does my car need new shock absorbers?!

[YayiFury]

everytime i hit a pothole or a bump (no matter how small) my car makes really loud noises, like metal parts just smacking against each other...its really ugly.

its a fairly new car, 99 corolla...

my friends (they know quite bit about cars) told me it needs new shocks...but someone else told that it doesn't because shocks only "stabalize the car"

help?

 

[ElFenix]

ya, mostly likely your suspension needs overhauled.

 

[YayiFury]

ps. when it comes to cars...talk to me like i'm a 4 year old....

 

[cyclistca]

Easy one. Go to each corner of the car. Push down. If it comes back up then stops it's ok. If it osculates up and down several times then it's shot.

 

[YayiFury]

hah thats funny...someone told that if it goes up and down a couple of times its ok...

 

[YayiFury]

if the springs are bad, could that have anything to do w/ it?

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: cyclistca
Easy one. Go to each corner of the car. Push down. If it comes back up then stops it's ok. If it osculates up and down several times then it's shot.

You gonna make out with your suspension system??

Osculate = kiss

Oscillate is the word you seek.

 

[YayiFury]

hahah...

ok i just read something about springs being the ones that absorb shocks...and that the shocks DRAMATICALLY slow down the decompression of the springs...