Rearend sway

[rockin86ranger]

I notice the backend sways pretty good when i hit a bump at highway speeds, it was partly due to bad tires, but it still does it. Is this common in these cars and if so where can i get an affordable swaybar that installs easily. I also have a bad vibration in the front at speeds higher than 50mph and when slowing down, but i believe that is due in part to a bad CV shaft.

[DriverOne]

There's a lot that that could be. My biggest concern would be whether or not you've got rust around your rear axle mounts. You can buy a threaded rod to send through the axle just forward of the wheels and tighten it down with lock nuts and washers on both inside and outside of either side if you've found that there's nothing there. When was your last alignment? If you've got stock wheels, you'll have 'axle hop' at 50+, or it could be that your tires have a bulge in them (mine did after I bought mine, but I didn't feel them until a month down the road, progressively worsening). Check to see how much slop is in your steering wheel. A lot could mean it might be a good idea to contact Kartracer46. He's rebuilt them before, and may help you.

[bullet2430]

check your bearings

[91mcnasty]

Some of it I believe to be because our cars have a short wheelbase, I've found that when the rear shocks are bad that bumps tend to throw me around quite a bit also thou. I'd suggest that you replace the CV shaft before trying to diagnose the shake but it's free to look so I always give my car a thorough inspections.

[zoom zoom]

^ x2, my maxda has bad rear shocks, it's sorta unnerving hitting a bump at 70mph around a curve and the rear end is doing it's thud thud thud thing while it feels like it's sliding sideways.

Look at all the sway bar bushings up front and make sure they're not dryrotted, other than that high speed vibrations are probably in your bearings or tires.

[rockin86ranger]

There's a lot that that could be. My biggest concern would be whether or not you've got rust around your rear axle mounts. You can buy a threaded rod to send through the axle just forward of the wheels and tighten it down with lock nuts and washers on both inside and outside of either side if you've found that there's nothing there. When was your last alignment? If you've got stock wheels, you'll have 'axle hop' at 50+, or it could be that your tires have a bulge in them (mine did after I bought mine, but I didn't feel them until a month down the road, progressively worsening). Check to see how much slop is in your steering wheel. A lot could mean it might be a good idea to contact Kartracer46. He's rebuilt them before, and may help you.

Axle mounts are fine, thats actually why I'm fixing this one (my other one has horrible axle mounts) Haven't had an alignment but really doesn't feel like and alignment issue to me (but it was recently in a light wreck so I'll double check it), The tires are fine all new (perks of having a tire shop), steering wheel feels ok.

Also the rear wheel bearings have been repalced (the fronts have not, but it's on the list too)

I'm thinking the shocks could stand to be replaced, but I'll check them out when i get up to the shop.

[FestYboy]

put in something heavier like from a VW or cavalier

[skimsucka]

when i had one bad rear shock I had the same results !

jack up ur car and grab the shock and see if it moves side to side or front to back if its good it shouldn't !

[rockin86ranger]

so sounds like the shocks are gonna be the first to check. Do the cavalier shocks bolt right in and what years? I plan on driving this car pretty hard through the corners so would a Cavalier or VW shock be best? Price is the biggest issue right now (poor college kid waiting for grants and loans to come in) but labor is not a problem, I've grown up in shops and am a certified auto body tech. We have a shop and my whole family has done mechanical work there whole life. Just trying to get and idea of whats up before i take them off a job to figure out whats up.

And how bad is it to replace the shocks on these (I assume straight forward), I know some stuff is a massive PITA to them on.

[skimsucka]

ebay some kybs bolt in nice ! fairly cheap

[bobbyspider]

I also have a bad vibration in the front at speeds higher than 50mph and when slowing down, but i believe that is due in part to a bad CV shaft.

i have this exact prob too! soes your cv click at all ever when you turn. i couldnt figure out the vibration thing and i tryed hard and had my suspension apart a few times but recently as it got colder the first few turns from a stop that i take there is clicking. i told arty and he said yea it sounds like your cv is going and yea it can cause vibration.

[rockin86ranger]

put in something heavier like from a VW or cavalier

what year cavalier can i get the shocks from, and does it make difference if it's coupe, sedan, or wagon.

[FestYboy]

the last gen J body is what you're looking for (before they went to the cobalt)

coupe and sedan are the same part # (wagons dont exist in this gen)