90 ride quality
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg PA
90 ride quality
hey guys, i just got some new tires for our 90 L98 with 54k miles because the old ones had dry rubber and flat spots. the ride used to be absolutely terrible, and it would shake the car at anything over 40 mph. with the new tires, it is much improved, but sometimes it still feels like i feel an awful lot of the road. however, the speed sensitive shaking is now gone. thank god, because it was terrible.
the ride now feels firm, but it feels like i can feel most of the bumps on the road. perhaps the shocks are worn? our bilstein fx3's are nearly 14 years old of course, and have never been rebuilt.
does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve ride quality? or is this what it is supposed to feel like? :)
the ride now feels firm, but it feels like i can feel most of the bumps on the road. perhaps the shocks are worn? our bilstein fx3's are nearly 14 years old of course, and have never been rebuilt.
does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve ride quality? or is this what it is supposed to feel like? :)
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: 90 ride quality (psuvette)
Hm. A number of things come to mind.
1) The bushings are shot. Time, as much as mileage will wear them out. Once they start to go south, they get very hard and brittle. Ride quality will suffer.
2) The shocks are more than likely in need of a rebuild.
3) The FX3 has a problem... the computer might have died, leaving the shocks stuck in "firm". Try testing the FX3.
You will need to get the Helms manual for your car. It will make servicing these problems much easier. http://www.helminc.com
You're car is getting older... as such, things wear out. Also, C4's are not really noted for a "smooth ride". So don't ever expect Buick level ride comfort and isolation.
1) The bushings are shot. Time, as much as mileage will wear them out. Once they start to go south, they get very hard and brittle. Ride quality will suffer.
2) The shocks are more than likely in need of a rebuild.
3) The FX3 has a problem... the computer might have died, leaving the shocks stuck in "firm". Try testing the FX3.
You will need to get the Helms manual for your car. It will make servicing these problems much easier. http://www.helminc.com
You're car is getting older... as such, things wear out. Also, C4's are not really noted for a "smooth ride". So don't ever expect Buick level ride comfort and isolation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
Re: 90 ride quality (psuvette)
I have a completely stock, standard suspension, '90 which was low mileage when I bought it and I have always considered the ride harsh compared to other sports cars I have owned (even my '65 MGB). I have got used to it after three years. There is probably nothing wrong with your car.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 4,623
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Re: 90 ride quality (bogus)
Need more info, but IMO the FX3 computer is not likely gone. If you are getting a "check engine" light (or service engine soon) you need to pull the codes, but it doesn't soung like you are. The bushings, if original are gone. You can send your shocks to Bilstein and have them revalved. They will be better than new.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg PA
Re: 90 ride quality (h rocks)
No check engine light is on for the suspension (damn 90 problem with the srs system is on again though, i have to fix that...). I suppose that with as old as the car is, it could probably just use new bushings and the shocks rebuilt. Is it hard to replace all of the bushings? I saw that there are kits to replace them for about 150. Does anyone recommend a particular one? I will also have the shocks rebuilt by bilstein at some point in the near future. Thanks for your help everyone.
