vectorminds

Ok, the back end of my car seems to be getting worse and worse, it generaly feels unstable when there are any bumps on the road or I am turning... it almost feels like it wants to jump out.

I am not totaly sure how to test shocks... it seems like it bounces a little bit, but not too much... i do notice that when i come to a stop the car rocks forward and back a few times, which i dont recall it doing when i bought the car.

I got under the car today, and took a look at everything... as far as i can tell all of the bushings look alright, i didnt see any cracks, and when i tried to move them they all felt firm... i dont know if this is the proper way to check them... if someone has a better way lemmi know. Only problem I found was the front right tie rod end was leaking a lil, so ill get a new one of those... but i couldnt find anything in the rear.

on the control arms in the rear, where there is that o-o shaped bushing (rear camber links), the notches on one of the arms were flat but on the other side it seemed like it had been squeezed too tight, so the flaps had bent in and out a little bit... im not sure if thats anything to be worried about or not, i have a pic of this which i can upload once i get them off my camera

So im wondering if all the bushings are fine, and the only problem im having is maybe worn shocks / springs

anyway, peoples opinions on this are apreciated... as id really like to get back to driving my car and not feeling like im gonna spin out all the time

car is a 91 vert with no suspention mods

Icemark

The shocks should not bounce at all, they should return to neutral.

I would also check the rear stablizer end links. on the S5 they went to a funky plastic end link and they have been know to snap.

Also your diff mounts and tranny mount, could be worn, giving you unusual handling when accellerating or lift throttle.

vectorminds

the end links are fine... and i thought they felt like plastic... but yeah, they arent snapped... i do notice that i can pull on where the link connects to the sway bar and it will pull towards and away from the tire a bit... is that normal?

i took a look at any of the drivetrain mounts i could find... and they all "looked" ok, but im not sure exactly what to look for

ok, yeah, the car does bounce a little bit... i mean its not much at all, but you are saying that it should return right back and not bounce even once?

Icemark

yes, it should not bounce even once

Terrh

iTrader: (7)

CERTAINLY no more than one bounce.

Like, if you push down and it goes up and back to normal, that's probably not awful.

but if it goes up and down and up and back down and then stops.. time for new shocks/struts.

vectorminds

ok, so i definately should replace the shocks then....

what about those little tabs on the rear lower arms.... ?

because that was the only real thing i saw that looked different between the right and left side of the car