Bonnie's rear swings from side to side when going over bumps
#1
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bonnie'* rear swings from side to side when going over bumps
Had the car for 10 months and did not notice any of this until a couple of months ago. When I am travelling at highway speeds and hit any moderate to larger bumps or rough spots in the road, the car fishtails to the left or right or both slightly and at times more aggressively. It used to do this when rounding a bend AND hitting the rough spot at the same time but now does it when travelleing straight and hitting bumps or depressions. I noticed this the other day when travelling on a stretch of ashpalt that had new black top repaired in strips that spannned the entire lane I was in about every 15-20ft for about 1km. I have also noticed the car picking up more bounce in the rear in the last few months and will be taking it in shortly to check out the shocks but thought I would ask if anyone had experienced this problem before or had any input on the subject. I was assuming maybe a bad shock or both but could it be a combination of an alignment issue and shocks. I assumed this was due to the performance suspension/ stabillitrac system at first when it was very mild but it has become a huge annoyance and concern for me now. Alignment seems to be fine at both highway and city speeds and the car makes no adverse or abnormal noises, shakes or vibrations at any other time during highway driving. Highway driving is extremely comfortable and noise-free on smooth pavement at any speed. At times it feels as if the car wants to fishtail badly and lose control (several inches of drift seems to occur on a bad bump) but quickly corrects itself and assumes a straight path again. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good quality shock that not only looks good but performs good as I will be installing a few mods shortly and want to beef up the car slightly from stock parts if they need replacing anyway. Manufacturer or model? Thanks for the input. Love the forum. Don't think I would have as much passion for our bonnie without having come across it when we bought the car.
#2
My first reccomendation would be to get a 4 corner alignment. Sounds like when one tire loses contact to the road, for just that split second, that the other is pulling back and then evening out when the other gets contact again.
Otherwise, i am fresh out of ideas.
Otherwise, i am fresh out of ideas.
#3
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: May 2005
Location: _Phoenix, AZ_ _WCBF '05, '06, '07 Survivor_ ____NEBF '07 Remnant___
Posts: 3,448
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
Might want to check the sway bar for any cracks, as well as the end links that connect the sway bar to the suspension for a broken end link bolt or rotted bushings.
#5
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: May 2005
Location: _Phoenix, AZ_ _WCBF '05, '06, '07 Survivor_ ____NEBF '07 Remnant___
Posts: 3,448
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
I did a quick search and only found these threads so far. Hope this helps.
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=62358
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...er=asc&start=0
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=62358
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...er=asc&start=0
#6
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Calgary, AB Canada
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just bought a 2000 SSEi with only 54k km on it and it has this problem as well. I played with tire pressure on the weekend with no success, I think I'll start with the 4 wheel alignment, hopefully with so few k'* the shocks aren't done already... although being 6 years old, perhaps something rubber has shrunk and is leaking.
#7
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Calgary, AB Canada
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just bought a 2000 SSEi with only 54k km on it and it has this problem as well. I played with tire pressure on the weekend with no success, I think I'll start with the 4 wheel alignment, hopefully with so few k'* the shocks aren't done already... although being 6 years old, perhaps something rubber has shrunk and is leaking.
#8
RIP
True Car Nut
For some, the rear shocks seem to go early. The mounts have been known to cause problems also. The shock rod went through my mount around 60k miles or so.
#9
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westerville, Ohio 2000 Black SSEi
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
This is also common if the rear end is empty and the air bags are fully inflated (due to a bad load level sensor or disconncted). I can always tell when I forget to reconnect my ELC from the track cuz the *** end sways badly at highspeed.
#10
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Rogue
This is also common if the rear end is empty and the air bags are fully inflated (due to a bad load level sensor or disconncted). I can always tell when I forget to reconnect my ELC from the track cuz the A$$ end sways badly at highspeed.
Thanks for the input everyone, some nice links provided. Should have enough info to troubleshoot or at least let the mechanics know they can't throw me any line of bulls**t. The rear end is sitting fairly level and there is no noticeable height gain as I was told would happen if the air had completely filled the shocks?!?