How to Tell if Rear Coil Springs gone Bad?

[zakmuh]

Hi,

I recently bought a 2003 Kia Sorento (with normal shocks - not SLS). While on small road humps and pot holes, It's rear side has more rough ride (rear passenger gets hip pain!!) . It jumps and lands, not smooth, hits back so hard. It feels like the wheels are directly fixed to the chassis without a suspension system.

Is this the sign of worn coils?

Many thanks in advance

[zakmuh]

Thanks all

So damper is the one moving the chassis up and down smoothly over dips and bumps and the coil springs help it to go back to right level?

I'll get it both of them checked and replaced over the weekend.

Cheers

[zakmuh]

Very well explained guys!

Thank you very much

[zakmuh]

Thanks! The current shocks are KYB gas ones - some pics below.

Back of the car isn't bouncing excessively - no bouncing at all! I don't think if the worn upper/lower suspension arms contributing anything to cause those problems, along with the bad shocks?

Yes, the pair. I gave a bell to the car dealer from where I got the car from and he has agreed to replace them both + the leaking fuel tank.

[zakmuh]

No knocking noise from anywhere. I checked all the bushes with a pry bar and its all good. Peddders ( http://www.pedders.co.uk/kia-sorento-20022007-rear... ) do SLS to normal shocks conversion. From there website I checked the wheel-to-wheel arch measurement, which is 720mmm and its correct on mine.

Yes, its rusting heavily but luckily metal isn't falling off yet. I have to give to car washers to do a thorough underbody wash and then Waxoyl treatment. And do this again just before the winter. Some local garages do this for cars. I hope this treatment will control/minimise rusting further? Full underbody coating will cost me circa £1300!

[zakmuh]

paul.deitch said:

I have the same car, same problem. Definitely dampers. Replace in pairs. The fronts are probably shot too so do them as well if the car dips on braking. Top nuts on rears were really rusted...

Paul, was yours sorted after replacing both rear dampers, no more bouncy ride at the back? I guess yours is XS model as well, so was it normal shocks or or SLS?

Cheers

[zakmuh]

Glad to hear all sorted. May I ask , whats that ' I'm running M+S/ W+S tyres'? Mine has 70 think tyres. I dont't think part worn ones are that expensive?

My underbody has loads and loads rusting. I'm gonna give it a Waxoyl treatment. I have disabled the TCCS power supply (2WD conversion) so it's okay on mileage

[zakmuh]

Thanks.

Lots of interior lights aren't working on mine either, especially the dashboard clock and front hood light. I just need to spend whole weekend to get to the bottom of it and sort everything out. Yes, this forum, is a life saves!

Edited by zakmuh on Monday 8th May 08:06

[zakmuh]

The jeep is at my dealers garage to sort out the rear shocks and leaking fuel tank. I'd get back mid of this week and then I'll take to car body wash place near me over the weekend. They'd do a thorough jet wash to see how much badly rust has taken over and then they'd advise me whether to Waxoyl it or give a rust treatment.

From my inspection, its not as bad as the laters models like 2004/2005.

[zakmuh]

The jeep is at my dealers garage to sort out the rear shocks and leaking fuel tank. I'd get back mid of this week and then I'll take to car body wash place near me over the weekend. They'd do a thorough jet wash to see how much badly rust has taken over and then they'd advise me whether to Waxoyl it or give a rust treatment.

From my inspection, its not as bad as the laters models like 2004/2005.

[zakmuh]

HustleRussell said:

It does look rusty but you mentioned £1300 for a full underbody treatment?

No offence but this seems like a lot of money particularly on a car with quite a low market value. I'd suggest it should be possible to keep the rust at bay for a few more years without spending that kind of money.

its alright, I agree with you on that price mate. That sort of money worth spending on an old Ferrari or Porsche, not on mine!

I'm not going treat the rust, If they advised me to. Instead, I'll keep oiling it every 6 months or so...

[zakmuh]

Hi Guys,

I had dropped the car with the dealer, who agreed to replace the shocks. He has come back saying there's nothing wrong with the shocks or spring and the hammering ride is normal for any cars used for caravan towing. I think means the coil spring is stiffer for caravan towing and it's been fitted with one of them. So without caravan weight taken at the back, it'll be hammering. I've told him it cannot be normal cos it bounces the baby with the car seat off the seat!

He'll double check that and get back to me today. What's your take on this please?


Cheers

[zakmuh]

I've bought it so I have to get it sorted to run trouble free.

[zakmuh]

Thanks, agreed with your point mate.

Before I bought this one, I test drove few other Sorentos, which had tow bar fitted as well, and they had softer and smooth ride at the back.

I somehow gotta get the springs changed to a lot lesser stiff ones

[zakmuh]

I don't know how to explain it properly. Okay let me out it this way; what would it feel like if you replaced the shocks with an iron bar? When you go over a small hump/pot hole, it'll throw the back up and down rigidly and that's the ride it has, even for a slower speed like 10mph!.

From what you all are advising, it could either seized shocks (works like a solid rod ) and stiffer springs?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq-x0YT1Uj8

Edited by zakmuh on Wednesday 10th May 12:59

[zakmuh]

Unhinged said:

....Has someone maybe put rubber spring assisters in the spring coil voids?
what happens if you get someone to sit on the boot loading lip - does it drop?

Thanks mate, I can only get the spring dimensions on the weekend, cos the car is with the dealer.

No, voids are clear, no rubber or anything there. But with regards to the drop, it does drop very little, I'd say 50mm max. how I can tell is, I keep my daughter on my 407SW boot when I'm doing gardening. So in this one, I can hardly feel its dropping.

[zakmuh]

Unhinged said:

....Has someone maybe put rubber spring assisters in the spring coil voids?
what happens if you get someone to sit on the boot loading lip - does it drop?

Thanks mate, I can only get the spring dimensions on the weekend, cos the car is with the dealer.

No, voids are clear, no rubber or anything there. But with regards to the drop, it does drop very little, I'd say 50mm max. how I can tell is, I keep my daughter on my 407SW boot when I'm doing gardening. So in this one, I can hardly feel its dropping.

[zakmuh]

Oh! Maybe got that measurement wrong. May I ask, why did you want to know the drop? Would this tell something about the spring?

Btw, the a pretty generous space Fiat has give for you

[zakmuh]

Thanks for that. My dealer got back to me saying theres nothing wrong with shocks or springs, its that stiffer springs are fitted. So springs need replacing to normal ones.

Please would you know the spring spec for me to get it from Eurocarparts?

[zakmuh]

Yeah, I though about it but mine is XS model and apparently it came with SLS shocks and now it's been fitted with a pair of normal ones. Would this make a difference to springs? If it doesn't, happy days-I can get the pair from the dealer. If it does...then they wouldn't know, would they?

Cheers