rear suspension problem

[Banshee]

Ok guys. My dilemma is that after replacing the rear struts with quick struts after breaking both pinch bolts drilling one and bolting it and replacing the other knuckle all together and of course destroyed both abs sensors but oh well. Now I can feel the rear end sort of bounce around corners like the rear wheel wants to lay over. I checked tire air pressure. 40 front 35 rear. Looking underneath everything looks kosher but I'm missing something. Any ideas? New end links also.
Thanks in advance
Jamie.

 

[rubydist]

first of all, the new shocks will feel much different from the old ones, so some difference in handling is expected.

second, 35 psi in the rear is stupid high. in my experience, anything over 28 in the rear will result in: rear end bounce/lack of control, wearing the center of the tire, poor ride quality, etc.

third, 40 psi in the front is pretty high also, I generally found that 35-36 in the front was optimal. (optimal does vary a bit with tires, some needed a little less.)

I would put the tire pressures at 35 front and 27 rear and drive it like that a week, and tell us what you think.

 

[Banshee]

Thanks rubydist. Ill do that in the morning and run it for a while.

 

[sperold]

Is the car more or less sitting at the same height it always has?
My foggy memory recalls an incident where new struts resulted in a higher ride height, and it is either because there are different length strut bottoms, or the struts can be placed in the knuckle at different depths.
I think it was a 93.
May be a red herring, but maybe do some measuring between your old and new units at the bottom end.

I have heard (but never done) that the best way to save the pinch bolts is to drill a hole on your old struts (so they don't explode) and heat the pinch bolt area of the casting to an insane degree with legit torches (not propane), and only then you have a chance of getting them out.
It seems no one uses never-seize on these bolts, which would eliminate this issue.

I have had them twist off when the bolt was almost out, and lots of oil was used after they had broken free, and the back and forth technique was being used to try and save them.

Up here, in rust and rot country, if you don't use never-seize on the fasteners, you don't get them off the second time.

 

[Banshee]

After poking around a bit more this morning I discovered that during this lovely process of replacing the struts that I have a sleeve that didn't go back in the control arm bushing at the knuckle. I remember wrestling to get the knuckle off and the sleeve was rusted on the knuckle bolt. I swapped that knuckle out and never put a sleeve back in the bushing. I'm going to order some ingalls rca's and the h brace I guess since I'm going back in. The car does feel better with the air pressure set at 35 27 rubydist. Sperold the struts I took off were still on since 94. The body is a bit longer on the old but mounting looks ok. It was high but they are starting to settle to normal ride height.