Suspension Question(s)

[Stickyittoyou]

Hi there,

So recently my car has been having a metal clang sound every time I hit a bump in the front right, Maybe front left as well. I've checked into if it's my ball joint but there is no play. The only type of play it remotely has is when I go to pull up on the wheel (when the front left is in the air of course) the strut and coil over and upper ball joint seem to compress around 1-2". Now I figure that is not normal.

On top of that all of my struts are really bad... I really don't suggest anyone to be in the rear seat because I sat in back and my head hit the roof on a small bump. Cars like a bucking horse. My wife was driving it around a semi-sharp left corner the other day and it felt like it was tripping over the front right. Bouncing up and down due the strut being dead.

I did figure 8's in a parking lot sharply and I heard no grinding or popping. The only thing I noticed was quite a lot of body sway even at 15mph.

So onto my question (s) -

Does those issues sound like suspension?
Out of these kits available on our website. Which suspension will not require a camber kit? I'm personally looking at the Eibach Kits more, plus it in my price range.

Eibach Pro-System
Eibach Sport-System
Tokico HPK Shock / Spring Kit
Tokico ILK Shock / Spring Kit

http://www.clubcivic.com/store/shock-spring-kit_c21.html


[Updated some info / question]

 

[95coupeWI]

Eibach is good s**t, plus you wont need a camber kit at all, just get an alignment

 

[civexspeedy]

The Eibach Pro-Kit and Tokico HP Kit will both have the smoothest ride(softest springs/shocks) and wont lower the car a whole lot. It's noticeable, but still a decent amount of wheel-to-fender gap. It seems like the Tokico IL kit lowers about the same as the Tokico HP kit but it uses their adjustable shocks. You can get a sportier feel from the suspension with these shocks however they are completely unnecessary with those springs.. Might as well just get the Tokico HP kit..

As for the Eibach Sport kit, that will give you the best handling and lower the most out of all the kits your looking at. Slightly lower than the other kits and the springs are a bit stiffer. Still a very comfortable ride. If you ask me, out of those kits, you should go with the Eibach Sport kit.

For all of those, you will not need any camber kit. Install everything you need to and once you know it's finished, go get an alignment. Just tell the shop to set your toe within spec and you'll be fine. Just remember to regularly(every oil change is easy) rotate your tires and you wont have any problems..

 

[Stickyittoyou]

Does my issue sound like the suspension though? I just updated with some more information that I failed to include.

"My wife was driving it around a semi-sharp left corner the other day and it felt like it was tripping over the front right. Bouncing up and down due the strut being dead."

I did figure 8's in a parking lot sharply and I heard no grinding or popping. The only thing I noticed was quite a lot of body sway even at 15mph.

 

[XpL0d3r]

Sounds like you might have lost a bump stop and the springs are smacking something.

 

[Stickyittoyou]

Struts that are already known to be blown should be replaced and anything else you find thats worn. I ride on Tokico HP and Ground Controls which use Eibach springs.

You can use a rubber mallet to bump the cat and id also check the resonator also, mine came apart on my Greddy.

How would one go about to tell if the struts are going or dead, just jump up and push down on the car? It has some bounce to it and seems like it just goes with every bump rather then absorbing it since I have 17" rims... although there is a major difference when my brother compares his struts to mine (besides the obvious height difference) his hatch doesn't compress as much as my vehicle (coupe) does when pushed down on. In general his struts seem stronger.

 

[civexspeedy]

How would one go about to tell if the struts are going or dead, just jump up and push down on the car? It has some bounce to it and seems like it just goes with every bump rather then absorbing it since I have 17" rims... although there is a major difference when my brother compares his struts to mine (besides the obvious height difference) his hatch doesn't compress as much as my vehicle (coupe) does when pushed down on. In general his struts seem stronger.

Do the "bounce test". Press down hard on each corner of your car right above the wheel then let go and let the car bounce. Count how many times the suspension rebounds. If the car bounces more than 2-3 times before coming to a rest, your shocks are worn out. If the suspension continues to bounce many times after, the shock(s) is completely blown.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/ride1.htm

BOUNCE TEST
Before you visually inspect the suspension, do a simple bounce test to tell if the shocks or struts are weak. A bounce test is not a very scientific test because it requires a certain amount of judgment. Worn shock absorbers and struts that allow more than one or two gyrations after rocking the bumper up and down and letting go have reached the end of the road and should be replaced. But what about the "marginal" dampers that still soak up some of the bounce, but not as well as new ones? They should probably be replaced, too, to restore like-new handling and ride control.

Your wheels, tires and their size have nothing to do with suspension compression and rebound.

Your brothers car very well may have stiffer springs. Shocks do not bear any weight, the springs are what hold up the weight. Stiffer springs means less compression. So when you compare your brothers car to yours, if he has stiffer springs, his car won't compress as much.

The shocks simply control the movement of the suspension. Take a spring by itself and drop a weight on it, it will bounce almost uncontrollably and unpredictably for some unknown time before it comes to a rest. Take that same spring and incorporate a shock absorber and do the same test. The movement of the spring will now be controlled by the shock and quickly come to a safe resting point soon after. If you have a blown shock, it is essentially like taking away the shock(ie: control). So now the spring will just bounce away.