Suspension Issue

[BZG Wagon]

When I corner left my R/H suspension makes an audable bang sound when it goes over a bump. So sometimes I'll get the sound two or three times one the one corner.

It's a similar sound to the bang a car makes when you hit a hard bump at speed (which puts a chill up my spine). In the past it was just a matter of putting more air in the tyre to fix it (or avoiding shallow bumps), but now it's doing it constantly.

The ol' bounce test seems sweet. The front corners of the car seem to be sitting at the same height. Nothing came up when I got a WOF.

What could it be - worn shocks or something more sinnister?

[cat007]

Got teins?

[Flannelman]

check the swaybar mounts.

This bang, can it be pin pointed? as it shock tower or lower floorpan?

Only thing to do is get the car in the air (thats on a hoist, not over a jump) and have a nosey...

[BZG Wagon]

No idea what the shocks or springs are - it's lowered but I can't see any writing on the suspension.

I asked the wheel alignment guys to take a look the last time I had it in & they reckoned everything looked sweet. I can't see anything looking out the ordinary but then I don't know a heck of a lot about suspension.

I guess I'll try another couple of suspension places for a diagnosis - anyone have any recomendations?

[BZG Wagon]

I can't really pinpoint it - other than saying it's coming from the R/F wheel.

Not a strong feel through the steering-wheel. More like the chassis?

Easing up on the steering (i.e. taking the corner wider) seems to ease it.

[cat007]

Ball joint issue?

[4-AGE 4-LIFE]

hows the bumpstop?

[Jdawg]

What's the car? superstrut makes that noise when the Banana bar bush to the chassis gets worn.

[BZG Wagon]

It's a '98 Caldina GTT.

Got a lot worse today. Now when I turn sharply left it makes a bang sound.

I don't feel it through the steeringwheel, it's more from where the tyre well is.

[Adamal]

Sway bar link? The ball joints in my sway bar links are busted and clunk like a mofo

[Brawler]

jack it up and jiggle stuff

[allencr]

I asked the wheel alignment guys to take a look the last time I had it in & they reckoned everything looked sweet.

I guess I'll try another couple of suspension places for a diagnosis - anyone have any recomendations?

Contrary to popular belief, most wheel alignment/suspension guys aren't the brightest.
Sorry, no recommendations. Good luck.

[Adamal]

Go see THASHZ for alignments. He DOES know his shit.

[BZG Wagon]

Mmm... I pulled the wheel off - all the bushes looked good (well - non-perished). There wasn't anything I could budge, not that I was expecting to do much in that respect. Everything looked tight and I couldn't see any obvious damage under there.

The only thing I noticed was the brake rotor was easy to move in relation to the wheel studs (I presume this is normal) and part of the lower shock looks like something has been rubbing against it. But it's around 2-3cm from the tyre so I'd be surprisied if it were that - someone must have held on to it or something when they changed the inner cv boot a couple months back.

I'll have to get it checked out. PITA given most places are still on holiday.

How would I check:
1) ball joints?
2) bunp stops?

[Boosted_162]

Go see THASHZ for alignments. He DOES know his shit.

I second this. I need to hurry up and get my car in there to get an allignment.

[gmacrae]

the WOF guys should pick up ball joints if they're half competent... so maybe check the ball joints lol

otherwise i'd look at the swaybar end links and the strut top hat if it is the type that has a bearing in it (not familiar with caldinas sorry)

If you have stuffed shocks and buggered/disintegrated bump stops if could be bottoming out, dont expect WOF guys to pick up worn out shocks, if the car is on "superlows" this is a real possibility

[sergei]

I believe it is stuffed shock with missing bumpstop combo.

[BZG Wagon]

Two mechanics; two different answers.

#1) Reckons there's some sort of bearing failure at the top of the suspension (which the suspension pivots on or something when you turn), plus knackered shocks, and the sound being the spring moving when turning.

Repair = $750

#2) Reckons it's bump stops because: when he jacked the car up the r/f bump stop was completely missing, and the l/f bump stop virtually fell out and crumbeled in his hand.

Repair = $150

#2 said the shocks were otherwise in very good condition (firm rebound, no leaks etc) & didn't recommend replacing them.

I think I'm going to book it in with the second guy and see if it fixes it, given the price difference.


Out of interest - I thought bump stops were only there for when you ran out of travel on the shock, i.e. in extreme situations. Not something you'd simply hit while cornering hard.
I guess the car is lowered so there's less travel to begin with. Any thoughts?

[gmacrae]

if the second guy is replacing the bumpstops, make sure he checks the top hat bearings while he's got the struts out. Its a bit weird he doesnt recommend replacing the shocks. If they've been bottoming out for a while they dont have much life left in them, even if they appear ok right now. If he's pulling the struts out anyway, throwing new shocks in doesnt make any real difference to the labour involved.

If i were you, i'd call George Stocks for a pair of new KYB's and get him to do them anyway - seems silly not to if the struts are coming out.

[Bling]

Or email our Toyota sponsor sponsor

Then slam them in yourself like I had to do recently. Though the shocks don't come with bumpstops so you'll have to get some of them too if doing it yourself.