Question: Replacement Magnetic Ride Rear Shock Absorber

[stjr]

Hello Everyone;

Just joined the forum; glad to have found you all. I own a 2003 C5 Medium Spiral Grey Metallic with just under 28,000 miles on it. I brought the car in for an oil change and usual inspection and the service rep tells me one of the rear shock absorbers are starting to leak. The car is equipped with magnetic ride control.

I have several questions about my situation:
1. Does anyone have any idea what a replacement shock costs? I do want to keep the magnetic ride control.
2. Are the shocks available from aftermarket companies, or only directly from GM?
3. Would the shock be difficult to replace? I am pretty handy and used to do my own car maintenance.
4. Is there anything "electrical" I need to be concerned with (recalibrating sensor, that kind of stuff)?

Thanks.....

STJr
Mesa, AZ (it's a "dry" heat )

 

[c5y2k]

I'll see if I can help.
I have the selective ride control but I have replaced one of the rear shocks before due to leaking.

1. depending on which side you need your are looking at ~ $550 to $650 for the shock.
2. only GM (that I was able to find)
3. If you have worked on cars before and have the tools you shouldnt have any issues. Remove the nuts and bolts at the top and bottom. Unplug the electrical connection to the shock. Bolt the replacement shock back in and plug it in.
4. none that I am aware of.

As a side note: Have you pulled the codes from the DIC? If not this might be worth it as it will give you some more info on what is/has happened to the system.

List of the 2003 trouble codes.

 

[c4c5specialist]

HI there,
If there is just a little moisture on the shock near the seal area, that is classified as normal.
If there is oil DRIPPING from the bottom of the shock after running down the body,THEN I would recommend replacement.
Allthebest, c4c5

 

[stjr]

Hello C5Y2K...nice to meet you! I have not yet looked under the car myself. I made this posting based upon the outcome of my last maintenance visit @ the dealer. They have been pretty good about identifying "real" issues (I think the fact that they're maintaining one of Chevy's flagship vehicles has something to do with it though). So, I need to squeeze my "fat" youknowhat under the car a take a peek myself. I must share this true story though. Our 'Vette was one of the first the dealer took delivery on that had the magentic ride option on. We picked the car and drove it home without problems. About 1/2 hour later, the sale rep calls asking us to bring the car BACK; they forgot to do one delivery maintenance item on the car. Apparently cars that have the magentic ride option had some kind of plastic spacers up inside the shock body that they did not know had to be remove! The car seemed to ride well; and I really didn't notice any difference with the spacers removed. And yep.....each shock had a spacer up inside the shock tube; reachable by a ribbon. True story.....

 

[stjr]

Hello c4c5specialist! Nice to meet you also! Yep...I need to crawl under the car and check out the shock myself. As I mentioned in my reply to c5y2k, the service rep said it was the right rear shock. But I will make it a point to check them all. And the story about the plastic "pucks" up in the shock tubes is true! Once that happened, I started bring the car to a different Chevy dealer that was (much) closer to work. I can drop the car off in the morning and walk to work in about 15 minutes; until summer hits! Then it's just too darn HOT!

 

[c5y2k]

I've read quite a few stories about the shock pucks being left in I'm just glad your dealer noticed that fast and took care of it. Interestingly enough the shock I had to replace due to it leaking was the right rear.

Now that I'm thinking about it I did have to take the inner fender well out to get the shock out. It's pretty easy to take out and it gave me the chance to clean some hidden spots.