new shocks shocker!
Discussion
Just had my rear shocks replaced as one of them broke during the 48k service, they've fitted Bilsteins (which type I've no idea) but kept the old springs apparently (although everything looks rather shiny yellow to me). Anyway the car feels dramatically different - on the M25 and M3 at the weekend I was bouncing around in the car and if I hadn't had a seatbelt on I'm sure I'd have been launched through the roof. At first I thought it could be too soft, given the bounciness, or that the shocks weren't doing anything and the car was just bouncing on the springs, but I think the seat (quite springy in the Chim of course) is now doing the job of shock absorber and the shocks are a lot stiffer than the old ones. There's also a lot more rattle (seemingly from the nearside roof/window area) suggesting that there's less shock absorbtion going on now. Generally it's uncomfortable compared to before but also the car just feels less stable at speed on our dire motorway surfaces. Cornering seems good, but unwilling to push it just yet on the brand new tyres.
I know nothing about such things, so can someone tell me if this is to be expected or is something wrong with the setup?
cheers!
I know nothing about such things, so can someone tell me if this is to be expected or is something wrong with the setup?
cheers!
Sounds like you need to take the car back to where you got them fitted. With new springs/shocks it's really important to get them set up properly...there are a few specialist garages that are known for their suspension knowledge...people like topcats, steve gugliemi depending where you are in the country. Can make a huge difference in the way it drives as you have found out!
Bilsteins are standard fit for the Chimaera and are not adjustable. The springs shouldn't need replacing unless they were broken - which is unlikely. So having new dampers should really improve the ride and handling significantly. Your problems are more likely to be new tyres. New Toyos are well known to need "running in", if that is what you have gone for.
Let us know if it improves with time.
Bob
Let us know if it improves with time.
Bob
munky said:
Just had my rear shocks replaced as one of them broke during the 48k service, they've fitted Bilsteins (which type I've no idea) but kept the old springs apparently (although everything looks rather shiny yellow to me). Anyway the car feels dramatically different - on the M25 and M3 at the weekend I was bouncing around in the car and if I hadn't had a seatbelt on I'm sure I'd have been launched through the roof. At first I thought it could be too soft, given the bounciness, or that the shocks weren't doing anything and the car was just bouncing on the springs, but I think the seat (quite springy in the Chim of course) is now doing the job of shock absorber and the shocks are a lot stiffer than the old ones. cheers!
Can you clarify if the old shocks were fitted at the weekend and you've had the new shocks fitted since (you say 'Just had my rear shocks replaced...').Is your complaint that the new shocks are too bouncy or too firm?
edited to get my new and olds sorted out!
Edited by peebee on Wednesday 6th June 17:06
This has been an area of concern to me, replacing shocks and using old springs assumes that the old springs were not as knackered as the dampers.
I would consider changing over the springs to somewhere around the 275/300lb mark to suit the new Bilstein valving.
BTW this would also address ride height problems I have noted on some cars using old springs where the drivers side springs had worn more the near side. No brainer really because these cars are generally only owner driven.
I would consider changing over the springs to somewhere around the 275/300lb mark to suit the new Bilstein valving.
BTW this would also address ride height problems I have noted on some cars using old springs where the drivers side springs had worn more the near side. No brainer really because these cars are generally only owner driven.
the gazman said:
BTW this would also address ride height problems I have noted on some cars using old springs where the drivers side springs had worn more the near side. No brainer really because these cars are generally only owner driven.
.....All fat gits,please check your offside spingsbobs4c said:
Bilsteins are standard fit for the Chimaera and are not adjustable. The springs shouldn't need replacing unless they were broken - which is unlikely. So having new dampers should really improve the ride and handling significantly. Your problems are more likely to be new tyres. New Toyos are well known to need "running in", if that is what you have gone for.
Let us know if it improves with time.
Bob
Let us know if it improves with time.
Bob
aerospoke said:
Check the tyre pressure because some garages forget to let some air out after fitting the new tyres on the rims. If you got tyres with stiff sidewalls as bridgestone so3 youcan go as low as 22/24 psi.
Cheers Jens
Good points - I'll check the pressures this weekend. Only the front tyres are new - but as the car was in for a service they may have messed with the rear pressures too.Cheers Jens
New fronts are Dunlop Sp9000, no idea what sidewall stiffness is like compared to the previous tyres (bridgestone s03s, which is what are still on the rear). Certainly feels like the problem is at the back though.
peebee said:
Can you clarify if the new shocks were fitted at the weekend and you've had the new shocks fitted since (you say 'Just had my rear shocks replaced...').
Sorry - to clarify the rear shocks and the front tyres were replaced during the service (at a franchised dealer), which was a couple of weeks ago. So last weekend was the first time I've driven any real distance on the new shocks, about 200 miles on motorways, and it's at motorway speeds that it doesn't feel right.peebee said:
Is your complaint that the new shocks are too bouncy or too firm?
That is indeed the question. Initially I thought too bouncy, since what I'm feeling is on every motorway bump (I'm discovering how bad our motorways are) I'm almost being launched out of the seat (if it wasn't for the seatbelt) as I hit the bump and then bouncing back down into the seat. Now the chim has bouncy seats so maybe the new shocks are super firm and the seat is now being the shock absorber? However the other car I drive is a Civic Type-R, which has very firm suspension and ultra low profile tyres, but in that car you feel every bump now matter how small, but you don't get bounced out of the seat. So I don't really know what to tell the dealer as it's hard to describe, I don't know whether the shocks are too firm or just more firm than I'm used to, too soft (seems unlikely on new Bilsteins vs whatever old shocks were on there before) or not fitted properly and the shocks are doing nothing and only the springs are doing any work? I called them and they suggested I go back in for a test around their yard, but the problem is only apparent at high speeds, and the dealer is a good half an hour away from the nearest >30mph limit.This is the problem, the basics are that the spring does the work and the shock controls the spring.
If you bounce the rear end what happens, how does it feel stiffness wise?
It should be firm but compliant and should hold on the way up in rebound.
If you bounce the rear end what happens, how does it feel stiffness wise?
It should be firm but compliant and should hold on the way up in rebound.
Edited by the gazman on Wednesday 6th June 14:19
the gazman said:
This is the problem, the basics are that the spring does the work and the shock controls the spring.
If you bounce the rear end what happens, how does it feel stiffness wise?
It should be firm but compliant and should hold on the way up in rebound.
Oi Derek, not working? You can't be on here if you are under a TIV as you are supposed to be.If you bounce the rear end what happens, how does it feel stiffness wise?
It should be firm but compliant and should hold on the way up in rebound.
Edited by the gazman on Wednesday 6th June 14:19
By the way, thanks for tweaking my shockies yesterday, she drives like a dream.munky said:
New fronts are Dunlop Sp9000, no idea what sidewall stiffness is like compared to the previous tyres (bridgestone s03s, which is what are still on the rear). Certainly feels like the problem is at the back though.
FWIW,... I changed from Bridgestones to SP9000s all round. They definately need a couple of psi extra back and front.Cheers,
Al
Al Up North said:
munky said:
New fronts are Dunlop Sp9000, no idea what sidewall stiffness is like compared to the previous tyres (bridgestone s03s, which is what are still on the rear). Certainly feels like the problem is at the back though.
FWIW,... I changed from Bridgestones to SP9000s all round. They definately need a couple of psi extra back and front.Cheers,
Al
Played around with some speed bumps (at low speed!) at the weekend. The rears are dramatically stiffer now than the fronts, and I think it's this difference which is giving odd handling.
However more worrying is that one of the rear wheels has huge camber - I'd guess at least 15 degrees from vertical. Jacked up the corner of the car and the outside of the tyre lifts form the ground considerably earlier than the inside. That can't be good? Certainly wasn't like it before it was serviced - if it was it should surely have been picked up on the full alignment check that they charged me for.. (and of course I'd have noticed, it's pretty obvious)
The car's back at the dealer getting the camber checked out. I'll check the pressures when it returns.. and depending on what it's like then I think it could well be a good idea to get the front shocks replaced. Followed by a block booking at the chiropractor as evidently I'm used to it being all soft! 
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