wae

I got the brakes bled out, the fuel filter replaced, and the rear suspension back together. I took it out on the road, and every little bump has me banging my head on the sunroof. The big bumps threaten to eject me from the car via the sunroof! It really feels like I'm driving a big truck.

Once I got back home from my shakedown drive, I stood behind the car and gave the bumper a firm push down. It didn't move down much, and it didn't really bounce at all. I tried the same test, using my foot this time, and it went down a little bit farther, but there still wasn't a whole lot of bouncing going on. Now, I've seen shot shocks and struts before, and in all those cases, giving the rear end a bit of a push makes the car look like a perpetual motion machine... So I'm a little bit confused why the car drives like it has shot shocks, but tests like it's fine. I'm pretty sure that the "driving test" is the winning indicator here, so I'm going to start shopping around for some good shocks, but I thought someone else might be able to offer some input on the situation.

Thanks much!

Rx7carl

What kind of springs are you using? Maybe shortened too much? Disconnect the shocks and try to manually compress and extend them.

wae

As far as I know, they are the original springs that they put on the car in Hiroshima back in 1984. =) (as are the shocks, to the best of my knowledge)

When I pull the shocks and try to compress them by hand, what should I experience if they are good? Should I be more or less unable to squeeze it bare-handed?

LongDuck

Sounds like you're riding around on the bump stops. If your original springs have sagged over time, the new shocks are keeping the suspension tight, but they may be sitting dangerously close to your bump rubbers.

These rubber stops are on the rear spring hangers (bottom) and stop potential metal to metal contact in the event that you bottom out the suspension. Normally, when installing lowered springs, you cut the bump rubbers down to allow for the same travel, just a lower ride height.

A quick check; take some bubble gum (chewed) and put it on top of one of the rear bump stops - drive around, and then check it again - if the gum is smashed flat, you're hitting the bump stops.

Get this figured out, though. In extreme cases, hitting the bump stops over violent ground can cause suspension hangers and mounts to break - not worth that risk.

Rx7carl

It should be difficult to compress them by hand, and they should extend slowly by themselves due to the gas charge. They should also be difficult to extend by hand.

Alex-7

Did you say your shocks are the originals???

wae

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they're original. I can't be 100% positive, but they're either the ones it had when it left Japan, or Mazda replacements from a long time ago.

To answer my question, though: Yes. I did destroy my shocks. The driver's side would not compress at all and the passenger side compressed, but with much less force than the new ones that I put in.

After the shock transplant, though, I took the car out for a spirited drive and it is sooooo mcuh better.