1997 Buick Park Avenue Air Shocks, bumpy, really stiff

I went to the dealer today, shocks are ok, but the air pump and switche decided to die at the same time. I was told an estimate of 1500 to replace. I contacted the manufactoror and the store wherre I baught the shocks, the hikackers made by gabriel, and they are adjustable for softness and such. So im gonna contact my mechanic who put them in, and see if he can take some air out to make them softer? Any ideas? I dont really want to replace the air pump at the dealer, theres one on ebay for 75 dollars, that works. Any ideas?

What other options are there for the rear shocks? I called the local checkers, and they recommended the monroe ones. Any recommendations?

So I just got off the phone with the mechanic at the dealer, and I asked him, that with the hijackers, an attempt to keep me from buying another pair of shocks, if they would be able to releive some pressure from the shocks them selves. He said to me with the pump being dead, that the shocks have no air in them at all. I said well what is the valve on the shock for? This same guy told me yesterday that the air ride was for the purpose of leveling the car with heavy heavy loads. He also told me that it would totally fine to drive the car with the car as is. If theres no air in the shock, according to the guy today, how is there a little bump to the rear end when pushed, and wouldnt it just keep banging and knocking every bump? I called the guy who put the shocks on for me last week, and he said I could bring it in, and he said he`l try to release some of the air pressure from the shock, with me singing a waiver lol, but for a soft ride and not having a pain in my neck il try it. Any advice?

Ill let him know tomorrow that 20 pounds is the lowest he`l be able to go on the shocks. I know that there is an adjustment valve, there was a packet of peices that came along with the shocks, including the air hose that goes to the air pump (not needed now since the pump is bad) I discussed that a regular tire pump/compressor would be adaquate for adjusting. Sounds like if I could jack my car up my self, I could do it with my compressor. Might be to much to ask, but the mechanic as the peices, and if not I can always run up to autozone and say hey there were only the shocks and not peices (bad, I know but they rip me off enough) but would you know, or if could call again, find out from gabriel what adaptors, if any are needed to attatch to the valve to release air?

Alright, I am going to go to the mechanic and just have him do it since he can put it on the lift and get to it much easier. So if this gets the shocks a bit softer, ill be happy. Next thing, I was told the air pump for the suspension was dead. I am looking on ebay and its supposed to work. Would you, or anyone know how much time is involved with installing it? I am still looking for the swtich on ebay and local salvage yards, but thinking how much money I am saving then, I can just buy a new switch. Is this a big job or something thats right on the bottom end of the car with a few bolts and hoses?

Hey, so I havent written for a lil bit. So I got the Gabriel hijackers installed with the valve installed in the trunk. I have about 15 pounds and the car's height seems perfect. The problem, with any amount of pressure in the system, the rear end is the stiffest it can be. All the bounce is in the tires. I brought it into a mechanic that says the springs could be stuck, but he looked and said everything was fine. So im just wondering. Since my adjustable air ride is not an option. Is the Monroe MA822 air shocks? Or should I install the AC Delco's? I went to the dealer, and they said there are two choices with the AC delcos. Theres a touring one which they say is softer and then the sifffer ones. What do I need to do? The lines are installed, and I just need to find some soft air shocks for the rear end. And its not supposed to be as stiff as it should be right now with the gabriel. Any ideas or suggestions?