Suspension

[beandip77]

Ok everyone. I need suspension gurus, anyone who has tons of experience with suspension. I'm at my wits end here. 2006 MSRT8, about 105k on the clock.

I have replaced inner and outer ties, sway bar end links and bushings. In the rear, only the swar bar end links. I have also switched out the front struts and rear shocks with new Bilstein HD units.

For some reason, it seems like the struts are not able to rebound on rough roads. For instance, there is a spot on the highway that I travel where it seems like the car is just all over the place, no control, it basically feels like it's hopping all over the place. Not to mention, when i hit any sharp bump or even like a man whole cover, where in the past it would more or less glide over, I feel it in the entire car.

I did notice that my lower ball joings are leaking, but the last shop told me that my uppers and lowers are ok. As I have mentioned in another post, it seems like my passenger side sits about 1/2" lower.

Now, with the struts/shocks being replaced, what should be my target points? Not sure what aids the suspension in up and down travel, which what it seems like it needs.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Rob@WretchedMS]

What bushings did you replace, were they OE or aftermarket?
When you replaced them did you time them to the ride height?
when was it last aligned, do you have a print out that you can post
how is your tire wear

[beandip77]

The only bushings I have replaced are the one's I mentioned above, the inner-outer tie rods were replaced with Moog, the sway bar links were replaced with Duralast units that are beefier than the stock replacements. The sway bar bushings were replaced with Moog as well.

As far as the alignment, it's been a while. Tire wear is pretty even actually. In regards to the ride height, it already seemed like it was sagging previous to the install. I asked here about it previously and some have mentioned that their cars due tend to be a little lower on the passenger side, but I got no other comments. I honestly think that it's the coil springs starting to sag, as I figured the springs aid in rebounding over harsh roads...or at least I would imagine that's what they help with. I could be wrong. I checked by tension struts and they didn't look bad, but I know some members have mentioned that there were in fact toast even if they didn't look so to the naked eye.

[Rob@WretchedMS]

first thing i would do is time the bushings in the front.
Here is a PDF that i made for the Camaro, same principles apply, just different parts.
http://www.wretchedms.com/files/PDF/Camaro-G8_Bushing Timing-1.pdf

If they are not timed it can cause the suspension to have a ton of extra spring in it and the car will hop over bumps, especially expansion joints on the highway.

The other thing to consider is the rear sub frame bushings, if they are bad the rear of the car will move around and this will make the car feel unstable also.

[beandip77]

What's funny is that when I switched out my old 20" wheels back to the stock MSRT 20", that's when the stepping out started really bad. I suppose it could be the tires?

I will check out the timing bushings thing. Like I mentioned, I know that the car has over 100k and I'm sure no matter how good they look, it's time for them to be replaced.