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Car Forum / Mazda / Mazda Miata / September 2004Shocks & springs
I'm going to have my shock absorbers replaced on my 55,000 mile 1992 MX5 following various postings here saying that the shocks will be well and truly dead by now (to my knowledge they're still the original ones - there's no record of them having been replaced, and when braking hard the car strongly pulls to the right which apparently is an indication of dead shocks, right?) My question is whether to replace the springs as well while I'm at it. Do the springs have a longer/indefinite life-span, or would it be sensible to replace them at the same time as the shocks? Thanks Eric > when braking hard the car strongly pulls to the right which > apparently is an indication of dead shocks, right?) No. Check your caliper slider pins. > My question is whether to replace the springs as well while > I'm at it. Not necessary. Springs don't wear out.  SignatureLanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA '94C the alignment page: http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html > I'm going to have my shock absorbers replaced on my 55,000 mile 1992 > MX5 following various postings here saying that the shocks will be [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Eric Shocks have nothing to do with the car pulling to the right. THat's your brakes. Shocks may or may not be trashed at that mileage. If you push down on a corner of the car and then let up does it come back up and stop or keep bouncing? Springs are definitely not even close to sacked at that mileage. Plenty of OEM springs with 155,000 that are still fine. Get your brakes fixed! > Shocks may or may not be trashed at that mileage. If you push down on a > corner of the car and then let up does it come back up and stop or keep > bouncing? FYI, that test doesn't work on a Miata. It won't bounce no matter how bad the shocks are. If the rear bottoms in dips, the shocks are wasted. SignatureLanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA '94C the alignment page: http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html > FYI, that test doesn't work on a Miata. It won't bounce no matter how > bad the shocks are. If the rear bottoms in dips, the shocks are wasted. And it certainly does that!! Glad to hear I don't have to replace the springs though. Eric > > Shocks may or may not be trashed at that mileage. If you push down on a > > corner of the car and then let up does it come back up and stop or keep > > bouncing? > > FYI, that test doesn't work on a Miata. It won't bounce no matter how > bad the shocks are. If the rear bottoms in dips, the shocks are wasted. I have 80,000 miles on my '96. It doesn't seem to bottom in dips. So why have my shocks lasted so much longer then they should accordiong to the conventional wisdom? I remember reading here that they're toast after about 40,000 miles. Is there a more rigorous method of testing the shocks on a Miata? > I have 80,000 miles on my '96. It doesn't seem to bottom in dips. So why > have my shocks lasted so much longer then they should accordiong to the > conventional wisdom? I remember reading here that they're toast after > about 40,000 miles. Does it perhaps depend on the type of driving you do? I would expect city driving (with more potholes etc) to be rougher on shocks than, say, lots of motorway driving - could that be the case? What type of driving do you usually do? Eric > > I have 80,000 miles on my '96. It doesn't seem to bottom in dips. So why > > have my shocks lasted so much longer then they should accordiong to the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Eric Mixed. Maybe my shocks are worn and I just don't realize it. > Mixed. Maybe my shocks are worn and I just don't realize it. When I had the shocks replaced on my Miata,the difference in handling was amazing . It was also kind of an eye-opener when I got out of her the first time - she sat at least an inch higher off the ground! Iva & Belle.) '90B Classic Red.) #3 winkin' Miata >> Mixed. Maybe my shocks are worn and I just don't realize it. > > When I had the shocks replaced on my Miata,the difference in > handling was amazing . It was also kind of an eye-opener when I > got out of her the first time - she sat at least an inch higher > off the ground! You must have replaced the shocks with new ones that didn't have the same geometry as the stock ones. Normally, shock replacement shouldn't change ride height. SignatureGrant Edwards grante Yow! I'm thinking about at DIGITAL READ-OUT systems visi.com and computer-generated IMAGE FORMATIONS... > > When I had the shocks replaced on my Miata,the difference in > > handling was amazing . It was also kind of an eye-opener when I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > have the same geometry as the stock ones. Normally, shock > replacement shouldn't change ride height. It's common for new gas-pressurized shocks to ride high for awhile until they settle. Unfortunately, it's also common for installers to torque down the suspension bolts with the car still in the air, rather than with its normal weight on the tires; this preloads the bushings, adding to the effective spring rate. SignatureLanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA '94C the alignment page: http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html >> You must have replaced the shocks with new ones that didn't >> have the same geometry as the stock ones. Normally, shock [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > tires; this preloads the bushings, adding to the effective > spring rate. I hadn't thought about that last point -- though I should have after the contortions I had to go through to get a torque wrench on those bolts with the car down off the jack stands. SignatureGrant Edwards grante Yow! .. I think I'd at better go back to my DESK visi.com and toy with a few common MISAPPREHENSIONS... |
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