Getting worse over bumps

[Howard]

My car isn't doing so hot over bumps and uneven roads anymore. What should I replace, and in what order? Mounts, bushings, shocks?

2005 CTS

 

[jlee]

Rattling, bouncing, instability?

 

[Howard]

There isn't much "cushioning" of the bounce, so it feels harsh, and it's kind of loud too. No rattles or instability. A new car, even economy, feels better going over the same bumps (tried in a ~2009 Mazda 3).

 

[skyking]

Don't just toss parts at it. Get a good assessment from an alignment shop. The good shops will not sell you a bill of goods, especially if they know you are fixing most of it yourself and coming to them for alignments.

 

[silvscorp]

There isn't much "cushioning" of the bounce, so it feels harsh, and it's kind of loud too. No rattles or instability. A new car, even economy, feels better going over the same bumps (tried in a ~2009 Mazda 3).

You can do a visual check see if all springs are still ok, no bending, cracking, etc. If all checks out fine, it sounds like the shock is bottoming out. You can just go to each corner of the wheel and use your body weight to push down and you should be able to find an obvious difference.

 

[Howard]

You can do a visual check see if all springs are still ok, no bending, cracking, etc. If all checks out fine, it sounds like the shock is bottoming out. You can just go to each corner of the wheel and use your body weight to push down and you should be able to find an obvious difference.

I don't think the shock is bottoming out since even road irregularities that cause small wheel displacements are still worse than normal. The shocks also don't exhibit the multiple-bounce.

 

[Imported]

How do your tires look?

 

[Howard]

How do your tires look?

Tread looks fine, no cracking, tearing, chunking...

 

[5150MyU]

I think what Imported was refering to is worn out struts-causing noise and the tires to cup-from hopping too much.
I would look towards ball joints,strut mounts, and bushings-as you know hard to tell not being there.
They each tend to make a distinctive noise-though hard to detect.
Sometimes just a knee on the bumper can pin point it.

 

[silvscorp]

well, op mentioned there is no noise or instability so I doubt it's the ball joint or mount.

I am still guessing on the shock/worn struts depends on the type of car you have. You did mention to much "cushioning" of the bounce. A worn strut/shock might have a hydraulic leak so when you going over bump or uneven road, it can't absorb the compression well so you might feel a harsh bump, like when you hit a pothole. A worn shock not necessary give you multiple bounce. Depends on the age your car, if you have multiple shock/struts worn out, you'll feel discomfort even in the tiny uneven surface.

Just go to each corner and press you body weight down and see if either corner can be pressed down much easier than the other and doesn't rebound as fast. only takes 5 min anwyays.

 

[Howard]

Well, I'm just going to throw in new shocks anyway. I'll let you guys know how it works out.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Well, I'm just going to throw in new shocks anyway. I'll let you guys know how it works out.

Which ones? OEM?

 

[JCH13]

If a 2009 Mazda 3 does better, you're in trouble! Unless that car has had the OE shocks replaced recently...

At your car's age age I'd put money on shocks; not mounts or bushings. Mileage on your car?

 

[Howard]

Which ones? OEM?

Yes, AC Delco units.

If a 2009 Mazda 3 does better, you're in trouble! Unless that car has had the OE shocks replaced recently...

At your car's age age I'd put money on shocks; not mounts or bushings. Mileage on your car?

145,000 km.

 

[JCH13]

Yes, AC Delco units.

145,000 km.

Jeez, almost 90k miles, time for shocks. Super-durable shocks like Bilstien would be expended.

 

[kalrith]

Don't just toss parts at it. Get a good assessment from an alignment shop. The good shops will not sell you a bill of goods, especially if they know you are fixing most of it yourself and coming to them for alignments.

I was having suspension problems and had my local mechanic look at it and write up an estimate when he was doing some other work. Then I ordered all the parts on Rock Auto and am doing the work myself. I'll hopefully be done with it this week or next.

 

[bruceb]

I would suggest you also replace the Upper Strut Mounts while the old ones are removed. They have to come off anyway to change the strut, and if you are buying complete struts they will come with the mounts. GM style mounts have a habit of going bad and will make a clunking sound when they do. It is no extra work, just about $20 or so per strut for the parts cost.

 

[Howard]

I would suggest you also replace the Upper Strut Mounts while the old ones are removed. They have to come off anyway to change the strut, and if you are buying complete struts they will come with the mounts. GM style mounts have a habit of going bad and will make a clunking sound when they do. It is no extra work, just about $20 or so per strut for the parts cost.

I was told by my parts supplier that the front does not use replaceable mounts. The rears do, though, and the shocks come with the mounts already on.

Oh, well. I'll tell my mechanic to replace all the rubbers that don't look perfect, just in case.

 

[Gibson486]

There isn't much "cushioning" of the bounce, so it feels harsh, and it's kind of loud too. No rattles or instability. A new car, even economy, feels better going over the same bumps (tried in a ~2009 Mazda 3).

Don't worry, in a year, that 09 mazda 3 will need new shocks also.

<---owns an 07 Mazda 3.

 

[hanoverphist]

I don't think the shock is bottoming out since even road irregularities that cause small wheel displacements are still worse than normal. The shocks also don't exhibit the multiple-bounce.

my car is riding fairly decent, but when i hit small bumps at any kind of speed over 5 or 7mph it sounds like its punching through the strut towers. mine doesnt fail the bouncy bounce thing either, but i know its bad struts at this point.

 

[Howard]

I replaced the shocks and the difference is minor, if one even exists. Not worth the ~$600 IMO.

 

[foghorn67]

Don't just toss parts at it. Get a good assessment from an alignment shop. The good shops will not sell you a bill of goods, especially if they know you are fixing most of it yourself and coming to them for alignments.

This. See if there is any alignment-only shops around. They won't try to sell you something just to have you throw your wallet at them.

 

[SailingAway]

I realize this thread is nearly a decade old but came across it recently and wanted to see if you ever solved this. I'm having the exact same problem and changing out the struts and swaybar endlinks didn't do anything.