I am trying to figure out what I need to replace on my suspension. How can I tell if I need new springs, struts or both??

Thanks for the help,

-Brian

 

bump

a little help?

 

one easy way to tell is if one corner or both is sagging more than other....also u should be able to feel a difference. how many miles? wat year?

 

96 OBS 155k. I would like to get new struts and springs but the cash isn't there right now. I am trying to find out the realproblem and maybe upgrade the other stuff later.

 

Have the struts been replaced before? If not, they are well past their prime. I would think that the springs should be ok at 155k although I don't know what the long term failure mode of springs is.

You could also check the suspension bushings. They can get sloppy over time and make the car's handling feel rough/clunky.

 

Springs usually last the life of the car, its the struts that need replacing once in a while. If your ride is soft and bouncy than it's your struts.

 

thanks for the help.

 

is that really true?? springs last the life of the car?? so if i want to get new kyb agx struts for my car and want to stay at stock height, i can keep my old springs?? (110K miles) thanks in advance

rad

 

When I pulled my stock susp. on my 98 OBS, the front struts were done for. No rebound whatsoever. I bet that's your problem. Your rears are most likely in better shape, but they may also need replacing.

Do you want to lower it and get a little less 'mush' on the corners, or do you want to keep the off-road capability? This is what you have to ask yourself when thinking about springs... if you don't want your ride a whole lot stiffer, I'd try the stock springs on new struts. But if you want to gain some aerodynamics, stability, and handling, go ahead and swap both struts and springs. But be sure to get OBS specific struts and wagon spec. springs, if you can find them.

 

i have 225/40/18's on right now and it hasnt rubbed since i took off the rear quarter panel protectors. i want the height because i goto tahoe and santa cruz a lot for the snow and for the surf. im also the bus among my group of friends so i dont think that lowering my car is such a good option. with the agx i can set my stiffness pretty stiff too right?? at least more significant than stock right?

if i do stay with the stock springs should i get a new set or do you think my current set should be ok?

 

Yeah- the GR2's are something like 20% stiffer than stock- and they are exactly the same as the second softest setting on the AGX's.

As in a 'new' set, you mean a less used set? Of course your springs are under higher stress when the struts aren't functioning, but I don't know if they can be 'ruined' or not- besides measuring to make sure they are the correct length, I don't know how you would tell anyway. Good question...