Another.. is my suspension shot thread

[amc5]

Car has not been lowered. However, when I hit dips in the road, or go around a banked turn in, like a driveway, my tires rub. Sounds more on the rear.

Plus getting some of the pops and knocks like everyone else. Car feels like a wagon on bumps.

Sometimes turning I get a pop/grind/notchy metal sound.

Car has 57k miles

Looking to upgrade shocks soon. Something with a smoother ride. Wont be doing any roadracing or anything.


Thanks!!

[Bob-o]

The pop/grind/notch when you turn is 90% probably your strut bushings. That's a wear item, and 57k seems like a good time to replace em. I wouldn't be surprised if the struts on your car may have gone too, cause they come quite underdamped from the factory.

Open your hood, put 2 fingers on the center bolt of your strut mount. Have a friend/wife/gf/dog turn the wheel all the way from one end to the other, and back. It theres anything less than smooth movement; ie. you feel a pop/grind/clunk, then start with replacing strut bushings and mounts.

If you reach behind and feel your struts in the rear, and they feel greasier than a teenager's face, your struts are leaking/blown.

GLHF

[amc5]

Thanks man. lol dog.. haha..

So will saggy shit blown struts be causing my rubbing/scraping issues? I am long past the days of actually wanting to scrape and rub tires (ex minitrucker).

[SRTie4k]

Originally Posted by amc5 So will saggy shit blown struts be causing my rubbing/scraping issues? I am long past the days of actually wanting to scrape and rub tires (ex minitrucker).

It makes more sense to properly size your tires or roll the fenders than blame the struts on rubbing. The struts are not supposed to be relied on to set sag or prevent your tire from contacting the fender...

[Bob-o]

Yes that is correct. With the shock lacking pressure, the car may slouch, and if you are running an aftermarket wheel or tire with a lower offset, it will rub. That's why when some people switch from a stock shock to a koni or bilstein shock, they notice their car has raised a little.

[amc5]

popping noise came back yesterday intermittently. I am thinking suspension for sure. Almost sounds like a threaded rod being rubbed up and down through a hole if that makes since.

anyone care to share a suggestion on a good shock/strut that is a happy medium between sport ride and smooth?

[nofear72784]

Have you check the sway bar links for play? Haven't screwed with the rear susp of a 3 but the links are usually what go first on many makes. The wheel rubbing could be the shocks, are they wet around the shaft?

[amc5]

Have not checked sway bar. Will do that...

The tires and wheels are the stock size.

[Black Metal]

Originally Posted by amc5 Have not checked sway bar. Will do that... The tires and wheels are the stock size.

and offset?

[Nliiitend1]

Damper "stiffness" does not determine or affect static ride height. Springs do.

[captain slow]

I had some of the tire rubbing noise on my car which has stock wheels and suspension. Took a look at the rear, where I was hearing it and there was some of the plastic from the wheel well that was bent towards the tire so over certain bumps my rear tire was rubbing that plastic. Removed bent plastic, fixed rubbing problem.

[SRTie4k]

I don't believe your stock wheels/tires should ever contact any portion of the fender on stock suspension, even with blown struts. It sounds like you might have a problem somewhere else.

[nofear72784]

Originally Posted by SRTie4k I don't believe your stock wheels/tires should ever contact any portion of the fender on stock suspension, even with blown struts. It sounds like you might have a problem somewhere else.

Completely correct, the shocks/struts only control how fast or slow the springs are allowed to compress or decompress. If your rubbing you have something bent, a major alignment issue, tires that are too wide or the incorrect rim offset.

[amc5]

Best i can tell, stock springs and shocks. I know the wheels are stock. I am going to do more investigation this weekend. I will take some pics of where its rubbing.

[amc5]

The pops from the front can now be duplicated anytime. Whenever I put it in reverse, the front will pop. When I take off, it pops again. Anytime I stop fast and take of fast it does it. So something possibly loose?