Suspension - Slow Speed Torture

[Rfong]

My EX35 is almost the perfect vehicle, except there is one glaring fault.

The suspension is extremely violent at slow speeds going over driveways, potholes, transitions and changes in pavement, and street car tracks. This only happens at extremely slow speeds. Going over these types of surfaces results in violent hopping and oscillation of the car's body. The motion is violent enough to knock a lightly held water bottle out of your hand.

Of course the dealer says this is normal after two visits. I changed from 18" wheels to 17" wheels and that helped a little. However, I still cringe and hang onto the steering wheel when approaching a bump.

Does anyone else experienced this?

[kullenberg]

What tire preas. are you running? I keep about 35 psi, which seems a good compromise between ride and economy.

[jmess]

Not normal, you may have a bad shock absorber or something loose. If the front end alignment is goofed up it can cause some strange behavior also.

If you take somebody for a ride from the dealership it should be pretty easy to reproduce.

The local traffic freaks installed speed bumps in my neighborhood. So my suspension goes through a bump test every day. I find my EX handles the bumps really well.

[Rfong]

I'm pleased to report that after many failed attempts with my dealer about my harsh suspension, the problem has been fixed.

However the solution was completely a surprise.

I have followed Steve the Tech's thread about the steering problem with slight groaning during right turns. My car exhibited these symptoms so when the TSB was published I took that information to my dealer to replace the steering rack.

The part had to be ordered but after 4 days, the work was done. It did remove the groaning noise and steering vibration, BUT the BIGGEST benefit was it eliminated the harsh suspension that I complained about earlier this year. The ride was much softer and the bumps were muted and the abrupt oscillation was gone. Even my wife who winched in pain on every bump said the ride was much improved.

The steering rack was apparently responsible for the bad suspension.

How do you figure the steering rack could be related to harsh suspension?

Anyway I suffered for one year before the problem was fixed, now I can enjoy the car.

My EX35 is almost the perfect vehicle, except there is one glaring fault.

The suspension is extremely violent at slow speeds going over driveways, potholes, transitions and changes in pavement, and street car tracks. This only happens at extremely slow speeds. Going over these types of surfaces results in violent hopping and oscillation of the car's body. The motion is violent enough to knock a lightly held water bottle out of your hand.

Of course the dealer says this is normal after two visits. I changed from 18" wheels to 17" wheels and that helped a little. However, I still cringe and hang onto the steering wheel when approaching a bump.

Does anyone else experienced this?

[kamiguy]

So glad that you are happy with it now. I wonder if the techs found something amiss with your car when they replaced the rack and didn't mention it to you?? Just a thought...

[rayc325]

I'm pleased to report that after many failed attempts with my dealer about my harsh suspension, the problem has been fixed.

However the solution was completely a surprise.

I have followed Steve the Tech's thread about the steering problem with slight groaning during right turns. My car exhibited these symptoms so when the TSB was published I took that information to my dealer to replace the steering rack.

The part had to be ordered but after 4 days, the work was done. It did remove the groaning noise and steering vibration, BUT the BIGGEST benefit was it eliminated the harsh suspension that I complained about earlier this year. The ride was much softer and the bumps were muted and the abrupt oscillation was gone. Even my wife who winched in pain on every bump said the ride was much improved.

The steering rack was apparently responsible for the bad suspension.

How do you figure the steering rack could be related to harsh suspension?

Anyway I suffered for one year before the problem was fixed, now I can enjoy the car.

I wonder if this also causes the suspension to sound as if it is coming apart. Mine sounds like it is all loose going over a rough surface. Is there a link to Steve's post you refer to? Thanks

[SteveTheTech]

Ron has had some very unique issues with his EX and I think his issues have been resolved for the most part with the replacement of the rack and pinion. I have never personally had the pleasure of evaluating this condition but it was very aparant that there was an issue like nothing I have personally seen.

Even the EXs I have worked on that were in fairly serious collisions have not had any rattles. If you have driven down a road with dirt or rocks you may have one caught somewhere that is either itself contacting something that is moving or forcing some component against another. If the noise changes pitch or frequency or gets louder I would make an appointment to have it looked at sooner rather than later.