Suspension/steering mystery - Honda Prelude Forum

BionicKris · 06-01-2006, 10:43 PM

Recently I took a weekend trip to Connecticut for a regional APA pool tournament. From where I live I had to take Interstate 84 for a considerable amount of the trip. If anyone knows this road, they know it has really terrible sections with nasty holes/rough pavement.

I was following a friend doing about 70-75 mph, staying with surrounding traffic. There were 5 or more times when I would come up on one of these terrible sections- usually an overpass or bridge- and there was NO clean line through, and I just cringed at the thought of what these hits were doing to my suspension.

Now, and even before this trip, my tires do sometimes track when you are in a lane with deep grooves and excessive wear from heavy vehicles, and it feels as though you are stuck in a slot and your wheels track the contours of the groove. That hasn't changed at all, but that doesn't give me the symptoms I now have. Since the trip, I have not noticed any movement or shimmying of the steering wheel or front wheels as you would with bad alignment.

The thing I have noticed since this trip is that whether I am driving on 2 lane roads or on highways, usually from 40 mph on up, when I hit bumps and irregularities in the road (like larger pavement gaps on highways), my car feels as though the rear end wiggles back and forth for a second following the bump, but there is NO abnormal steering wheel movement. The rear end just feels "loose" after I hit one of these bumps, but it is only for just a second or two.

Anyone have any diagnosis for this"wiggling" in the rear end? Again, there is no movement or shimmying in the steering wheel at all, and it really fels like the rear end, but I could be wrong. When I am on a nice, smooth road everyting is perfectly fine, and there is no problem with handling at all. My car has 139,xxx miles on it. I am going to set up an appt. at my local dealership for my friend to check it out, but I won't be able to get in until about 6/12 since I have jury duty starting Monday. Any help I can get through this board will give me more info I can ask about when I do get to the service appointment. Thanks!

BionicKris

G_Loc · 06-02-2006, 12:21 AM

Maybe your shocks are bad and your car is bouncing a bit.

Have you gone under the car to make sure all the suspension components are nice and tight?

BionicKris · 06-02-2006, 02:24 PM

I'll ask about the shocks when I take the car in- thanks for the tip. I have had shocks go on me before but never had this kind of "wandering" for a sec after harder pavement gaps. I was wondering also if it might be something like a tie rod or something in the rear suspension.

I'll keep your question in mind- thanks for your input! I'd like to get as much info as possible before I get to the shop, so if anyone else has any thoughts, fire away!

BionicKris

pter · 06-02-2006, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G_Loc

Maybe your shocks are bad and your car is bouncing a bit.

Have you gone under the car to make sure all the suspension components are nice and tight?

I've had this too. It felt like the back was getting squirmy, kind of frightening.
In my case, it was the driver side rear shock. Easy to see as oil had spilled out of it and coated the shock.

BionicKris · 06-03-2006, 01:37 AM

Thanks pter, I'll remember to take a look at that shock (and all the others) when the rain finally stops out here- I really miss having a garage!!!

BionicKris

BionicKris · 06-07-2006, 12:52 AM

It's hard to tell whree I park since it's not paved, and its rained a lot lately, but I believe the left rear shock has bit the dust. There is oil right inside that wheel and some on a bushing just below the shock where it dripped down.

I did do the old standby- the bounce test- on each corner, and it si subtle, but there is a difference in that same corner. Not glaringly obvious, but you can feel a little less tension on that corner. The passenger rear shock is clean on, around, and below. At least I got a lot of mileage out of that set, and I'll shop around for a new rear pair- I now have the Koni yellow adjustables on the front.

BionicKris

BionicKris · 06-07-2006, 12:58 AM

It's hard to tell whree I park since it's not paved, and its rained a lot lately, but I believe the left rear shock has bit the dust. There is oil is on the ground just inside that wheel and some on the hardware just below the shock where it dripped down.

I did do the old standby- the bounce test- on each corner, and it is a subtle difference, but there is in that same corner. Not glaringly obvious, but you can feel a little less tension on that corner even when you press down. You can actually feel it more than see it. The passenger rear shock is clean on, around, and below. At least I got a lot of mileage out of that set, and I'll shop around for a new rear pair.

Thanks for the help guys!

BionicKris

pter · 06-07-2006, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BionicKris

It's hard to tell whree I park since it's not paved, and its rained a lot lately, but I believe the left rear shock has bit the dust. There is oil right inside that wheel and some on a bushing just below the shock where it dripped down.

I did do the old standby- the bounce test- on each corner, and it si subtle, but there is a difference in that same corner. Not glaringly obvious, but you can feel a little less tension on that corner. The passenger rear shock is clean on, around, and below. At least I got a lot of mileage out of that set, and I'll shop around for a new rear pair- I now have the Koni yellow adjustables on the front.

BionicKris

Same shock location, and same symptoms as my Si. Coincidence?

But mine was a Koni yellow that blew out.

BionicKris · 06-13-2006, 11:31 PM

I'm going to be ordering another set of Koni yellows, even though they were the same type that went on you. I've had them before and they were very good to me, plus I like the adjustability and choice of spring seat location. Those hits I took were so bad I think any shock would have blown-- All I could do was cringe, hold my breath and hang on for the ride.

I like driving cars where I get a good feel for the road, but that road had sections that were nuts! I practically bruiseed my butt while driving! It felt as if I-84 in CT was utilized as a target for a bombing run or something, especially the sections where our section of road transitioned into an overpass/bridge... really nasty. At least I only have to go over there once a year, if that.

Thanks for the input gang!

BionicKris

pter · 06-14-2006, 09:54 PM

Keep track of your receipt this time. You can get replacements from Koni, since they have a lifetime warranty.

BionicKris · 06-16-2006, 08:40 AM

I do usually keep any kind of receipt for any parts I buy for the Lude, but I did not realize that the Konis have a lifetime warranty. I currently have them on the fronts, so that's good to know.

The one that blew on me was a Tokico Illumina (blue- non- adj.). I had purchased them back when I first mounted my Eibach Pro-Kits on the ride, but since I have gone to the Ground Control coilover setup. When I purchased the GC's, I purchased a set of Koni yellows for the front, and they have been great. The Tokicos were already on the rear at the time, but they were still good at the time so I didn't swap them out for no reason, but now I'll get everything matched up. At least I know from your info that my whole set of Konis will be covered for life by the warranty.

Thanks for the tip!

BionicKris