on Summits website when I input 1998 Riviera but the part number end in 25 & 26, any idea the difference?

Dan - if you're putting on the Lucerne OE shocks, you probably should *also* get the Lucerne springs. They are variable rate I understand. A Cadillac STS rear sway bar (it's a little beefier than the Riv's ) would be great too, if you can find one. (try LKQ yards in the southwest).

I have a strut mount question. I'm building struts for my 1996 Riv I have struts and springs already, next is strut mounts. Both of these mounts are on rockauto

GM GENUINE 19208376

And
MONROE 902930


My question, do these mounting kits include everything I need? Mount, bearing, Spring seat, upper isolator?
Other than springs, struts, strut mount kit what else will I need?

Thanks for the help

So what are the best springs available for our cars these days, are lesjofors as found on rock Auto any good, any experience with these? Albert is it common to run Lucerne springs on the Riv, will they fit?

Dan B wrote:

So what are the best springs available for our cars these days, are lesjofors as found on rock Auto any good, any experience with these? Albert is it common to run Lucerne springs on the Riv, will they fit?

All you used to have to do to get the "Lucerne" springs is buy the ACDelco springs for the Riv off RockAuto. IIRC they superseded the Riv's springs. If you look at the Rock Auto listings, the Moog rears are both places.

Lesjofors are OK. They are the OE for many European cars. Nos sure how they ended up making springs for the Riv, but they do now. I think the VR spring from GM is 25910858 but to be sure I think you need to ask a Delco parts counterman. Might actually be Delco 45H2107.

Is it common to run the Lucerne springs? I have no idea. 405,000 miles on my original springs tell me probably not. IF I was getting new springs I would def get the VRs.

Any update to anyone using a combo of Monroe quick struts up front & ma822's in the rear?