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'96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Barclayd
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Aug 15, 2013, 10:04 AM
Post #1 of 22
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'96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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The ride is very rough, with prolonged bouncing over dips and bumps. The steering wanders also, due to the struts being worn out I believe. The coil springs appear fine, at least in the front. The rear springs have dampers in the center that are badly deteriorated.
I'm concerned about whether I should replace all these parts, and in what order - if that matters. I was planning on doing the struts and shock absorbers, then getting all wheel alignment done and seeing how she fares. Any advice is appreciated!
(This post was edited by Barclayd on Aug 15, 2013, 10:09 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 15, 2013, 10:11 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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The "prolonged bouncing" says it all. That alone would make any car feel like crap. Figure on more than just struts so check all steering and suspension items and know that it probably hurt the tires too.
This is actually pretty ordinary stuff just I think you'll need lots of it. If otherwise a good sound rust free car it's worth it IMO,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 15, 2013, 10:48 AM
Post #3 of 22
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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then getting all wheel alignment done and seeing how she fares.
I hope you mean all at the same time. Once the struts are removed the alignment will totally trashed.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Barclayd
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Aug 15, 2013, 12:04 PM
Post #4 of 22
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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The "prolonged bouncing" says it all. That alone would make any car feel like crap. Figure on more than just struts so check all steering and suspension items and know that it probably hurt the tires too.
This is actually pretty ordinary stuff just I think you'll need lots of it. If otherwise a good sound rust free car it's worth it IMO,
T
Yeah the tires are reaching their end, due to the poor ride and wheels out of alignment.
I looked over the balljoints and bushings for signs of wear, but to be honest I'm not sure what to look for.
I hope you mean all at the same time. Once the struts are removed the alignment will totally trashed.
Yeah, I meant align the wheels after replacing parts. If money/time allows I'll probably do struts,shocks,rear springs,balljoints,C-Arm bushings and then get an alignment. Of course after that I'll also need new tires, and I may need a new wheel. Whew...bout time I win that lotto jackpot!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 15, 2013, 12:25 PM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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The alignment needs to be done at the same time as the struts.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 15, 2013, 12:34 PM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Try to check how much or many items should go and or have to go to be in perfect shape again.
You should know that the car in general is fine and worth this investment. The advantage to something like this is YOU get the benefit of the nice new ride and behaviour not the next person.
If the car is marginal overall I'd pass on all that and find another needing less.
Only you can decide to invest or not with good info on all that it will take,
T
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Barclayd
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Aug 15, 2013, 12:43 PM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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The alignment needs to be done at the same time as the struts.
Okay, I must be confused. Are the struts removed during an alignment?
Try to check how much or many items should go and or have to go to be in perfect shape again.
You should know that the car in general is fine and worth this investment. The advantage to something like this is YOU get the benefit of the nice new ride and behaviour not the next person.
If the car is marginal overall I'd pass on all that and find another needing less.
Only you can decide to invest or not with good info on all that it will take,
T
I would say so. I want to replace the engine mounts as well because they are worn, but otherwise I see no problems with how it runs.
Thanks guys
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Hammer Time
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Aug 15, 2013, 2:38 PM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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The bolts that hold the struts in are the bolts used to align the car so once you remove them, the alignment is going to totally whacked out and if you drive it that way you will destroy the tires in real short order.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Barclayd
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Aug 15, 2013, 3:11 PM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Ah I see. Would it be unreasonable to change the struts and then drive maybe 3 miles to the alignment shop? The tires are all but gone so I'm not real concerned with them, but I certainly don't want to damage anything else.
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Hammer Time
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Aug 15, 2013, 3:29 PM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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That would be fine. Just don't add it to the "to do" list and put it off for another day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 15, 2013, 3:39 PM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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It's no doubt off now so no harm for a short while. You didn't say how much of this you are doing yourself or none.
If yourself just scratch or paint a mark to get them closer to where they were and make a run for it for tires and alignment. If tires are totally messed up the alignment won't be as good.
Do things in order so you don't end up doing same stuff (alignments) twice or for any other part that jeopardizes alignment like tie rod ends and an assortment of possible things,
T
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Barclayd
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Aug 15, 2013, 4:03 PM
Post #12 of 22
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Gotcha. I'm gonna replace all the parts myself; leave the alignment for a shop with proper tools. I'll get "new"/used tires and balance the wheels before getting the alignment done.
Thanks again yall! I have a better idea now of how to move forward.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 16, 2013, 4:36 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Have you ever done struts before?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Hammer Time
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Aug 16, 2013, 5:30 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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BOING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 16, 2013, 5:30 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 16, 2013, 6:15 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Just checked. Whole ready to go strut w spring is 3 times the price of just the strut requiring compressing spring safely!
Rear appears to just be a shock.....
T
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Aug 16, 2013, 6:20 AM)
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 16, 2013, 6:55 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Quick struts would be the way to go. You won't have to worry about dismantling everything and it comes with a new strut mount. 
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Barclayd
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Aug 16, 2013, 6:59 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Yeah, if they weren't so expensive I would probably go that route, but I'm gonna get a hold of a spring compressor and just move the springs to the new struts.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Aug 16, 2013, 7:05 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Probably would be a good idea to replace the strut mount/bearing with a strut mount kit and put a boot kit on it also. Be sure to mark everything, so when you take it apart it goes back to the same position. Don't poke your eye out.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Barclayd
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Aug 16, 2013, 7:11 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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 Will do. Thanks again yall!
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 16, 2013, 7:16 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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Barclayd: Ask a shop how much to just put the cartridge in for you with a better compressor than you would have or rent IMO.
Not doing this stuff anymore and did use kinda scary spring compressor as there was no place for the right one that I know of that mounts on a strong wall, pretty easy, quick and safe.
Shop I've dealt with since forever does the best alignments anywhere near me. I've never been able to have the space or bucks for a real good alignment machine - bet close to 100K for a new one! 4 wheel, thrust angles and a print out of before and after that it's within specs.
They are my friends (decades now) still in biz and do the alignments for many shops. Dang - we are all gettin' old for this stuff and I'll scream if they give it up!
T
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Aug 16, 2013, 7:19 AM)
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Barclayd
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Aug 16, 2013, 8:11 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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I hear ya. Hard to trust a person when money is involved - that's why I prefer to ask strangers on a net forum. But, there's an alignment shop near my home that's been in business for 15+ years, I'll use them and see how it goes. I probably will just let them do the struts and alignment; after I take care of the rest. Money is a factor in this, but I also want to learn.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Aug 16, 2013, 8:43 AM
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Re: '96 Corsica 2.2L 106K Miles - Possible Suspension Overhaul
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I trust people in general and shops. I just both know these folks, close by too and can work with them. Cars/trucks come in from me ready to align - all tires and parts checked for any wear even tire pressure to spec so they don't have to take up that time.
That is also hubcaps or wheel trim off too ready to just hook up and go. OK - they discount for all that. While there I work with some other project going on if there's any help I can be while waiting so it works out great.
In biz or DIY you need to know when you'll lose your shirt on a one time tool that isn't handy to rent if you can at all.
That price differential strongly suggests you are getting new springs as it was just a parts lookup with no core charge. If you needed all that or more you could be stuck to go that way. At least measure height that it is equal with proper tire pressure and basically tire wear and size the same when checking that,
T
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