I should probably know this, but what is this dense Styrofoam like ring (in pieces) coming down from the shock tube?

 

Rubber "Spring"



Fronts and rears are different.

 

OK. Doesn't appear to be rubber, but these are original shocks, so 19 yrs will change anything. Is this a critical piece? Is it something I can replace?

Thanks for advice

 

You can replace it but it will require the removal and disassembly of the schock/spring assembly. That requires a spring compressor. They rent some really ghetto ones at Advanced Auto. They are a little sketchy and potentially dangerous so if you use that, be careful. I have a machine that does this. It's very easy to use and much safer as well. You are welcome to use it but it's a little large. You would need a truck or SUV to transport it.

 

OK, thanks. Sounds like not a critical piece and can drive this until I make a decision on whether to replace the part or replace the shocks. They're all original.

 

That's a shock snubber. Good for when you really bottom out the suspension. They decay and I ignore them. Seems like a good, fair arrangement.

I've worn out spring compressors. They're all "ghetto" unless you want to spend real money. Additionally, everything at Harbor Freight is crap.

 

I agree, Harbor Freight is Chinese junk in most cases. But there's a spring compressor there that is plenty heavy duty for the average hobbyist. This is the one that I have. Sean R. uses the same one. It's pretty large and over built. It stands about 4 1/2 feet tall.

 

You're onto something about HF: the serious hobbyist should get more "professional" quality tools. Look at that monster! It's like using their impact sockets with hand tools. Ya take your expectations up a level...or down a level..or to another level and it ain't the way that makes it less expensive.

It's like the floor jack I got there. It was good to start but has recently started to "loosen" after jacking it up. I'll touch the handle and it loses pressure suddenly. "Didn't I crank that thing tight?" It's dropped the car a couple of times and now I use a jack stand for everything. I'd like to swap tires without doing that. Lay underneath it with that jack alone? No freaking way.

 

Fixed it for ya Glen

 

If you go to the trouble to disassemble your spring/shock assembly, I couldn't see why you wouldn't go ahead & replace the snubbers for the minimal cost. Harbor Freight pulled their spring compressors off the shelf a while back, liability problems I think.... Imagine that! I did my shocks/springs a few months ago & paid $40+- at Pep Boys for the basic spring compressor & it worked like a champ for me. Buying them wasn't much different in price than renting, as long as you don't buy the ones with a case included. If I thought I was gonna be in the biz of needing to compress springs on a more regular basis, then I would look towards the heavy duty ones.

 

And I agree with the thought that no matter what kind & how many jacks you use, don't even think of going under the car without jack stands in place.

 

Gerry, I wouldn't go through the trouble of pulling them & disassembling them without changing the shocks. You said that they are the originals. At least have replacements handy when you do it.

 

thanks, Shawn, that's my intentions. Appreciate the help on this

 

Another option is that you just bring me your shock/spring assemblies after you get them off of the car and we swap out the new shocks and bumpers while you're here. It probably makes better sense to do it that way. It won't take too long.

 

Further to the above, over the last several months, it seems that the car has 'settled'. I'm scrapping the spoiler, bottoming out more often. Nothing has been done to the car. I haven't measured the set points under the car for the ride height, but I have measured all four corners from floor to fender lip and all within 10mm. I have a trusted mechanic that thinks its time to replace the shocks. He's recommending going OEM to avoid having to replace other major componets of the suspension system. I'm not tracking the car, so OEM works for me. Like to get yr opinion on whether failing shocks (all fours corners at the same time?) could be the root cause of the low ride height.