Checking suspension.... the correct way??

[_VVTi_]

Okay my suspension feels harsh, some say harsh like STi, some say harsh like bad suspension. Now my struts were replaced 2.5 years ago, the springs are OEM from day one. The rear is about 0.75 - 1.00 inches lower then the front (visually, don't remember the stock height).
Now I've read forums (here on TN and everywhere else) and heard mechanics saying that push down on the front and rear of the car really hard and it should bounce straight back up within one bounce or none at all. I did that, and it rebounded half a bounce and then back to normal. So I don't really know if my struts are woren again, or the springs are on its last leg.
And no, i don't feel any oil on the struts, so I assume they are not leaking.

Can anyone give me more indepth check for suspensions?

Thankss

[WhiteRabbit]

do you hear any noises coming from the struts? like slushing or squishing water?

my rear passenger one did that when it blew. i could also bounce the rear end like a basketball o_o

thats when i switched them to tokicos and eibachs =)

[_VVTi_]

can you elaborate on your experience of "rear bouncing like a basketball"??
My rear "thumps" over bumps and holes, feels something similar to a car with stiff suspension, but without the "race or sporty" feeling hahaha

[Eye8Pussies]

^ that's because you're on stock springs still...

and your suspension sounds pretty normal...just your description sounds stiffer than kybs tend to be

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by _VVTi_

can you elaborate on your experience of "rear bouncing like a basketball"??
My rear "thumps" over bumps and holes, feels something similar to a car with stiff suspension, but without the "race or sporty" feeling hahaha

i pushed the rear down and it rebounded rather quickly, and i just pushed it down again, dribbling it almost

[kamesama980]

_VVTI_: your shocks are about 80% gone, you should start shopping for new ones.

i recently got new cheapo shocks for my cressida, if i push down on either end, it goes down (with minute resistance) and then comes up to normal hight (with somewhat more resistance) no bounce. my old shocks would go down, up, down, up, down to normal hight like yours. i saw a supra a few weeks ago that could bounce the front like a basketball using the gas pedal on the highway. that was hilarious

[_VVTi_]

mine doesn't bounce. I push it down, then it settles back up with like very minimal to no bounce, just the wondering if the ride quality signalifies the struts are going.

[WhiteRabbit]

youll usually here alot of rattling and clanking if the struts are blown

[_VVTi_]

fuk.... planning to sell the car in the future, dont know if its worth to replace the struts... maybe i should being it to a shop and see how long it'll last.

[Grayguy]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

youll usually here alot of rattling and clanking if the struts are blown

yeah, my struts are so bad, I can push it with 1 finger side-to-side, and make it pop, and squish....Good thing I bought ToKico's and Eibach's off Ebay Yesterday

[_VVTi_]

Originally Posted by Grayguy

yeah, my struts are so bad, I can push it with 1 finger side-to-side, and make it pop, and squish....Good thing I bought ToKico's and Eibach's off Ebay Yesterday

hahah mine isn't quite like that lol

[RedruM]

mine are so badly blow that they fill up with water when its warm outside... during our cold winter the water would freez and lock up the shocks right to the bottom. it was like driving a car without and suspensino... fucking hurt like a biatch... then i put a heat gun to them, spread them out again and shoved rubber blocks inbetween to hold them apart.

[v-cam]

I just had my stock suspension replaced. Had done over 220,000 kms on them.

I found that my ride got harsher and more "loose" as the shocks wore on. When I finally replaced the shocks and springs, the rear shocks were that worn that I could compress them with one hand and they would stay compressed!!!!

So the car was basically riding on springs, but I tried the "push down" test and the car seemed to re-bound fine. The noises and rattly ride gave it away.

The car is completely transformed now, riding on Monroe GTs with Kings springs. It handles great.

Suspension still has noises though, I need to replace bushes.

[Eye8Pussies]

Originally Posted by RedruM

mine are so badly blow that they fill up with water when its warm outside... during our cold winter the water would freez and lock up the shocks right to the bottom. it was like driving a car without and suspensino... fucking hurt like a biatch... then i put a heat gun to them, spread them out again and shoved rubber blocks inbetween to hold them apart.

yeah...that's disgusting....