Rear Suspension Problem
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,106
Likes: 2
From: PNW
Rear Suspension Problem
Hi gang,
I have a little problem with my right rear suspension.
A few months ago, S2Kaddicted and I installed Espelir springs on my car and followed the steps religiously, torque-specs and all. I am confident with our install.
However, my condo in Vancouver recently installed speed bumps in the parkade and they were ridiculously tall and sharp!! I drove over them ONCE before they were removed, and right after that I knew my car had the snot shaken out of it and I was hearing a funny suspension sound. But it was driving normal.
Fast forward a few weeks and I was going in for a new alignment. They told me they could not do it because my spring was ####ed up. They wanted $110 to fix it so I told them to get bent.
I am trying to fix it myself. Here's the problem:
The spring must have been decompressed and shifted. The bottom is no longer inside of the perch completely, but resting ON it on one side (inside).
I jacked up the car, but the rear does not hang down enough to release all pressure on the spring. I also removed the 2 bolts holding the top inside the trunk, and it does not fall down anymore.
I can force the hub down, but is that okay? Whats keeping the suspension all up in the air? I just need it to sag a little more so that I can freely move the spring around on the shock to align it and then re-tighten everything I think.
So, Q - what do I do? Do I need to remove the lower shock bolt so that the whole component is free to come out? Or can I just remove the upper bolts and something else to get the sag necessary to free the spring? Do I just keep it all bolted in but once its jacked up just push the knuckle down? etc etc... thanks for help.
Here is an HD photo of the problem: Brown lines are the bolts, black is the shock, perch, and grommet, blue is the spring. And this is the rear so I shouldn't need a spring compressor or anything.. ?
I figure since this happened, either A - I can loosen it up the same way (release pressure) and reseat the spring, or B - I had something loose to begin with, but that I highly doubt.
I have a little problem with my right rear suspension.
A few months ago, S2Kaddicted and I installed Espelir springs on my car and followed the steps religiously, torque-specs and all. I am confident with our install.
However, my condo in Vancouver recently installed speed bumps in the parkade and they were ridiculously tall and sharp!! I drove over them ONCE before they were removed, and right after that I knew my car had the snot shaken out of it and I was hearing a funny suspension sound. But it was driving normal.
Fast forward a few weeks and I was going in for a new alignment. They told me they could not do it because my spring was ####ed up. They wanted $110 to fix it so I told them to get bent.
I am trying to fix it myself. Here's the problem:
The spring must have been decompressed and shifted. The bottom is no longer inside of the perch completely, but resting ON it on one side (inside).
I jacked up the car, but the rear does not hang down enough to release all pressure on the spring. I also removed the 2 bolts holding the top inside the trunk, and it does not fall down anymore.
I can force the hub down, but is that okay? Whats keeping the suspension all up in the air? I just need it to sag a little more so that I can freely move the spring around on the shock to align it and then re-tighten everything I think.
So, Q - what do I do? Do I need to remove the lower shock bolt so that the whole component is free to come out? Or can I just remove the upper bolts and something else to get the sag necessary to free the spring? Do I just keep it all bolted in but once its jacked up just push the knuckle down? etc etc... thanks for help.
Here is an HD photo of the problem: Brown lines are the bolts, black is the shock, perch, and grommet, blue is the spring. And this is the rear so I shouldn't need a spring compressor or anything.. ?
I figure since this happened, either A - I can loosen it up the same way (release pressure) and reseat the spring, or B - I had something loose to begin with, but that I highly doubt.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,269
Likes: 42
From: Redmond, WA
Originally Posted by blacknwhite,Mar 6 2009, 04:53 PM
yeah have someone push down on your lugnuts so it all moves down. ur swaybar is what hold it up there and it will flex when u push down
... that's not going to relieve the preload
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,106
Likes: 2
From: PNW
^wont that release some load/pressure if the top is not bolted in (the 2 bolts holding shock to car)? * WAit i understand... that will lower the entire shock but pressure within the ends of the shock to free the spring. ah ha! but now that spring compressor issue worries me, hehe. i thought i remembered the spring being free around the shock with just natural decompression...
so i need to release the one bolt inside the shock (holding the perch on), and NOT the two bolts next to it that hold the perch to the car... makes sense. so loosen slowly, if it pops off im screwed. how long are the threads roughly so i know what to expect or is it a nut that i will see and know when i near the end? do you know what size it is (I live at the bottom of a cliff on the water so i have to carry my tools up this damn hill and its not very fun or easy to work on cars anymore)? thanks guys
think this is a one-man job?
so i need to release the one bolt inside the shock (holding the perch on), and NOT the two bolts next to it that hold the perch to the car... makes sense. so loosen slowly, if it pops off im screwed. how long are the threads roughly so i know what to expect or is it a nut that i will see and know when i near the end? do you know what size it is (I live at the bottom of a cliff on the water so i have to carry my tools up this damn hill and its not very fun or easy to work on cars anymore)? thanks guys
think this is a one-man job?
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 22,888
Likes: 3
From: Covington WA, USA
This thread reminds me of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Specifically it reminds me of the politician who supposedly promised to have it rebuilt "just like it was before".
Seems to me you should figure out what went wrong with the first install. Otherwise, the next time you go over another speedbump....
Seems to me you should figure out what went wrong with the first install. Otherwise, the next time you go over another speedbump....
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,106
Likes: 2
From: PNW
Well, I would like to know what went wrong but I am not even sure something did. Either way, all I can do is realign the spring in the perch so its seated properly and then retighten everything.
It was no normal speed bump. The pieces of shit were like railroad ties. No less, it should not have come undone.
W
It was no normal speed bump. The pieces of shit were like railroad ties. No less, it should not have come undone.
W
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,269
Likes: 42
From: Redmond, WA
..... my guess is it wasn't seated right in the first place but nobody noticed and over time it slid further out ...... to the point where it's obvious.
It's probably a 17mm but maybe a 19mm. Just loosen it till you either have zero preload (loose spring) or until you see the threaded shaft just below even with the nut (or half way through the nut is OK). Or drive it over here (are you in the US?) and we'll fix it in two seconds ....... MexiMike style
It's probably a 17mm but maybe a 19mm. Just loosen it till you either have zero preload (loose spring) or until you see the threaded shaft just below even with the nut (or half way through the nut is OK). Or drive it over here (are you in the US?) and we'll fix it in two seconds ....... MexiMike style