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spring or damper question
aka Keith - 14/7/09 at 07:32 AM

My car had a recent off, and bent the rear hub carrier. Put the car back together the other day, and the suspension does not feel right. Pushing down on the car over, the coilover does to spring back to the original height. - in effect it seems to stick at whatever height is it pushed or pulled too.

I have taken the coilovers off, and the springs off so that if needed i can send the coilovers away for a service. but before I do that, I wanted to ask if there is anything else I should be checking?

cheers
Craig

Mr Whippy - 14/7/09 at 07:34 AM

is the damper sliding normally in your hand now you have the spring off?

handyandy - 14/7/09 at 07:36 AM

sounds to me like a bent pushrod in the damper, i,d say the only way to cure is as you say send away for a service/inspection.

hope you were ok in your "little off".

andy

aka Keith - 14/7/09 at 07:39 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
is the damper sliding normally in your hand now you have the spring off?


Mr Whippy, I do not know what "normally" is. took of the other damper and I personallly cannot tell the different between the "slide rates" with the springs off. hence my second thoughts.

procomp - 14/7/09 at 07:40 AM

Hi

If you have the dampers removed. Check that the suspension is actualy free to move. Support the car on a jack remove wheels and see if the suspension will move by hand on side that took the impact. May as well check both sides whilst at it though. Also check if both dampers on zero click have the same feel in pressure to move them in and out over the full length of there travel.

Cheers Matt

aka Keith - 14/7/09 at 07:40 AM

Andy, car toook the pain thankfully not the fleshy things inside it.
cheers
Craig

quote:
Originally posted by handyandy
sounds to me like a bent pushrod in the damper, i,d say the only way to cure is as you say send away for a service/inspection.

hope you were ok in your "little off".

andy

aka Keith - 14/7/09 at 07:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by procomp
Hi

If you have the dampers removed. Check that the suspension is actualy free to move. Support the car on a jack remove wheels and see if the suspension will move by hand on side that took the impact. May as well check both sides whilst at it though. Also check if both dampers on zero click have the same feel in pressure to move them in and out over the full length of there travel.

Cheers Matt


Matt,

the suspension moves by hand on both sides without the dampers attached , however there is more creaking noise coming from the damaged side, (I had put that down to the bushes squeaking.).

Do springs go? could it be the spring that has been knackered?

cheers
Craig

procomp - 14/7/09 at 07:44 AM

Hi

Must type quicker. If the dampers have the same feel in pressure over there full travel. It's more than likely in the wishbones / bushes. Have a very careful check. See if the rear wheel that took the impact looks like it is pointing squarely down the car. Use a long straight edge as a guide to compare both sides.

Cheers Matt

procomp - 14/7/09 at 07:45 AM

Hi

Very unlikely to be a spring problem they are quite strong items and serious damage would result else where before affecting a spring.

Cheers Matt

procomp - 14/7/09 at 07:49 AM

Hi

Do you have any figures for the rear toe in/out prior to the impact. Having those figures re checked would show any movement of components. If no real change probably just in the bushing.

Cheers Matt

aka Keith - 14/7/09 at 07:50 AM

cheer Matt, I will get the long box section out tonight and mate it to the hubs.

cheers
Craig


quote:
Originally posted by procomp
Hi

Must type quicker. If the dampers have the same feel in pressure over there full travel. It's more than likely in the wishbones / bushes. Have a very careful check. See if the rear wheel that took the impact looks like it is pointing squarely down the car. Use a long straight edge as a guide to compare both sides.

Cheers Matt

Mr Whippy - 14/7/09 at 09:28 AM

just a thought...you aren’t pinching the nylon suspension bushes when your tightening up the bolts, maybe forgot any washers? I'd also grease the metal bush too if its creaking just to insure everything is free to move. Without the coilover fitted the whole suspension on that side should be easy to move with just one hand with no sticking.

aka Keith - 14/7/09 at 09:54 AM

cheers Mr Whippy.
I will send the coilovers for a service, to be on the safe side and check and recheck all the suspension elements on both sides.

cheers
Craig

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
just a thought...you aren’t pinching the nylon suspension bushes when your tightening up the bolts, maybe forgot any washers? I'd also grease the metal bush too if its creaking just to insure everything is free to move. Without the coilover fitted the whole suspension on that side should be easy to move with just one hand with no sticking.

nick205 - 14/7/09 at 10:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by aka Keith
My car had a recent off, and bent the rear hub carrier. Put the car back together the other day, and the suspension does not feel right. Pushing down on the car over, the coilover does to spring back to the original height. - in effect it seems to stick at whatever height is it pushed or pulled too.

cheers
Craig



Not clear from your OP, but can we assume you've replaced the bent upright?

If the impact was enough to bend the rear upright I'd be quite surprised if there was no other damage. Particulalry to the lower wishbone itself and possibly the chasis brackets.

I'd get in there with a long straight edge and make sure everything is straight and square before shelling out on the damper service. Look for cracked/peeling paint which is a sign that somethings been bent or taken and impact.

aka Keith - 14/7/09 at 11:21 AM

Nick,

the rear hub carrier to all the force, and has been replaced. Strange bending took place, the top part seemd to bend in on itself. Still cannot work out how it managed it.

We looked long and hard at all the components, but could not see or feel anything wrong.

Will try and dismantle this weekend, and rebuild to double check.

cheers
Craig



quote:
Originally posted by nick205
quote:
Originally posted by aka Keith
My car had a recent off, and bent the rear hub carrier. Put the car back together the other day, and the suspension does not feel right. Pushing down on the car over, the coilover does to spring back to the original height. - in effect it seems to stick at whatever height is it pushed or pulled too.

cheers
Craig



Not clear from your OP, but can we assume you've replaced the bent upright?

If the impact was enough to bend the rear upright I'd be quite surprised if there was no other damage. Particulalry to the lower wishbone itself and possibly the chasis brackets.

I'd get in there with a long straight edge and make sure everything is straight and square before shelling out on the damper service. Look for cracked/peeling paint which is a sign that somethings been bent or taken and impact.

snapper - 14/7/09 at 11:44 AM

First off try swapping shocks and springs left to right if the problem moves its the shocks or springs, then just swap the springs back leaving the shocks does the problem move back if so its the springs.
If the problem does not move originaly then its the wishbone locations, probably the mounts have pushed back off square and the bushes and bolts are seizing.
You will probably need to re set the welded mounts.
Check your wishbones in case they have bent slightly back or off true, sort of twisted.