The front passenger side of my '02 Sunfire Sedan bottoms out quite a bit as of late. It usually only happens if someone is sitting in the passenger seat, although it does also happen on occasion when I'm by myself. I am very careful going over bumps and all, but when it bottoms out it's because I hit a bump that I didn't see and/or expect, etc. It never used to bottom out like this so I am already planning on replacing the strut mounts with KYB's '95-'99 front mounts and HT Motorsports' solid rear mounts, but I am wondering if I should go ahead and replace the struts too or should replacing the mounts take care of the bottoming out? I have KYB AGXs and Pro Kit springs. They were installed brand new in the spring of '07 on my Sunfire GT Coupe. They have since been switched back and forth a couple times between the GT and the Sedan.
Thanks in advance.
mounts wont fix bottoming out
Well, what is causing it to bottom out then because it's only on the front passenger side? And it doesn't happen all the time, only with a hard impact and typically only when someone is sitting in the front passenger seat.
its the strut. under hard impact its compressing more. you probably dont notice it on smaller bumps because its not traveling that much. push down on that side of the car and see if its stiff or loose
Okay, so if it's just that one side can I get away with replacing just that strut or is it better to replace all four at the same time? I figured it was the strut, but wanted to double check before I order any parts. Thanks for your help.
you dont
have to replace all 4. i think it would be wise to just replace the fronts for now. again you dont have to but it would probably be cheaper anyway to order a set of front together then to just order 1. even if you dont replace both fronts, atleast you'll have another front strut in case the other goes soon.
I would recomend replacing 2 at a time.....minimum.
Get both fronts, and an alignment.
2 at a time if your on a budget. All 4 if you can swing it.
As long as your not doing autocross or road courses mix and match struts from front to back shouldn't be a problem
-Chris
Okay guys I am now completely and utterly confused
. I stopped to talk to the guy that owns the suspension/exhaust shop here in town. He is a very nice, trustworthy guy who does great work at a great price. Anyway, I stopped to ask him his opinion on this matter (not that I don't trust you guys; I just figured I'd get another opinion
). He said he doesn't think it's the mounts or the struts. He said he thinks the springs have setteled and I should start by replacing the springs. Again, I have Eibach Pro Kit springs. He also pretty much said the car is lowered so it's just going to ride rough. Well, when I first had my GT Coupe it was lowered on Goldlines and stock struts and I never rememeber it bottoming out like the Sedan does. I am getting really confused and frustrated. I don't know what to replace. I don't want to waste money replacing parts that don't need to be replaced.
On a side note, I was doing some reading on here last night and "bump stops" and "dust boots" kept coming up over and over again. I am 99% positive I don't have either so I am wondering if this could be the problem?
Here is a picture of what my setup looks like:
Also, I did the "push up and down on the car" thing this morning and it's very stiff on the front passenger side. Also, Tom (the suspension/exhaust guy) did this too and he also said it's nice and stiff.
Please help me! I am going crazy with this whole situation
! I want to replace whatever needs to be replaced and get it over with already
!
if you dont have bump stops that could be the problem.
According to Tom I do have bump stops, but I really don't think I do. I'm not 100% positive though because I don't know what bump stops look like. Are they part of the dust boot that goes over the inner shaft of the strut?
The bump stop is INSIDE the dust boot. If the boot is not there odds are the stop isn't either.
yes they are inside the boot. they look like a snowman
here is a pic of the bump stop (note from left to right ours in the 3rd one, the one with the yellow text under it)
heres a pic of how it should be on the strut
hope this helps
Okay, that helps
a lot guys! I guess I am going to start by ordering some dust boots then
. One more question, so the bump stops will come with the dust boots then? I am going to order
these for the front and then I will get the Monroe rears from Auto Zone. I am also going to go ahead and replace the mounts while everything is apart.
Thanks again for all the help guys. I really appreciate it
.
Tire Rack wrote:KYB strut boots feature a "bellows" type boot that provides effective protection from dirt and moisture by covering the entire piston rod. They include an integrated compression bumper that is bonded to the bellows to act as a "bump stop" that helps prevent metal-to-metal contact of the suspension during severe impacts. New KYB Strut Boots and Bumpers exceed original equipment requirements, are easy to install and provide a low cost insurance that protects the struts from dirt, moisture and severe impacts.
sounds like it
also check out advanceautoparts.com they usually have good prices too.
Okay. Thanks again for the help and info
!
If your lowered your problem is stock struts. The lowering springs have a higher rate to cope with the reduced travel. What you really need are some Koni's, Tockico D-Specs(both of these are adjustable) or at the very minimum some AGX's.
Stock struts or even KYB's were not meant for a drop and your going to end up killing set after set.
-Chris
Also don't replace the springs, its highly unlikely thats the problem it takes a good few years for springs to settle and the Eibach's are not supposed to sag.
-Chris
I used to have H&R's, now that I have TEINS nothing else will go near my car. Smooth and twitchy even when stiff.
-Chris
