shocks or tyres? ..

[ecl]

ok, after installing back the stock springs back onto the stock shocks and getting a 4 wheel alignment, the car is now still pretty harsh on bumps on the road causing it to loose traction a fair bit. it feels dangerous when i accelerate as i dont feel the same stability as before (even though they are the same parts).

now, i've spent more $$ than i really want to in trying to fix this problem but every suspension place i've been to seem to be clueless and i'm still stuck with it

i'm thinking it could be either:

1) Stuffed shocks - its pretty firm and requires me to lean on the car to make it budge

2) Tyres wearing thin - still a bit of thread but nearing the wear indicator

3) Front right radius bush leaking - i heard it could result in freeplay resulting in the wheel moving everywhere thus shaking the car and losing grip?

i'm wondering if anyone here would like to have a test drive and see if they can help diagnose the problem? i'll drive to you if that is required but everywhere i've been to seems more confused than me =(

[Frink]

The stock springs and shocks are pretty firm for a standard car.

what tyres are you running?

different brands of tyres work in different ways, due to the compund of rubber. i'm running Potenza's on the front (235/45/R17) and Grid II's on the back (255/45/R17). even though they are made by the same company (Bridgestone), the characteristics are very different. the rear's are almost on the wear bars and will loose traction in a big way if i give it a hit mid corner. these are a cheaper tyre than the Potenza's and dont have anywhere near as much grip.

i would suggest trying larger rear tyre width and paying a bit more for a good tyre like the Potenza's.

[ecl]

i've got potenza GIIIs

the weird thing is that it was normal before i lowered the car and even though i put back the stock parts, its still like that

so i'm guessing its either the shocks or maybe the bushes

[dangerous_daveo]

i've got potenza GIIIs

the weird thing is that it was normal before i lowered the car and even though i put back the stock parts, its still like that

so i'm guessing its either the shocks or maybe the bushes

Out of interest, how much did you lower it?

[someonestolecc]

Was there anything else that was put in when you changed suspension? ie diff, diff cradles, polyurethane bushes, struts, sway bars, lower profile tyres?

Or could it be something silly like they let the stock shocks pressure down or something to accomodate the lowered springs?

ORRRRRRRRRR is it possible the wheel alignment now makes your car feel so different that it feels twitchier when in fact it's just more honed? I've had this before - do you have the settings of the wheel alignment?

Finally - how do you drive? If you're an aggressive driver (for example) and you had a lotta camber+caster but now they've taken it out to a more neutral setting (ie neutral camber/caster at the rear) then it's possible it's closer to the stock setting but you now feel like you're in an unsafe car.