It seems my ghetto rigged suspension has caught up with me...after four years. Perhaps it caught up much earlier, I just didn't notice it on nice smooth American asphalt, but here in Sweden (imported my '96 two months ago), land of dirt roads, pot holes, ridges and craters, the aging suspension has finally reached the end of its life.
What my car had was c-springs and Tokico blues with urethane all around and MM CC plates. After installation in early '02, the rear didn't settle, like many had anticipated, so I cut half a coil. That didn't do the trick, so I cut some more. Bingo!! It looked perfect and rode hard, but controlled.
Now, after a month and a half of road way abuse, my poor '96 is not fairing well. Sweden has some nasty ridges in the roads (from wintery conditions) so when I roll over those, there is a tremendous bang in the rear. I mean REALLY nasty!! Sounds like metal on metal! I'm guessing it's the springs not working anymore? I think they've compressed so much that there is no travel left in them. Sound plausible? I just replaced the shocks hoping that would help, but not entirely. Mechanic told us the bushings were shot, too, but that's crap 'cause they are urethane! My husband looked at them today and said they were shiny and hard. If rubber isn't it easy to see if they are worn? Rubber doesn't look or feel like urethane when it's FOUR years old, does it? LOL! And urethane doesn't wear out either, right?
There's also a weird...ummmmm noise when make a left turn from a stop. What could it be?
I know replacing the springs isn't a bad thing (selling the car soon) , so I can do that, but I can't just go to a parts store in town...there isn't one! I live about 120 away from the nearest auto parts store and shop! Anything I have to order has to be done before I make an appointment for the work.
Does this sound like a spring problem to any of you??? I really wanna sell this car and I don't wanna sell it like this, although I know it's not very noticeable on a decent road.
Thanks in advance!
Cindy
What my car had was c-springs and Tokico blues with urethane all around and MM CC plates. After installation in early '02, the rear didn't settle, like many had anticipated, so I cut half a coil. That didn't do the trick, so I cut some more. Bingo!! It looked perfect and rode hard, but controlled.
Now, after a month and a half of road way abuse, my poor '96 is not fairing well. Sweden has some nasty ridges in the roads (from wintery conditions) so when I roll over those, there is a tremendous bang in the rear. I mean REALLY nasty!! Sounds like metal on metal! I'm guessing it's the springs not working anymore? I think they've compressed so much that there is no travel left in them. Sound plausible? I just replaced the shocks hoping that would help, but not entirely. Mechanic told us the bushings were shot, too, but that's crap 'cause they are urethane! My husband looked at them today and said they were shiny and hard. If rubber isn't it easy to see if they are worn? Rubber doesn't look or feel like urethane when it's FOUR years old, does it? LOL! And urethane doesn't wear out either, right?
There's also a weird...ummmmm noise when make a left turn from a stop. What could it be?
I know replacing the springs isn't a bad thing (selling the car soon) , so I can do that, but I can't just go to a parts store in town...there isn't one! I live about 120 away from the nearest auto parts store and shop! Anything I have to order has to be done before I make an appointment for the work.
Does this sound like a spring problem to any of you??? I really wanna sell this car and I don't wanna sell it like this, although I know it's not very noticeable on a decent road.
Thanks in advance!
Cindy