Bouncy Front End

[AshLaw]

A couple of months ago I purchased the: G-Max Suspension Kit -30mm Puma [40 FO 22]

I also sourced a range of parts to be replaced at the same time as the suspension; these are as follows:

• PSB rear beam bushes
• Rear suspension top mounts
• Flo-Flex front wishbone (top & bottom) and anti-roll bar bushes
• New track rod ends and tie bars
• New anti-roll bar links
• 2 x CV gaiters
• Front suspension top mounts
• 2 x spring vibration dampers (Ford OEM)

Since the installation of the above the front of the car is very bouncy – even on flat roads such as the motorway – in fact its “scary” at times to say the least.

The back end of the car is as solid as it should be.

All of above was installed by a garage.

So I have 2 questions:

1. Are all of the parts that I purchased required i.e. are the spring vibration dampers required with aftermarket suspension, etc.;

2. Could it be the Flo-Flex bushes causing the problem i.e. the bouncing and would changing to something like Powerflex resolve the situation?

 

[tuonokid]

It sounds to me like the damping's gone, have a check for oil leaks on any of the shocks.
Barry

 

[AshLaw]

The G-Max setup was brand new going into the car at the same time as the above kit.

The first day I drove it after it had been done and since it is bouncy.

Could brand new shocks really be shot already?

 

[tuonokid]

Stranger things have happened but the bouncy and dangerous is how I would have described my last Fiesta when a rear shock spewed it's guts. There's a section of the M1/A1 link near us that has a concrete surface and at anything over 50 it felt like the back end was going to come around.
Barry

 

[gingerdave]

[post]353037[/post] The G-Max setup was brand new going into the car at the same time as the above kit.

The first day I drove it after it had been done and since it is bouncy.

Could brand new shocks really be shot already?

Don't know this brand,i assume they are adjustable and set to a firmer setting?

 

[tuonokid]

Non adjustable by the look of it Dave.
Barry

 

[AshLaw]

No - they're non adjustable - they lower the car by 30mm all round and come as a spring and shock setup.

 

[tuonokid]

The only other thing I can think of is if they supplied the wrong springs with too high a spring rating and they're overwhelming the dampers. Did the struts come fully assembled or did the garage have to assemble them, possibly damaging them in the process?
Barry

 

[gingerdave]

Are they a cheap set up compared with Nitrons etc.Always think a cheap damper/spring is a waste of energy and money IMO.

 

[AshLaw]

The garage assembled them (I have used this garage for over 20 years - never a problem).

This the item (as sold on the PumaBuild website (which is where I bought them from)): http://pumabuild.com/pumacat/product_info.php?products_id=946

 

[tuonokid]

Have a bounce on the front end and see what it feels like.

 

[AshLaw]

done that - solid as a rock.

I'm wondering whether its the Flo-Flex bushes causing it - may have to splash out on some Powerflex?!

 

[tuonokid]

If the symptoms are as you say "bouncy" I can't see it being the bushes I would say it's spring rate, bad damping or a broken ARB/link.
Barry

 

[AshLaw]

The "bounciness" is on both sides at the front - so I would assume that we're talking about the shocks / springs are at fault.

 

[alfie74]

did they do your tracking after they fitted everything

 

[AshLaw]

yes - well they had to after fitting new tie bars and track rod ends.

 

[alfie74]

maybe worth getting it re-checked, harder shocks and bushes can upset the way cars handle

 

[Lord B]

Have you checked the springs are the right way up? Tight coil spacing at top wider coil spacing at bottom. Or something as simple as tyre pressures to high?

 

[AshLaw]

Took the car back into the garage who have checked out the front suspension.

They found nothing wrong with the front suspension - the CV joints are fine, as are the shocks and springs, bushes, etc.

The only thing he did say was that maybe (and it was a big maybe) the front suspension arms need replacing.

What do you think?

 

[alfie74]

worth a try