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Dodgy suspension

loooseeey

Guest
Does anyone else have really dodgy suspension? I drive a 1.2 Ibiza, 03 reg, and it bottoms out whenever I go over a pothole, it can't even absorb drain covers :cry: My parents have a Leon, and the suspension on that is just fine!
 

EdButler

Full Member
Apr 24, 2005
713
1
Sheffield
Does anyone else have really dodgy suspension? I drive a 1.2 Ibiza, 03 reg, and it bottoms out whenever I go over a pothole, it can't even absorb drain covers :cry: My parents have a Leon, and the suspension on that is just fine!

Welcome to the forum! :wave:

Bottoms out? Do you mean the shock absorbers are hitting the end of their travel (bump stops)

Maybe the absorbers have partially collapsed although id be surprised if both have on the front. Have a look at them and see if there is any oil-like fliud on them. Also have you got lower than standard profile tyres?

What is the general handling of the car like - firm/bouncey/wallowy? Try the MOT test and push down on each corner of the car with all your weight and see how many 'bounces' it takes to settle.

Let us know how it goes!
 

loooseeey

Guest
Thank you :)
It settles pretty normally if you bounce the bonnet, but the ride quality isn't quite right; it's firm like it's meant to be, but it just can't handle anything that isn't flat! Yeah I think it must be the shock absorbers- I do wonder if it's been in an accident sometime- got it second hand and it had a dodgy suspension arm and oddly worn brake pads on one side, got those fixed, but still not happy...
I found some unexplained stuff that looked like on one of the hub cabs recently, but it has normal tyes and they're all fine pressure wise. I guess Ill have to take it back to the garage yet again!
 

EdButler

Full Member
Apr 24, 2005
713
1
Sheffield
If it settles ok and the shockers arent leaking i dont really think it could be them... Do you know if the car is fitted with lowering springs? They do give it a pretty crappy ride.

If the dealers are successfull let us know how ya get on!
 

mazzerati

Bags are for groceries!
Jun 27, 2008
1,980
0
Beverley, East Yorkshire
had mine checked out numerous times for that, they are just stiff as hell mate, nothing to worry about, my mates mum is the same.

and as for the brake pads, thats seats dodgy idea of servicing. i had my disks done cos of the rusty lip on them which grooved the top edge of the pad which isnt that bad, i took it back to them and they say seat tell them not to replace the pad unless its really low, which i wasnt happy about. just argued pads out of them in the end :p
 

NowGottaIbizaMk5

Full Member
Feb 5, 2005
375
0
Beverley
my mk 3 had a very firm ride - it was sorted by replacing the rear axle bushes and the ride is still firm BUT nowhere near as bad. The ride had been hard over bumps for 2 years and a squeaking sound too and the new axle bushes changed all that but it was well over £200 as the rear axle had to be dropped and .........
 

ettlz

Active Member
Sep 21, 2006
141
0
If you want a set of 1.2 suspension taken from a car which had done 16000 miles then PM me :D

Heh, mine hasn't even done 10,000 miles and they're very chatty. Between 30 and 40 mph, it's like having a stoned chimpanzee in each corner of the car. Think I'll visit another dealer.
 
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