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MG MGB Technical - Why do guys keep bouncing my car?

Why do guys, when looking at my car, keep bouncing the front end? I was told by the prevouis owner that I needed new shocks and that was what was causing the noise in the front and rear when I go over bumps, but guys keep bouncing my car and then says stuff like "nice shocks". What is the deal?
Margo Lubbers

Margo..Are the guys being sarcastic?
Does the front of the car continue to bounce after you stop pushing on it? Could be worn shocks. Take a look at them sometime and see if the shocks are leaking, there will be dark wet areas around the sides of the shocks. They could also just need to be re-filled! Do you have the Haynes or Bently service manual, there is a section on topping up the shocks.
Steve
Steve Brooks

I don't think they are...
Rear bouncing = it squeaks on both side.
Left front = just bounces and is easy to bounce. I mean really, really easy, like a marshmellow.
Right front = really hard to bounce. I can barely push it down.

When I bounce it, it just goes down and comes back to level. It doesn't keep bouncing.

That's kind of fun, bouncing the car. Now what does it mean so I can look smart too!!??!!??

Thanks.
Margo Lubbers

Margo,
Bouncing a front end to check for shock action is not much different than someone sitting down at a piano, cracking their knuckles like Van Clyburn, and playing 4 bars of chopsticks, eager to show what they know..
Shocks can make noise if they are dry, but by then, you will have probably noticed that the car is bouncing down the road like something out of a Disney cartoon, although if you have good leaf springs, bad rear shocks may not cause the same degree of bounce as the fronts. If you cross a speed bump slowly, the front end ought to rise with the bump, fall a bit below the normal ride height as the wheels hit the road, then return to normal height without any further bouncing. At 5 mph or above hitting a speedbump or pothole, you might get an additional half-bounce, but there shouldn't be any additional oscilations in the suspension, front or rear. Shouldn;t be any excessive metallic noises, either. Going around hard turns,or slaloming the wheel quickly from left to right of center, the car might have a bit of wallow depending on the age and type of suspension (rb v cb / swaybar v n swaybar) but when the wheel is returned toward center, the suspension should flatten out and not rock from side to side or give you an out of control feeling. Uncontrollable rocking can be due to the combined effects of bad shocks, weak springs and worn bushes.
Most of the time, squeaks in the front end are related to suspension or sway bar bushes; clunks can indicate loose shocks, worn or frozen distance tubes/trunions, dry spring pan/spring seat, elongated a arm holes, or simply the dire need of a grease job.
If the front and rear suspension squeaks when the bumpers are pushed down, my money is on worn, dry bushings.
If you have a palpable clunk which is only present when the vehicle is in motion and crosses a speed bump or pothole, it could be a loose crossmember due to badly worn rubber pads. Have someone check the 3/4" nuts on the frame rails adjacent to the engine mounts. If the nuts are loose, the front suspension will move a little when the weight on the front end unloads.
In the rear, check the spring bushes and shackles; and make sure the shock bolts are tight. Another source of noise in the rear can come from a loose battery or from junk in the trunk.
Mark Childers

Margo WROTE:

<< When I bounce it, it just goes down and comes back to level. It doesn't keep bouncing. Right front = really hard to bounce. I can barely push it down.>>

Those are the signs of a damper (shock absorber) in good condition. It is the springs which actually absorb the shocks, the dampers then come into play by suppressing and smoothing the tendency for springs to KEEP on bouncing like a ball would.

<< Left front = just bounces and is easy to bounce. I mean really, really easy, like a marshmellow. >>

That is usually a sign of a damper NOT in good condition. Could simply be lack of fluid in the damper or worse, a worn out unit.

Those "guys" who like bouncing your "shocks" could be more helpful. Next time it happens ask them to explain what they mean ...... "nice shocks" indeed, I wonder what they mean ....... :-)

The previous owner's advice sounds good. Stick with us on this BBS and yes, you'll get your wish to look smart too ..... as well as having "nice shocks"!
John McFeely

Haven't had any guys bouncing on my suspension but WRT Mark's comment on a clunk when car in motion this I have.(1970 Roadster) What is the best way to address it and what causes it?? (have ruled out jumping battery and boot junk)
Many thanks for any wise words and merry christmas here in the southern part of the world it has rained for most days in the last 14 weeeks and on Xmas eve it's bucketing down!! hoping for some sun for santa's day really need to get that top down down...
F Cunningham

Are you sitting in the car when they bounce it? Maybe there is a method to their madness!!!
Hooter

F, there is a good reason you don't have it happen to you- probably because you are not as pretty as Margo. Just guessing.
Ken R.
Ken Rich

This thread was discussed between 22/12/2001 and 24/12/2001

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.