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5 Mar 2009, 14:53 (Ref:2409625) | #1 | ||
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how to tell if your springs need replacing ?
hi,
my road car suspension is a bit overly bouncy so I reckon a new set of dampers is what I need, but how do you tell if your springs need replacing too ? cheers Andy. |
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5 Mar 2009, 15:55 (Ref:2409655) | #2 | ||
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Check the ride height - it will be specified in the workshop manual.
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5 Mar 2009, 18:33 (Ref:2409756) | #3 | ||
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thanks for the suggestion but it is already lowered and I've no idea what brand the springs are.
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9 Mar 2009, 18:25 (Ref:2412378) | #4 | ||
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When the car handles like it was made in America?
You sure its not over lowered and therefore ruined any of the pre set geometry? |
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11 Mar 2009, 11:47 (Ref:2413568) | #5 | ||
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well its rock hard if i try to lean on a corner, but it is quite bouncy on some uneven roads. ground clearance is pretty low, just under 10 cm.
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11 Mar 2009, 14:06 (Ref:2413663) | #6 | ||
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Is that bouncy as in it wallows or bouncy as in the tyres are skipping across the bumps. If the former it could be your springs and/or dampers are too soft, if the latter it could be too hard springs and/or dampers. Are they coil or leaf springs?
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12 Mar 2009, 12:57 (Ref:2414253) | #7 | ||
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bouncy as in i lift out of my seat almost lol. its coil springs. It might be better just to get new shocks and springs all round. TIEN springs and Bilstien shocks was a good combination on my MR2.
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23 Mar 2009, 08:51 (Ref:2422519) | #8 | ||
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In my job I get to drive all sorts of cars. Most of them are normal cooking everyday types but sometimes I will get something that has been modified in the suspension dept. These are normally mods done by the owner or mates or a "MR EXHAUST" retail shop after the owner has read the latest "must have" in one of the overpriced "GLAMCAR" mags.
Normally the said car (unless on a billiard table) will be an absolute dog to drive and will border on "dangerous" especially if fitted with "Carlos Fandango" wheels and tyres !! |
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25 Mar 2009, 04:26 (Ref:2424163) | #9 | ||
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I wonder if the springs have been cut to lower it? Apart from the possibility of no longer seating properly, this also causes the effective spring rate to rise. If this is more than what the shocks can handle, poor damping/filling loss can result.
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18 Apr 2009, 19:29 (Ref:2444014) | #10 | |
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It is very rare for standard springs to fail/weaken during the expected life of the car subjected to normal road use. It is simple maths (for a manufacturer or spring specialist manufacturer) to specify a spring so that it is not 'stressed' - i.e. the combination of the material used, the gauge of the 'wire' and the distortion it will be put through can be selected to ensure the spring will have a very long life indeed. Think about valve springs - they have a FAR harder life than road springs, and unless they are over-stressed by modifications - such as high lift cams or larger , heavier valves - they will go on, and on, and on, and on....... (especially in a diesel!)
After market (road) springs are a different matter; I have had springs made that are close to being over-stressed - because my requirements could not be manufactured with better margins. But I therefore expect to replace them after a period of time. Unlike springs, dampers often fail after a much shorter life. They have parts that wear, corode and generally deteriorate over time, so are far more likely to be the culprit in your case. However, other components like rubber suspension bushes could also be involved as they, too, weaken and finally fail over time. |
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19 Apr 2009, 12:35 (Ref:2444674) | #11 | ||
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One point I will pick you up on phoenix as regards "rare" failing std springs, is that very often on servicing and MOT- ing I often find the last coil broken off.
On inspection you can normally find that a stress fracture has been caused by the coils in contact with each other and rusting up. If its in the centre the stress fracture is normally started by stones believe it or not I fit loads of new springs in the course of a year so it's far from uncommon. |
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Balls of steel (knob of butter) They're Asking For Larkins. ( Proper beer) not you're Eurofizz crap. Hace más calor en España. Me han conocido a hablar un montón cojones! Send any cheques and cash to PO box 1 Lagos Nigeria Africa ! |
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