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  #1  
Old 01-23-2013, 03:21 PM
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Rear Suspension what to replace?

Hey guys i was just curious about something...i have asked several people this and i have had 3 different answers so im hoping to get some help here

my rear suspension is getting real saggy and i want to know if i need to replace both struts and springs or just struts or just springs or neither. the ass is riding real low and the other day the rear tire started rubbing when i had 4 people in the car. there really isnt any bounce like the front.

one guy told me to do both because the springs in the back aren't as "strong" as the springs in the front

another just the struts because thats all i did in the front and they were fine

someone else you dont need to replace them until **** starts dragging XD (i thought this was funny)

thanks in advance
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Old 01-23-2013, 05:37 PM
North Ursalia North Ursalia is offline
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Re: Rear Suspension what to replace?

Your ride height is determined more by your springs than your struts. If the rear is sagging due to weight, you want to replace the springs. Thing is, if you are going to replace the springs, you might as well do the struts too, as the whole kaboodle has to come out to do one or the other.
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Old 01-23-2013, 05:39 PM
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Re: Rear Suspension what to replace?

If the suspension is down 2" or so, its more likely your strut mounts has collapsed.
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Old 01-23-2013, 06:44 PM
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Re: Rear Suspension what to replace?

North yeah thats what I figured about the ride height and about replacing them...i guess I was hoping I wouldn't have to spend all that money on them

Proces its deffenetly more than 2 inches but im sure those need to be replaced too.

Right now my springs in the back are only about 8" long...thats seems a little short doesnt it?
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Old 01-28-2013, 10:32 AM
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Re: Rear Suspension what to replace?

The other option rather than replacing the springs is to get them re-tempered, here in NZ it costs less than 1/2 price of 1 new spring to do both...
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Old 01-28-2013, 10:54 AM
SVXMAN2001 SVXMAN2001 is offline
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Re: Rear Suspension what to replace?

I have been researching this for a bit as well, I am in the process of replacing my entire rear suspension.

The concensus based upon automotive articles, internet articles, posts and blogs indicate that springs do not wear and recommend replacing the struts to address a fatigued suspension.

Springs however can become compromised due to a severely worn strut or failure of another major suspension component, i.e. strut mount. This is in no way gospel, but wanted to share.
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Old 01-28-2013, 06:34 PM
92 SVX 92 SVX is offline
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Re: Rear Suspension what to replace?

Quote:
Originally Posted by SVXMAN2001 View Post
I have been researching this for a bit as well, I am in the process of replacing my entire rear suspension.

The concensus based upon automotive articles, internet articles, posts and blogs indicate that springs do not wear and recommend replacing the struts to address a fatigued suspension.

Springs however can become compromised due to a severely worn strut or failure of another major suspension component, i.e. strut mount. This is in no way gospel, but wanted to share.
I would say in many cases(cars) the springs wouldn't wear out in a normal life span, however our cars are very heavy and the spring seems unusually weak, they wanted a smoother ride. With metal fatigue and just the spring characteristics they do lose effectiveness.
Also remember these cars are at best 17 years old now. And many are older then that.
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Old 01-28-2013, 07:17 PM
SVXMAN2001 SVXMAN2001 is offline
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Re: Rear Suspension what to replace?

True, and considering the springs are only about $100 each why not. I just mentioned b/c the OP seemed to want to keep the price down.
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Old 01-29-2013, 06:16 AM
dcarrb dcarrb is offline
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Re: Rear Suspension what to replace?

If my experience is typical, a failed rear strut mount is pretty noisy; hard to miss the clunking and thunking beneath the parcel shelf.

A blown rear strut = a car that wallows and wanders and bottoms and is not much fun to drive.

Did somebody clip the springs? Two inches seems like a lot of sag even for a tired suspension.

dcb
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