Rear shocks problem??

[cozmo_im]

Few months ago I've noticed strange metalic sound (like clank-clank) from right rear end (Japanese Corolla sedan from 1990), which become eventually louder and louder... Almost in the same time I've checked my rear right shock absorber - it was leaking. Well, when I am driving over the bumps, the sound is there (clank-clank-clank very very fast) and the right rear end will sway a little bit (car is bumping). When I sway the right rear end of my car, it bumps up and down almost forever... Could it be that the shock on the right is leaked to death and that loud clank sound is from shock absorber? Everything else on suspension (other three shocks and rest of the stuff) is in very very tight condition... (no loud sounds, no clicks and clacks, no swaying and bumping). I ask this because the sound is very strange (like metal on metal)... maybe that rubber bushings of shock absorber also gone in the wind?

Regards,
Ivan

[Xenon]

Your car has struts in the rear, not shocks....

[OEMonkey]

the shock absorber(piston rod) part of your rear right strut assembly is most likely shot. depending if its sealed or not, you can just get a replacement strut cartridge insert.
the clank you hear is the strut bottoming out and hitting the bumpstop or the strut mount if the bumpstop is non-existent. a good damper should only bounce once when jounced during a dry park test.

[REN69]

Either that or you need new strut/shock mounts. My car has new struts all around, and a couple of months ago they started to clunk.. strut mounts are gone.

[cozmo_im]

Originally posted by OEMonkey
the clank you hear is the strut bottoming out and hitting the bumpstop or the strut mount if the bumpstop is non-existent. a good damper should only bounce once when jounced during a dry park test.

Thanks. I think that the shock is gone... bumpstop is (some rubber thing) is also in bad shape... but the strutmount is OK - (I know how it looks like when mount is out of order). I have that rubber bumpstop between shock and strutmount, because the shock goes through the strut (it's a japanese corolla), that thing looks like it's torn apart...

Oh, well there goes the money I have to change both shocks and bumpstops because they don't want to replace (or reffil) only the bad shock... they say (in Toyota) that if I reffil or change only one shock (the bad one) it will compromise stability of the car - (right side will be tighter then the left). I can do it by some other mechanics... but I don't want to compromise safety.

Well, the car make it 13 years without changing shocks... I think it deserves a present for xmas

[Xenon]

You're most likely going to pay an arm and a leg for a suspension from Toyota! Why don't you do some homework and find out how much after-market struts go for and maybe you'll get something for a better price?!

When my rear struts went on me, I tried to find the best price for suspensions and I ended up having after-market perfromance struts and springs for cheaper than what the OEM ones would have costed me..

[DJKoop]

I'm lucky. I'm a tech at a Toyota dealer so I get all my parts at cost. You should get some good struts though. If 1 is shot then the other may not be far behind. That bumper on the strut is called a "snub" and should also be changed. If you plan on keeping this car for sometime also get new strut boots to keep sand and dirt away from your strut piston. If your strut is leaked out your " insulator " will be swollen beyond use. (that's the round rubber pad your spring sits on) It to will need to be changed.

[cozmo_im]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Xenon
[B]You're most likely going to pay an arm and a leg for a suspension from Toyota! Why don't you do some homework and find out how much after-market struts go for and maybe you'll get something for a better price?!

I went to my mechanic... everything on suspension is in very good condition, except shocks - I will reffil the shocks and put a new seals. Also I will change that rubber which is broken (strut abosrber rubber), and that protective rubbers which are mounted around shocks (to prevent dust and dirt going into piston)... Well, when outside is very cold the clunk is heard very quiet and not so often, but when it is hoter it will sound more loud and more often, because that shock has a little bit oil in itself (it cannot leak to be dry) so it get stiffer when it is cold If my arm and leg went off the car will be swaying like the airplane in the stiff crosswind but my car is very very stable. And I saw that the wheel is bouncing up down a lot more than the other one when driving over bumps - definite sign of a broken shock