Alarming suspension issue

[TominMO]

Just picked up my new-to-me Festy today. 92 white L with 324K miles, everything original except the 5-speed which was replaced due to reverse going out. A/C, factory Ford sunroof, cargo cover, tach cluster, four brand new Kumho tires.

When I tested it Sunday, I just took a short drive on smooth road. Today, I hit a bump on the highway, and the rear end hopped sideways, to the right. I thought, "WTF?" I drove home carefully (25 miles), checked tire pressure (30-32 all around) and the springs, to see if any were broken. They look OK.

Could it just be that the original struts are so worn that they are essentially useless, and that's why it hopped to the right? I noticed also that while driving it, it had a tendency to rock front to back, like a buckboard wagon with springs only and no shocks. I'm hoping that just putting new struts all around will cure it, but want feedback if anyone more experienced thinks there is something more serious going on here.

[FestYboy]

yeah, your struts and very likely bushings are shot, replace ASAP with an alignment and ask for a printout of the measurements.

[TominMO]

yeah, your struts and very likely bushings are shot, replace ASAP with an alignment and ask for a printout of the measurements.

Will do; thanks for the quick reply. Will the Ford dealer have strut bushings? FMS does not appear to. If the dealer doesn't, does anyone here know what a good aftermarket replacement would be? Maybe an Energy Suspension part #?

[Pu241]

Tom,
Start spraying the rear lower strut bolts now with PB Blaster and make a few sacrifices to the Festiva gods so they may bless their removal.
If your not in a hurry, I'll be retrieving my impact tools in a few weeks and would be happy to give you a hand.
Count on struts all around, and maybe (high probability) of spring replacement as well as LCA, both sets of anti-sway bar bushings, and possibly bearing all around.
Sounds bad but it isn't that bad.
Might be able to hold off the bearings depending upon how they were cared for.

[TominMO]

Tom,
Start spraying the rear lower strut bolts now with PB Blaster and make a few sacrifices to the Festiva gods so they may bless their removal.
If your not in a hurry, I'll be retrieving my impact tools in a few weeks and would be happy to give you a hand.
Count on struts all around, and maybe (high probability) of spring replacement as well as LCA, both sets of anti-sway bar bushings, and possibly bearing all around.
Sounds bad but it isn't that bad.
Might be able to hold off the bearings depending upon how they were cared for.

Front bearings were recently done. It needs rear brakes to pass inspection, so I will do rear bearings too, at least a repack. And I realized that the lower strut bushings are probably with the strut, duh. I have four new struts sitting in my living room for the blue car, but this one needs it way more, just to be safe.

I'll break out the PB Blaster tmw or Thurs.

[Pu241]

Do yourself a favor get a new set or rear bearing before you pull the old ones.
If you don't need them, fine save for when you do.
But if you need you wont have to make a trip to the Mcparts store and wait another day.
Just a suggestion.
Glad you don't have to do the front bearings.
How are the rotors?

[TominMO]

Do yourself a favor get a new set or rear bearing before you pull the old ones.
If you don't need them, fine save for when you do.
But if you need you wont have to make a trip to the Mcparts store and wait another day.
Just a suggestion.
Glad you don't have to do the front bearings.
How are the rotors?

Actully I have another brake drum pair with good bearings I can just repack. Rotors don't pulsate at all, so I'm good there too.

[Mike McKown]

The first time I drove my first Festiva and hit a dip, the back end of the car felt like a ping-pong ball. It felt a little scary.

A new set of rear shocks fixed that problem.

[TominMO]

The first time I drove my first Festiva and hit a dip, the back end of the car felt like a ping-pong ball. It felt a little scary.

A new set of rear shocks fixed that problem.

Yeah, that's what I suspected, but thanks for the confirmation.