fantasy521

Hi fellow owners.

From a few days ago I notice my car would sag a little more than it used to when loaded up with one or two people in the back.
How can I check the condition of the rear shocks?
I don't have that much time for a while to go to the dealer.

Thanks in advance.

Mike5215

Push down hard with all your weight on the rear and let go. It should instantly bounce right back. Without AirMatic's load leveling ability, adding more weight in passengers and cargo will compress the steel suspension a bit. AirMatic cars should compensate. (They'll actually compensate for the weight of fuel ).

fantasy521

Thanks for the reply.

My car does bounce up right away.
but still think my car does get lower than before
when loaded up.
Can this be a placebo affect? lol
Is it even possible for car to be lower
if the shocks are good?

fantasy521

When unloaded.
(Normal)
When loaded...
looks too low to me for the weight...
and even compare to past occasions.
This is the condition for reference.

Mike5215

Hard to tell. The whole car looks low for a base (non Sport) suspension. I guess go by a dealers lot and compare.

Piperkid

Shocks do not hold a car up - the springs do. Shocks are purely to dampen up and down movement of the wheel, so your shocks are not the issue.

More likely the two that you put in the back have gained some weight.

fantasy521

Oh I see..

Based on your observation from my pic.
If my car bounces right.
Do you think the car is normal? (height)
Mike at the top tells me that my car is low for having a base suspension.

fantasy521

Based on the top pic or the bottom?

Piperkid

looks correct to me but hard to tell from those pictures.
A picture from the side at seat height might show how level the car sits.

fantasy521

Ok Thanks...

Last question

based on the top pic

does the rear and the front seem to sit even?

Humvee21

We won't be able to tell from the pics. Different angles, don't know what height the camera is at, etc.

You can easily use a tape measure and measure the distance from the ground or top of the tire to the fender. Make sure to do this on flat ground. Then go to a dealer and compare measurements.

Also, what year is it and mileage?

ernieh

A car sitting lower when loaded is normally a function of the springs rather than the shockers. Have you checked that the springs are intact with no breaks.

Ernie