2008/189k with all original suspension parts, lower control arm bushings were falling apart, struts were rusted out, inner tie rods were loose, so my local trusted mechanic replaced the strut/spring assembly, lower control arms, with bushings and ball joints, links and inner tie rods. All of the clunkings, knockings, noises are gone, but the ride is still terrible. For lack of a better word, I feel like the strut/shock absorbers are not absorbing anything. Every bump and crack is felt in the cabin and larger cracks bumps make the entire dash bump around and clunk. Tires are set to factory spec 35/33. Is this just normal for a 2nd gen to not have any sort of smooth ride over rough roads? anything else I should check? The struts are monroe, which are know are not great, should have gone with KYB, but still the ride jsut feels like there are no struts/springs at all
You didn't mention getting an alignment job after all that work? That's essential! Also did your car ever get the steering rack recall done where they reinforce the hardware that holds the steering wheel shaft to the rack? That might be worth looking into?
The fact is this car hits bumps really really hard. It has a really stiff suspension in fact try pushing the front end up and down like your checking the shocks. You can’t. Not much change with new KYB struts either. It’s just super tight. Owned our G2 for almost 14 years the last few years I was unable to drive it because it’s so uncomfortable. The seats are awful. My wife couldn’t drive it anymore either. We sold it. Most reliable car ever if taken care of and worlds best pickup truck but it’s a very uncomfortable car.
I think part of what your complaining about is not so much stiffness in the suspension, but a lack of load on the suspension... As in the car is very light in general... This is also same reason why many people complain that it seems to be dragging when going down hill, when in truth it's that the car is so light that it doesn't accelerate going down hill as much as a heavier, more normal vehicle.
Tires can make a difference. I have Michelin tires fitted for the first time and I notice that going over speed humps is much smoother, as if the suspension is actually is doing something when compared to going the same speed over the same speed humps with any of the previous (Goodyear, Bridgestone Yokohama) brand tires I have used. Of course, here 195/60 R15 is standard fitment. Just my observation.
My 2007 with nearly 200k miles and the original suspension components performs flawlessly. Only thing I can see wearing is one of the front rubber bushings that is starting ever so slightly to degrade, visually. I figured I’d wait to service it until I have to replace more major components since after fifteen years I figure everything has worn a bit and replacing one or two things would put everything else out of whack. This very informative thread has convinced me to not do anything until I absolutely have to and then if I’m still alive and owning the car will use OEM components.
