checking shocks: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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April 22, 2009 3:02 p.m. benzbaron Reader

In the last few months my car has developed a noticable clunk going over steep bumps and tight fast turns coming from the passanger side rear suspension. I just pulled the tire and took a look at the suspension and the rear subframe bushings are still intact but 30years old. So I then went and looked at the shock, and noticed a very little bit of oil down at the bottom, I think it has a small leak. I was able to duplicate the funky clunk by pushing down hard on the rear passanger side. It sounds almost like a loud metallic creak which may be cause by excess suspension travel which allows a large rubber body stop to hit control arm.

Does anyone have any idea of a better way for checking the shocks?

This is in anticipation of a 1000mile run to San Diego around mothers day. I wanted to do highway 1 at sunrise for a good run between monterey and morro bay. I was going to do it around Christmas but the damned car was overheating.

Thanks for any suggestions folks!
April 22, 2009 3:05 p.m. neon4891 SuperDork

the only way i know to check shocks/struts is push on it and if it takes more than one rebound to stop moving then its bad... but this is not the most accurate or scientific
April 22, 2009 3:19 p.m. Salanis SuperDork

A leaking shock is a dead shock.
April 22, 2009 4:25 p.m. Kramer Reader

What Salanis said.

However, I remember seeing some magazine article, from many years ago and another magazine, that had a home-built shock dyno. It was pretty neat, even though it had its shortcomings. But it was definitely grassroots.
April 22, 2009 5:19 p.m. benzbaron Reader

I guess I'll have to bit the bullet and get a set of rear shocks either before I go or right after. It isn't bad on the highway just over slow speed bumps. Thanks for the insight, I was hoping to get another 30years out of the shocks and rubber bits, but I guess not.
April 22, 2009 5:46 p.m. Toyman01 Reader

Replace them, all four. I just did the front struts on the RX-7. Wow what a difference!! It drives like new now. I didn't think they were bad before and only replaced them because the top of one blew out. They didn't bounce more than once so I figured they were doing the job. I have since replaced the ones on my work van, they had 350000 miles on them. Made a big difference on it too.
April 22, 2009 5:51 p.m. benzbaron Reader

The fronts were done a couple years ago when mercedes replaced the subframe under a recall. I cannot even tell what type of shocks they are, they are covered in muck. I think I'll be buying some, and this gives me a reason to finally rewire the rear speakers, I have to take the car half apart.