Thanks for the return note. The shocks are new KYB AGX. My son installed
them, so I'll have the alignment shop check them out for proper installation and also general condition. The car is very unstable in the rear end. Its as
if the body were not connected to the frame. At speed, its actually
dangerous. My new mechanic seems to think its a combination of problems
with the camber/caster/ toe in or toe out. I'm hoping that its not a bent
frame. If it's not one of these systems, I can't think of what else it could be. I've replaced or fixed everything else in the car.

Anyway, I'll let you know what I find out - Thanks,

Doug

 

Get a different rear sway bar - by installing a much larger one you have induced oversteer.

What bar exactly is this and how was it installed? Have you though about going back to the stock bar? Tossing a bunch of parts on there without knowing exactly how they are going to affect the handling is never a good idea. Do one thing at a time so you can see what happens - good or bad, then the next part. I've only got shocks and struts and it handles well enough that I don't even think I will touch the sways.

 

I believe it is a performance rear sway bar. It's one my original mechanic bought and installed. When I bought the car for my son it had this problem.
There were so many things to fix, that the suspension was left for last.
It had on these cheap skunk sleeves and blown out struts. We changed the springs and struts thinking that would solve the problem. Alas, the problem was still there. Next, it was discovered that the front end links were bent. These were replaced along with most of the bushings, which were blown out. The problem still exists. New sway bar installed. Some
improvement, but still there. Alignments were done twice with front camber
negative by 1.5.

As you can see, I've gone thru this suspension one step at a time. What I
have done is get a new mechanic who may have a better handle on suspension problems. The car is now at the third alignment shop and hopefully they will be able to give me the true reason for the horrible
suspension. It has to be one of the three following problems:

bent frame
camber / caster / toe in or toe out problem
suspension component issue

Wish me luck! Thanks, Doug

 

Well if the front links were bent, the car must have bottomed out at speed.
In my opinion, that immediately makes the rear suspension lateral links suspect.

If those links are also bent, they could cause the toe setting to drift out of spec as the rear suspension compressed. That could be the reason why the car feels so "loose" or unstable in medium-speed turns.

 

Thanks Dave. I will run that by the new alignment shop I'm trying. Hopefully they will be able to diagnose the problem more efficiently than
the past two. My mechanic took the car to them personally and went on
a test drive to show them what the problem actually was.

Will keep you up to date. Thanks, Doug

 

With blown shocks, it definitely could have bottomed out, or they could have hit something.

 

The shocks are not blown out, but it appears my set-up may be the
problem. After taking the car to twomore alignment shops we have
come up with a solution. Replace my current set-up with a good set
of coil overs. My front camber is -2.5 and the car is to low all the way
around. According to my mechanic and the alignment shop, once we get
the ability to adjust the ride heigth, we can more efficiently address the
camber / caster / toe in or toe out problems. The front end is now resting
on the bump stops. Anyone interested in some almost brand new
H&R racing springs and KYB / AGX struts?

Thanks,

Doug

 

Why spend more money on coil overs? Just get some new springs that won't drop you as low. Like Eibach 1.5 or Progress "2" which is what I have. I hate to say it but I do not think that is going to fix the problem. If being slammed was issue then the struts may have taken more of a pounding. Toe in toe out causes uneven tire wear more than it would cause the ass end to do the cha cha. Unless the toe is so bad th wheels are astronomically pulling away or pointing into eachother.

 

Thanks. I am really at my wits end. I trust my mechanic and he and the alignment shop believe they can fix the problem by changing out the
current suspension. I can get a good deal on K-Sport coil overs and my
current suspension components are almost brand new, so I should be able
to get some money for them. As you have read, I have changed or replaced alomost everything on this cars suspension, so one more step at
this point is worth it if it will solve the problem. I was unhappy with the
the ride the H&R springs afforded and am not that impressed with the KYB
AGX system. My son has the k-sports on his hatch and loves them. One thing I was happy to hear, was that the frame was not bent. I will
keep you posted. If you know of anyone wanting almost new H&R springs
with the AGX system, I'll make them a great deal.

Thanks,

Doug

 

I forgoat to add, the KYB/AGX struts were not on the car when it may of
been slammed. That most likely occured with the guy who sold us the car.
At the time it had the blown OEM struts with cheap Skunk sleeves.