Struts/Springs

Struts/Springs

Since this is my last semester to finish my AAS Degree, I can get things fixed in the car... Like I said in the other thread, I really really need to get my suspension changed. This is because when I drive over a hump at around 30 mph, my car humps around 4-5 times before it actually stops... So are both the coil springs and the struts bad?

Also the rear right suspension makes a noise, it kinda sounds like metal-to-metal. I can grab the spring, shake it around (probably less than half an inch play) and it feels loose and makes the same sound. What needs to be replaced here?

My car is an 88 and just hit 55k miles. None of the suspension parts has been changed since it was bought.

I found strut assemblies at autopartswarehouse.com for around 60-70 each and intrax springs for 300. Is that a reasonable price? Any more possible sources?


Also, I have the repair manual for it and am thinking of doing the install myself with an uncle. How long would it take and what is the most difficult part of the uninstall/install?

Springs usually don't go bad, and when the car bounces more than once its a symptom of the struts.

If shaking the spring is squeaking, I can only guess that maybe the rubber seat where the spring sits is totally worn out, and its making contact with the strut or strut mount. But I'm sure once you take it apart you will see what's wrong

The price of the struts sounds good, but the springs sound a little too much i think. But if you're lowering the car with the intrax springs, you would want to go with some Tokico or other performance struts

And finally, changing struts is not that hard. You just have to rent a spring compressor and everything else is standard tools, air tools help though. Should take about 3-5 hours if its your first time

holy smokes even ferrari owners put more miles on thier car per year than u did LOL

Seriously. Youre like this one lady I met at food4less once that had an 88 Celica with only 80000 miles because she said the store and her work were right next to her house, so she just walked everywhere haha

Maybe the odometer only has 5 digits so it maxes at 99k. My brother had a VW that we weren't sure if it had 145k or 245k miles

LOL... Thanks for the complements guys... Grandma (previous owner) never really used it... When I bought it from her 2 or 3 years ago, it only had 20k miles.... When I got it I had to do all the 25k maintenance early because its old...

That's crazy, that car will last you forever.

The best part is that I have found no rust anywhere except for the hood, where grandma ran onto something.... Im sure this will last me forever esp since I keep maintenance up to date.