Car/shocks?

[Shawnee123]

If there's a car question thread I apologize.

Can shocks freeze? My trip to work was bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy fun fun fun fun fun...cause the wonderful thing about shocks, is I might have only one.

Apologies to Tigger.

So, the back driver side hits any bump and I feel like I'm on a bumpy rollercoaster.

What could it be? It wasn't like that last week. It was 1 degree at my place this morning. But something's probably broken...

Any ideas car peeps?

[lumberjim]

before tw starts berating you for not including enough information to diagnose this.....

what kind of car is it, shaw?

is it banging, or just real floaty and bouncy?

[Shawnee123]

It's a '96 Olds Cutlass Supreme.

It's bumpy. I can't say it was physically banging or making bangy noises...but it did jerk me around. Like somewhere between bangy and floaty. I didn't hear any clunks or the like. I could tell it was on the driver's side when I went over the speed bump on the way into my parking lot this a.m.

Yeah, big help huh?

[tw]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

It's a '96 Olds Cutlass Supreme.

It's bumpy. I can't say it was physically banging or making bangy noises...but it did jerk me around. Like somewhere between bangy and floaty.

Obviously, the ride has changed.

Shocks can be analyzed by anyone. A car is raised enough to see where a shiny stainless steel rod enters the body. Sometimes a human can lift it enough. Othertimes a jack may be necessary. No moisture stains must exist on the body. If it looks like water or oil has been leaking out, then the shocks have been leaking and are defective.

Better manufacturers routinely put a plastic boot over that area to keep dirt out. Some GM products did not. You may have to lift that boot up to see the shock absorber body - where a stainless steel shaft enters. Inspection for leaking shocks is that obvious and definitive.

Another test is to drive down a highway with another car alongside. If the shocks (or something else just as serious) has failed, then that wheel will be bouncing obviously and even on smooth pavement.

[lumberjim]

I'll ask around in a bit...i just got a deal on my desk....
I did have struts sieze in my rabbit back in the day.

[Undertoad]

That's normal behavior for a 96 Olds Cutlass Supreme.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

That's normal behavior for a 96 Olds Cutlass Supreme.

Heh...it's never been the greatest car ever. I'm just hoping it will make it through the winter, with as few band-aids as possible, until I am ready to get a new car.

It was never so jumpy though.

[HungLikeJesus]

Maybe you lost a few lug nuts.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Lost lugs shouldn't make it bouncy though, it should make it wiggly.

96 Olds Cutlass Supreme

It's obvious Rick Wagoner and the evil MBA's at GM built your car knowing 13 years down the road you would suffer the consequences of your unamerican purchase caused by their failure to innovate.

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Lost lugs shouldn't make it bouncy though, it should make it wiggly.

It's obvious Rick Wagoner and the evil MBA's at GM built your car knowing 13 years down the road you would suffer the consequences of your unamerican purchase caused by their failure to innovate.

Nah, I don't think the MBAs' heads were out of their asses long enough to look 13 years into the future to know what a piece of crap it would be/was/is. It has all the "stuff" people like, that I hate: auto windows (passenger side hasn't worked in years despite having 4 people 'fix' it. Auto locks (it's like Chinese Torture Trap getting out of the fucker.) Auto brakes (sounds like Darth Vader is in my floorboard.) They put all the bells and whistles on it and forgot to include the car.

Anyway, I wouldn't have bought this car.

It was needed after my dear little Honda died.

Next car will be jap. Unless I find a good Beamer for cheap.

Thanks Jim! I feel better knowing even if I do need new shocks it won't set me back a grand.

Oh, and it has about 200k miles.

[HungLikeJesus]

Shawnee, is your back end bouncy or wiggly?

Perhaps you could provide a video.

[lumberjim]

96 cutlass has shocks in the rear. shocks retard the bounce from the springs as they recoil. shocks are filled with gas usually, and in extreme cold, they can become ....sluggish.....so you'd perceive a bumpier ride.

if you begin to hear banging noises, have it checked out asap.

it may need new shocks.....($111/pair at shockwarehouse)
how many miles on it?

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

96 cutlass has shocks in the rear. shocks retard the bounce from the springs as they recoil. shocks are filled with gas usually, and in extreme cold, they can become ....sluggish.....so you'd perceive a bumpier ride.

if you begin to hear banging noises, have it checked out asap.

it may need new shocks.....($111/pair at shockwarehouse)
how many miles on it?

Well you were right jim. You're the winnah.

On the way home last night, since it had warmed up a bit outside, it was normal. Hallelujah!

I may be able to eke it out until spring. Is that even a real sentence?

Tell Jim what he's won, um...Jim!

[tw]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

On the way home last night, since it had warmed up a bit outside, it was normal. Hallelujah!

That implies that shocks may be slowly failing. May need replacement maybe sometime in the next two years. IOW have then inspected for leakage when convenient this summer; when it is already on a lift, and therefore costs nothing.

A good shock should work little changed in 100 degree or zero degree (F) temperatures. Or act as a better shock absorber in coldest weather. If cold means a bouncier ride, then internal seals may be leaking now, and may start leaking outside in the next year or so. But then shock absorbers are rather cheap (struts are expensive).

[Shawnee123]

Thanks tw, and all.

It sounds like I will be able to hang on with this car for just a while longer.

As soon as I get a new car this summer, I am going on a solo road trip...wherever the wind takes me. It's been a dream for a few years. I guess I'll need a sunroof.