Lonewolf from Germany need some help .....

[Lonewolf]

Now I've got the first problem with my Cutty.

 

I hope you can understand and help me....

 

I changed the rear shock last week because the old one were dead.

 

I bought gabriel gas shocks and put them in.

 

The car drives great and straight, but it makes a bad noise from behind when it rolls slow.

 

I didn't change the strut mount only the shocks.

 

What must I do now and were can I get anything what I need else ??

 

Thanks for help

 

Ralf from Berlin

 

 

[slick]

Is it a clunking or banging type of sound? Generally when you replace the rear shocks you want to replace the mounts as well.

[IRONDOG442]

You need strut mounts, yesterday !!

[Lonewolf]

Have you got an Adress for me were I can buy the right strut ?

[Breakdown]

You might have also lost the bushings. They are like plastic blocks on each side below the uni-leaf.

 

I'll see if I can take a pic of mine, you should be able to just see these looking under the car (if they are there or not).

 

I agree with the comments on the mounts, even if they weren't gone, I would get rid of them, because they'll go.

 

Never been to Germany, what is a Cutlass Supreme doing there, I was under the impression that these cars would not be over there.

[Brian P]

I have to agree if the sound you're hearing is like a "groan" rubbing sound when the suspension travels, it's likely the SPRING bushings at the ends which sit on the strut knuckle. Once the bushings wear thru, the fiberglass spring material rubs against the cast iron strut knuckle and makes a lot of noise.

[Lonewolf]

@Breakdown: A picture would help i think.

 

The noise is more a rubbing but only when I roll slow .

 

Can you send me a link were I can buy these things

 

The Shop here in Germany can only deliver the shocks, nothing else.

 

That's the problem when you're alone with a car in the hole country.....

 

But i love my Cutty and i will do all for a long great life for it !!!!!!!

 

 

Greets Ralf

[GOT2B GM]

NAPA sells them, I'm sure a member could pick up a set and ship them to you.

 

Here you can see the new white isolator pad between the leaf spring and the knuckle.

 

[Breakdown]

@Breakdown: A picture would help i think.

 

The noise is more a rubbing but only when I roll slow .

 

Can you send me a link were I can buy these things

 

The Shop here in Germany can only deliver the shocks, nothing else.

 

That's the problem when you're alone with a car in the hole country.....

 

But i love my Cutty and i will do all for a long great life for it !!!!!!!

 

 

Greets Ralf

 

The pic above is pretty much the same thing that I would send (thanks Matt), what you should notice is that your car's back end should be lower than in your picture right now, if it were the bushings, just a little lower.

[GOT2B GM]

no prob

[Breakdown]

I almost forgot, if it is the bushings (I think that it is) and you don't replace them soon. You will do damage to your brand new struts, they will end up seized (soon = one month or two)

[Brian P]

How are the struts going to be affected by the spring bushings?

[Breakdown]

Bushings keep the struts where they should be, no bushings or completely warn down bushings keep the struts too compact, the wear eventually seizes the struts, or at minimum prevents them from keeping the back end of the car at the height that it should be.

 

Unfortunately I know this from experience. Fortunately the struts had warranty on them at the time so parts were free.

 

I basically ate a new set of struts in 6 months.

[Brian P]

if the rear spring bushings go bad, the only thing that will change is ride height by the amount of the bushing thickness (~3/8"). I've seen struts go bad quicker from improper installation (such as spinning the strut shaft with an impact gun while tightening the top mount nut)

[shyguy164]

Bushings keep the struts where they should be, no bushings or completely warn down bushings keep the struts too compact, the wear eventually seizes the struts, or at minimum prevents them from keeping the back end of the car at the height that it should be.

 

Unfortunately I know this from experience. Fortunately the struts had warranty on them at the time so parts were free.

 

I basically ate a new set of struts in 6 months.

 

Springs are for ride height. Struts/shocks are for the bumpies.

[Breakdown]

Bushings keep the struts where they should be, no bushings or completely warn down bushings keep the struts too compact, the wear eventually seizes the struts, or at minimum prevents them from keeping the back end of the car at the height that it should be.

 

Unfortunately I know this from experience. Fortunately the struts had warranty on them at the time so parts were free.

 

I basically ate a new set of struts in 6 months.

 

Springs are for ride height. Struts/shocks are for the bumpies.

 

Bad struts will result in ass sag. Broken struts will result in funny car bouncing with the mono-leaf.

 

 

 

. . . . . Mono = One and Leaf = Leaf, and that concludes your 2 week course on suspension for W-bodies.

[Lonewolf]

Thank's for helping so much much !!!

 

Can anybody put a link to the exactly thing i need ???

At Napa are so many different pieces, so i don't know what is the right for my Cutty.

At this time ionly change the rear shocks.

I will change all wich is good for my car ...

 

Greets Ralf