Shocks and/or Springs

[Michael Oritt]

The ride on my car has definitely deteriorated and I would like advice on how to determine if this is due to aged/worn-out shocks, springs or both.

I installed Udo Putske's Bilstein shocks on all four corners about 15 years/50K miles ago and the rear DW upgraded 8-leaf springs are about the same vintage.

The ride in general is okay and does not rebound when I "bounce" any of the corners while the car is at rest, but when driving over a pothole or speed bump the ride is harsh, esp. under my seat - almost like it is bottoming out. The car has also acquired a visible case of "bachelor's lean" to the left.

I suspect the problem lies with the rear springs, but how can I definitively test where the fault lies?

 

[steveg]

Try swapping the springs. Or take a leaf out of the passenger side.

 

[Michael Oritt]

Steve--


With respect, removing the springs is not an easy job and if I am gonna take the springs off it will be to replace them, not to swap them

 

[Keoke]

Replace the springs and test the shocks on the car for strong equal up and down pressure manually operating them by hand , make sure the oil level is correct also before testing

 

[Dandare]

Can this (checking oil level) be done with the Bilsteins?

Danny

Replace the springs and test the shocks on the car for strong equal up and down pressure manually operating them by hand , make sure the oil level is correct also before testing

Danny

 

[Keoke]

Can this (checking oil level) be done with the Bilsteins?

Danny


Danny

I do not think so Danny , I forgot about the tube shocks-

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I'm reaching back into my (likely) flawed memory, but I think there was some commentary about DWM springs not holding up (take with massive grain of salt). Since your car passes the bounce test, it is most likely a spring issue, and I've not heard anything about the coil springs losing springiness.

I drove my BN2 for a few hundred miles wondering why the front end seemed to bounce a lot more than my BJ8--it's the only 4-cyl Healey I've driven--and rationalized that it was because of the 6-cyl's heavier engine, but I eventually discovered that its front shocks were completely dry (explaining the oil spots in unusual locations). My dad had these shocks rebuilt by Apple a decade or more ago, and the car has mostly sat, so to say I'm unimpressed by Apple is an understatement (to be fair, I've had rebuilds by WW Auto Parts leak, too). We did rebuilt the BN2's springs, replacing the long-gone zinc interleaves with new metal.

 

[John Turney]

I'm reaching back into my (likely) flawed memory, but I think there was some commentary about DWM springs not holding up (take with massive grain of salt). ....

I think that was the story of the 100 on the Peking to Paris Rally. Admittedly, a severe test.

 

[HealeyRick]

FYI, Michael, Bilstein offers a rebuild service for their shocks: > Service - BILSTEIN <

 

[vette]

I think that was the story of the 100 on the Peking to Paris Rally. Admittedly, a severe test.

I follow the P2P rally religiously (if that’s possible ) I do believe much of that 100’s problems were because they loaded everything including the kitchen sink into that car. You’ll note they unloaded a lot of it after they started having trouble. Also they certainly did “severely test” it.