Hard sounds on bumps

[Kelpie]

Hello,We have an '03 Vibe and it is making hard sounds on bumps now. It feels hard on bumps too. Is this a sign of the struts wearing out?Thanks,

[Mavrik]

Could be if your struts are hitting the rubber stops. Has the car been lowered? that usually shortens the life of the struts but otherwise I'm not sure the life expectancy of struts.

[Kelpie]

The car is all stock. It has not been lowered. It does have about 74K on it though.

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by Kelpie »The car is all stock. It has not been lowered. It does have about 74K on it though.Do you have a lot of snow?? I ask, because sometimes my wheel wells will fill up right to the tire and not allow for ANY suspension movement... I've also come across a seized strut and I could stand on the bumper and hop and it would stick and then let go with a "pop"..Can you get that corner to move up and down by hand, pushing down on the corner of the car?? Is it each corner, or just one doing it? can you tell?

[Kelpie]

We don't have any snow right now. I tried to push down on the car, but it really won't move at all. It almost feels like the struts are stuck. I tried each corner in the front and they really don't move. The rear end moves easier.When we hit a bump, it sounds like the force is transferred throughout the whole body.

[Raven]

My left front feels like that. I think it's a blown strut. You can get a full set of 4 KYB (stock) or Tokico for $270.00.

[Kelpie]

Where should I get them? Are they hard to put in? I thought about going to a tire place to get them, but I figured I'd get hosed on parts cost and labor....

[Raven]

This guy is excellent: http://www.neverenoughauto.com...=1535 or to save $50.00http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWD1VIt's quite a big job. You need a spring compressor, torque wrench etc. and good mechanical skills. There's a How to on this site for lowering springs, it's basically the same job.P.S. Most mechanical parts are interchangeable between Vibe and Matrix.

[Sublimewind]

It's a job, but it's not THAT bad, IF you have the tools... If not, take it somewhere.. The spring compressor can be had from AutoZone as a "loaner" tool... It all depends on what you are comfotable with..

[Mavrik]

You can do the job without air tools. Its just easier if you can.

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »You can do the job without air tools. Its just easier if you can.Truth..!! You don't even "need" a spring compressor IF you take off the top nut, with the car on the ground, it's just not the safest practice.. NOTE: NEVER EVER EVER remove the top nut from a strut, without it either under compression, or using spring compressors, it could literaly KILL you with the stored enegery...

[Kelpie]

I'm gonna order two struts for the front and put them in myself. After looking it up in the service manual, it really does not look hard. The hardest part looks to be compressing the springs. I figure I can rent the compressor from Auto Zone. I have a torque wrench and all the other tools.

[Mavrik]

and you don't need power tools to work the spring compressor.Don't forget to get an alignment after your all done.

[Sublimewind]

Quote, originally posted by Kelpie »I'm gonna order two struts for the front and put them in myself. After looking it up in the service manual, it really does not look hard. The hardest part looks to be compressing the springs. I figure I can rent the compressor from Auto Zone. I have a torque wrench and all the other tools.Sweet, if you have any questions, be sure to ask prior to starting... !Also, if you are going to do both front struts at the same time, take them BOTH out and use one for a reference as you pull the other apart... You need to make sure the spring goes back that same way it came out, and the same for the top mount... OH, get new top mounts to.... Cheap insurance... ..