Wagon rear suspension

[Rustinmotion]

I'm not happy with the rear suspension on my wagon, it bounces on bumps and speed ramps, to me it's how I would describe failed shock absorbers, car has new 40 mm lowered spring and I recently changed the fairly new Monroe shocks for gas assisted shocks but it still bounces, is this just how they are and if not what else can make the car bounce, the best way to describe it is a secondary dip and settle after the initial dip, it's very noticeable, other than that it drives well and corners fine

[Derek UK]

It certainly helps when there is some weight in the back. Think unloaded van. I have Monroes on mine and they are fine but I do seem to have some junk in the back most of the time. If the shocks that you fitted were the white KYB ones, they are known to be rather hard. I swapped a set of those for Monroes on a 4 door and the rear end was transformed. No more rear end skipping across the road on bumpy corners. Is yours worse with new shocks? Lowering springs likely harder so factor that in as well. Street cred or street comfort. Your choice.

[Rustinmotion]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

It certainly helps when there is some weight in the back. Think unloaded van. I have Monroes on mine and they are fine but I do seem to have some junk in the back most of the time. If the shocks that you fitted were the white KYB ones, they are known to be rather hard. I swapped a set of those for Monroes on a 4 door and the rear end was transformed. No more rear end skipping across the road on bumpy corners. Is yours worse with new shocks? Lowering springs likely harder so factor that in as well. Street cred or street comfort. Your choice.

I would not say it's too hard I changed from Monroe to KYB gas self adjusters but didn't see much difference, as I say it drives quite well around corners but any big dips or speed humps have the back bouncing like the shocks are not controling the bounce, could bushings contribute

[Derek UK]

I think I would still point the finger at the KYB's. Obviously you can check the bushes, but worn ones would just make the back end sloppy rather than give you the effect you are describing. Currently the springs and the shocks are a bad match.

[Rustinmotion]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

I think I would still point the finger at the KYB's. Obviously you can check the bushes, but worn ones would just make the back end sloppy rather than give you the effect you are describing. Currently the springs and the shocks are a bad match.

I'm not following the logic in this, I have this problem with Monroe and KYB, I would have thought stiffer dampers would have made it better or worse not the same. Changing springs made a huge difference to the way the car cornered ( in a good way) that could just be down to new springs Vs old springs but the car stays much flatter on fast bends
I'm have to think of a way of narrowing down the culprits just buying new versions of what I have is expensive

[Derek UK]

Some speed bumps can be pretty brutal. Stiff springs will make the car jump much more than soft ones. The shocks have to try their best to smooth this out but as the springs compress less they have to work with less movement. Both the Monroes and the KYB's will work with the taller softer standard springs but I wouldn't use the KYB gas-a- justs due to previous experience, They may have a different type in their range which is better. For you it may be that the springs you have are just too stiff. There maybe some that are the same height but have a lower spring rate, smaller wire size, that would solve your problem. The Amazon will never ride like a modern car but it does benefit from having coils springs all round. Lotus were one of the first companies to adopt the philosophy of soft springs and strong but well controlled damping, This gives a good ride along with excellent handling and road holding. Difficult for an Amazon to match that.
Did you get your springs from one of the usual suspects?

[Rustinmotion]

Originally Posted by Derek UK

Some speed bumps can be pretty brutal. Stiff springs will make the car jump much more than soft ones. The shocks have to try their best to smooth this out but as the springs compress less they have to work with less movement. Both the Monroes and the KYB's will work with the taller softer standard springs but I wouldn't use the KYB gas-a- justs due to previous experience, They may have a different type in their range which is better. For you it may be that the springs you have are just too stiff. There maybe some that are the same height but have a lower spring rate, smaller wire size, that would solve your problem. The Amazon will never ride like a modern car but it does benefit from having coils springs all round. Lotus were one of the first companies to adopt the philosophy of soft springs and strong but well controlled damping, This gives a good ride along with excellent handling and road holding. Difficult for an Amazon to match that.
Did you get your springs from one of the usual suspects?

Yes no eBay bargains for anything related to suspension and brakes, they are not stiff I can rock the car side to side not like my old Alfa that has no play.
I'm struggling to pin this down and running out of ideas other than buy new springs again, il think about this before rushing in