Just got it and its bouncy as hell, and if I can't improve it its going!

[ro80rob]

Hello
Now I know its not a private car, but I just picked it up, and in the first couple of miles I was feeling queezy.
It seems to run and do pretty much all the required to operate, but it is bouncy as hell (not wallowy, just up and down fast bounces).
It seems ok over the small undulations and all that (I mean I expect the suspension to be harder) but the thing shakes you up and down what feel like to be quite violently over what would seem to be a flat road.
I have got the suspension switch. It doesn't affect the ride much (maybe a little).
Any suggestions, or am I trading it in against an Explorer or Jeep as soon as the log book comes back?. It was MOTd less than 2 months ago.
It is a 92 2.4TD Surf SSR-X with 90kmiles on it. its got new springs on the back. Its got reasonably big tyres on alloys, but nothing exceptional.
Advice please?
Cheers... Rob.

[marky]

Check to see what shocks are fitted on the rear end.

[ro80rob]

I'll have a look at the shockeys soon (stops raining - hey it is mid May). Can I let the tyres down a bit. Does that help? What sort of pressure should I be looking for.
I've been down to my garage mates. He has took a good luck at it and driven it and reckons its straight and fine with no problems to mention. We also did a little off-roady-bumpy-tracky-kinda-stuff. The susp. switch does make a difference.
All in all the maintenance looks good and it is serviced.
Can anyone advance anything further.

Cheers... Rob.

[marky]

Tyre pressure is usually around 30-32 psi As this is your 1st SURF i presume. Its not a car & takes a little while to get used to try HARD setting for a while & see how it goes Dont take it to TOYOTA or they'll make you bankrupt as this FORUM will save you lots of time & money.

[ro80rob]

OK
So we took it off road- sort of (see earlier post) and we excercised the suspension a little.
All now seems to be in order. The violent vertical motions are now gone!.
It rides pretty much how I was expecting it. Hard but fair.
So what gives.
Just to add a little anecdotal evidence to the scene, a couple of years ago, I had my Ro80 front end re-built. To do that, the guy had it on a body roller.
Anyway, when I drive it home, it behaved in a very similar way. Very jerky vertical movements.
Anyway, on investigation, I found that the front drivers side suspension was rock solid (no give), but the passenger side fine. I decided to take the McPherson strut off, and found that the shock absorber shaft down the centre was bent, such that it had compressed and jammed. I had to replace this, and all was restored. The weight of the car had put a beautiful gentle bend into the shaft whilst the car was on its side.
My point/question. Could a shockey have tempo seized up? Has anyone ever heard of this on a Surf?. Should I be concerned?. It all seems fine now. No new creaks or groans. The car had stood unused for over 1 month.
The shockeys look to be OEM type.

Cheers... Rob.

[andycook]

seized shock! - thats exactly what i thought, when i read that you took off road and "excercised suspension" - then it seemed fine!
sounds like the offroading free'd it off

[andrewlee31]

seized shock! - thats exactly what i thought, when i read that you took off road and "excercised suspension" - then it seemed fine!
sounds like the offroading free'd it off

see off roading is good for your truck!! everyone in a new range rover <spit> take note, they NEED to be in the mud

[TJG]

see off roading is good for your truck!! everyone in a new range rover <spit> take note, they NEED to be in the mud

Errrr I've take a brand spanking new rangey in the mud! It wasn't mine by the way. I agree off roading does work the stiffness out of the suspension, when I got my Landy the previous owner clocked up 600 miles in 2 years. The leaf springs were like steel girders. A couple of hours bouncing them over some serious off road stuff had them as smooth and flexible as ...... well something not very smooth and flexible, but they were 100% better.