"Sus"pension Help

[bballace1]

Sup guys,

I'm new to the forums here and have been reading the last few days regarding a lot of things for my pro5. Recently picked it up a few weeks ago with 116k on the dash for 1k and I'm trying to fix some function on it so that it rides smooth.

Basically, it's exactly as the title suggests, as most people I'm on a budget right now and going trying to make some suspension upgrades because it basically rides like a dump truck on hydraulics if I start going over 50. Turns out, front left strut is blown. The car is on some nice lowering springs, I don't know the name because I haven't been able to jack it up to see but I think I'm going to keep them since I like the drop.

My plan is to get some Staggs Struts and throw them on with my current springs and new bump stops and hope that it holds up until the winter when I can get some new coilovers.

My question is, do you think I need to get endlinks as well all around as well as mounts? The mounts are attached below, let me know if you think I should get new ones or if those ones look decent enough to hold me over for a few months.

Also, is there anything else that you think I'll really need? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated, again, I'm a car newbie but I am learning a lot on this forum in just a few days so bare with me. I'm just trying to make sure that I do this the right way and not order parts just to realize I need more parts afterwards, so any help is appreciated and again, I know the struts aren't ideal.

 

[Jackie chan]

I've heard mostly good things about the staggs. I would give them a shot. And if money's tight, you can try to avoid replacing the endlinks, however they do tend to seize and need to be cut. Your bumpstops are most likely fine. Strut tops are probably fine too.

 

[bballace1]

Ight, sweet man thanks for the response, really appreciate it. At least I will save the money from buying the mounts and bumpstops. I'll probably just go ahead and buy the endlinks so I don't have to do the change again in the future.

 

[Jackie chan]

I'm curious as to what springs you have. If you can see up in there at all just to see what color they are, we can let you know.

 

[njaremka]

If you are taking the front struts apart, I would get new strut bearings and end links (as mentioned) for peace of mind. Everything else looks like they should be fine.

If the condition of the rest of the car is any indication of those strut mounts, I'd say you got a hell of a deal for a car located in the north east. Does the body have any indications of rusty spots?

 

[bballace1]

Alright thanks a lot @njaremka will do man! And @Jackie Chan the pic above is one I just took, its hot as a slave ship outside (dont worry im black) so the sun may be a bit reflecting of the bad photo, but here it is. I've painted the wheels black, and need to refinish them next week but I like them. They came originally lime green lol which looked horrendous. As for the springs, I tried my best to get a photo of them but its tough, they are black springs though, could be possibly eibach pros?

 

[bballace1]

And as for condition, the car is in pretty damn good condition, the passenger side rear quarter panel has some rusting but it shouldnt be more than $300 to get both panels mint again. As for the paint, there are scratches and blemishes on the paint but I'm not worried, it's a city car, I don't plan on taking it to car shows and I'm not tracking it. I just wanted a fun project that I could work on that's reliable, sporty and that could get me through winters here and also have a bit of safe fun.

 

[katapaltes]

If money is tight, don't install new struts if you're just going to replace them in six months. Either replace the struts (and bump stops if they're original and have disintegrated) and leave them on the car or... save up, wait a few months, and get coilovers. Regardless, you may want to spray those endlink nuts daily with PB Blaster or whatnot for an entire week before trying to remove them - preferably with an impact wrench.


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[bballace1]

@katapaltes Thanks for the pb blaster advice, I will head to autozone and see if they have some. The struts were $180 for all four so I am getting them. No point in driving on blown struts especially if I'm gonna drive uber or around the city daily.

 

[katapaltes]

I read similar advice on this forum about spraying down those end link nuts in advance - and chose to ignore it - since every fastener on my Texas car has come off without a fuss. Not so with those end links. I 50%-rounded the driver-side nut trying to remove the dang thing. Having learned my lesson, I sprayed the passenger side with PB Blaster for a few days and it came off reasonably easily with a regular ratchet. I then had to go buy an impact wrench to get the driver's side nut off since it was so messed up. You're in Boston, so it will obviously be worse for you. Let them soak in PB Blaster or whatever you buy... tap them to vibrate the PB Blaster into the cracks... use whatever tricks you've learned over the years... and grab an impact wrench.

The grease-filled boots on all my end links are split and there's not much grease left in them - if any. But they still work fine and don't really have any play in them. I'll replace them when they make noise or have play in them, but otherwise, I'll just let them be.

Looks like our cars just barely qualify for Uber, year-wise: http://www.idrivewithuber.com/uber-car-requirements/

 

[bballace1]

@Katapaltes Thanks bro, I will use some PB Blaster the night before we take the bolts off to change everything. I know it sounds stupid but can you actually drive the car with PB Blaster sprayed on the bolts or is it best to just let it sit for safety precautions for a few day(s)? If I spray it a few nights before we start the job, would it be fine to drive? Don't wanna spray and then realize my car is falling apart because everything is un-rusted lol.

 

[Jackie chan]

Ha, no you're fine. Even with the pb blaster they will still be HARD to get off.

 

[bballace1]

Okay word haha.