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scary ride quality
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:16 pm
by windshield_time
My 2003 SE with 130k.
I hit a bump and the car jumps to the right and vibrates. This happens at speeds above 40.
I bounced the front and it seems ok ..IE: push down and it bounces once. I bounced the back and it keeps going 4 or 5 times. I looked at the rear shocks and noted the tube running to it...load leveling ???
Thinking it might just be the rear shocks. Not positive..
I am sure somebody has had this issue and I wonder how much is this gonna set me back.
Let me know if any other ideas or estimates on price...I will probably do it myself.
Thanks.
Re: scary ride quality
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:19 pm
by ChilinMichael
If it bounced more than 3 times (which you said it did) shocks are shot more than likely. I'd replace the rears.
Tube running to it should be load-leveling.
Edit: As far as prices, try Rockauto and look up shocks for your car. We have a discount code available to us under the "general" section at the top stickied.
Re: scary ride quality
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 4:19 pm
by imidazol97
windshield_time wrote:My 2003 SE with 130k.
I hit a bump and the car jumps to the right and vibrates. This happens at speeds above 40.
Thanks.
Could it be out of alignment?
But a few people have found a broken link on the rear suspension. It's a bar looking like a steering link on the front end, IIRC. You might check on the back suspension. The one I saw a picture of had just rusted in two at a narrow portion.
It's #5 in this diagram:

Re: scary ride quality
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 12:44 pm
by laxmangl
its more than likely just the shocks, I had the same thing when mine were shot. Unless you have replaced them, they probably have never been replaced and are usually only good for 100000 miles tops.
That being said I replaced my struts and shocks for around 200 bucks myself in a weekend. Its very straightforward and the car drives like a dream now
Re: scary ride quality
Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:31 pm
by Grimm
Same as mine. I found a little oil slick where the passenger rear tire would be several months ago and wondered what might have leaked. Then I found the same thing on the other side about a month ago. Since that day when I hit bumps just right I could feel the back end jump to the side. Replaced the shocks and now it's fine. Advance Auto matched Rock Auto's price with shipping (about $75).