Feel like im all over the road! Not sure where to start.

So ive been working on restoring my 72 skylark. Yesterday is the first day i took her out for a spin since i bought it. I replaced the rear shocks with some air ajustables @ 160psi. When the road is smooth its fine, but once i hit some bumps in the road the whole carr feels like it shaks/bounces around. I have yet to replace the frount shocks, but the shaing isnt just infrount.

Could this be the bodymounts? they look a little cracked, but how else do i know if they are bad?

Any help would be great, thanks!

 

Welcome!
I'm thinking 160 is high:eek2: ; try 30psi see if that helps.

 

I started at 50psi and it was about the same....i raised it up to give the raised forward slant look. Nothing looks loose or feels loose when i try and shake things around.

 

To remove the body mounts im assuming you need to remove all the bolts first, then try and jack up the body? Otherwise the rest of the bodymounts will hold the body to the frame and it won't come apart.

Also has anyone used hockey pucks before? Im not 100% sure if the body mounts are my problem, and don't want to burn through money trying to find the problem by replacing everything that isn't bad.

 

Air shocks are the problem. With that much air in them, they no longer 'absorb' the bumps, they simply jolt the whole car when you hit a bump.
Keep lowering the air pressure until the ride smooths out.
Another issue is that raising the rear of the car will throw the front end alignment out....

If you really want to raise the rear, install new springs. They're only about $100.

By the way, back in my teen years we all put air shocks on our cars so we could fit deep-dish Craegars with fat tires. The car rode like a truck, but it looked cool!:bglasses:

 

Im going to drop the pressure tomorrow and go over the bumpy road i noticed the vibration. Yes the air shocks mad the car bouncy when brakeing. But the body did feel similar prior to the shocks.

 

Yea man, we all been there. The last set I bought was in 1987. I agree, just change the springs and get a decent shock. And it'll ride like a Buick.

And not only the alignment gets out of wack but now your putting all that extra weight on the front end too. Meaning bushings that have been nice and cozy in their position for 40 plus years start to talk back now.

 

front lower bushings could also be shot. mine were horrible. All the rest looked ok however. but went ahead and replaced all of them while I was under the car. I did front suspension one winter. did rear the next.

 

Well i took a quick spin with the pressure dropped. Smoother but still the same over the bumps.

What should i check first? I want to get an idea of what i should be checking and replacing first, aka common buick problems. Meanwhile i need to fix up a few more little dents and get a coat of primer on her. I hate the look of bodyfiller patches.

 

First thing i'd look at are your control arm bushings. Then go down the line. Jack it up and put a bar under the wheel to see if it moves up or down od side to side. This would let you know your ball joints are ok. Side to side will let you know your tie rods and center link are ok and the idler arm too.

 

i'll try this out tomorrow and see where things stand. I might also try and throw on my temp bodymounts.

 

I seriously doubt the body bushings are the cause. 99% sure. Unless they are not present. I'd look elsewhere. Check the bushings in the rear
control arms too. The front control arm and rear control arms is where you get a smooth ride.

 

I agree with Joe. It's unlikely the body mounts, most likely the control arm bushings. Check the steering components too.... jack up one front wheel with a jack under the lower a-arm, and twist the wheel left/right. If there is more than a hair of freeplay, something is worn.
If front shocks are totally shot, the wheels will bounce when they hit a bump. look at the rubber bushings on the shocks too.
Check tire air pressure too.

Some service stations will do an alignment check for low cost, maybe $25. Ask about it. They can put up and do a quick inspection.

 

I'd also check your tire inflation. If it is too high you will get a harsh ride. Too low and you get wander. I too think that your problem isn't body mounts. The entire suspension is made to work together both front and rear. I'd start with the control arm bushings, front and rear, and then move to front end components. Ball joints, idler arm, center link, or pitman link are all suspects. Also check the end links for the front anti-sway bar. The best thing to do is if you find one problem, replace everything. Many of these parts are probably 40 plus years old. Rubber doesn't last that long.

 

Your buick is 37 years old! I would recommend you to replace your whole suspension front and rear, including ball joints, springs, bushings, shocks, steering tie rods and centerlink. I bet when you do you would not believe how beautiful your car would ride including handling. If you can afford the cost at one time, do the front first than the rear.

George

 

Finally got around to jacking her up and checking the movement in the tires. Driver side sways side to side pretty bad, passenger isn't much better. Doesn't go up and down too much though.

Going to pull the tire when i get back from my weekend trip, Im assuming its the control arm. Does the whole arm get replaced or just a bushing at the end. I've never done any suspension work before.

 

So far I'd say you need tierods. Keep looking. Not a bad job if you have good basic mechanical skills.

Do you have the correct service manual?
If not I'd go online and get it ordered pronto.

 

Just the bushings

 

Don't forget to check front wheel bearings also, but the side to side I agree is most likely caused by tie rods/ends, which should be noted with more likely inside tire wear and steering wheel drift/play. Anything top to bottom is usually going to be ball joints or bushings for control arms, which could sometimes lead to a front to back movement if either or both are rotted out. All in all the best way to find out what is wrong is to have the entire front end off the ground and a friend move the tires in every possible direction while you look for where the play is coming from, and when you slowly have them let the jack down, look carefully at the suspension movement in the control arms and ball joints to see if anything "jumps" or moves an abnormally large amount. I wish I was close, I would volunteer my time. If you see "chopping" like a saw tooth pattern on the inside of the tires, check the tie rods/ends. If it is completely smooth around the inside of the tires, check ball joints and the control arm bushings as general rules.

 

Go on Ebay- theres a fella there sells "southwest speed" frontend kits- everything you need including the drag link- all US made and good looking stuff- I bought a kit for my regal- price was good and quality looked good- nicely finished and deburred where they coulda just left it. Seems to me all hard parts plus bushings ( all ) for the front end was ~$300.
Robert