Shocks and Struts? NOSIE?

[93buicklesabrelmtd]

Are my shocks to blame for the noise that started 2 days ago?

While driving:
If I give the car light throttle, the engine rises a bit, which is normal. But every time I give little throttle or even accellerate, from a STOP ONLY! I hear a poping, flexing noise!!!
If I turn my steering wheel' at STOP, I get the SAME noise!! But quiter. The hood raises a little bit when the wheels are locked in both dirrections.


It sounded like the seat at first, but its diffenatly sounding like its a strut or something now. I hit a shallow bump yesterday, real shallow, and it almost reproduce the same sound, as if I was accellerating.

On cold morning, the front Struts make a diffrent noise also! When I hit bumps, But by the time the struts/car warms up, the Noise is gone completly!

Someone Please push me in the correct direction.

Now im dealing with a balancer noise and this noise.

The engine and the tranny both have been replaced and have super low miles, but the other parts on the vehicle are starting to show their age now.
I know these Struts/Shocks have 300K on them!
I do have the mushy/Soft ride, that got even softer within the last year!
If I push the hood/front fender the car will bounce about 3-4 times!
The back dosent appear as bad.

What are the best shocks to get? I diffentatly want to get rid of the soft feel, thats for sure!

The front end also starting to DIP in turns.

Car has Dynaride on the dash, but NO pump under the hood.
Its a 1993 Buick Lesabre Limited!

Thanks for the help..

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by 93buicklesabrelmtd

Are my shocks to blame for the noise that started 2 days ago?

While driving:
If I give the car light throttle, the engine rises a bit, which is normal. But every time I give little throttle or even accellerate, from a STOP ONLY! I hear a poping, flexing noise!!!
If I turn my steering wheel' at STOP, I get the SAME noise!! But quiter. The hood raises a little bit when the wheels are locked in both dirrections.


It sounded like the seat at first, but its diffenatly sounding like its a strut or something now. I hit a shallow bump yesterday, real shallow, and it almost reproduce the same sound, as if I was accellerating.

On cold morning, the front Struts make a diffrent noise also! When I hit bumps, But by the time the struts/car warms up, the Noise is gone completly!

Someone Please push me in the correct direction.

Now im dealing with a balancer noise and this noise.

The engine and the tranny both have been replaced and have super low miles, but the other parts on the vehicle are starting to show their age now.
I know these Struts/Shocks have 300K on them!
I do have the mushy/Soft ride, that got even softer within the last year!
If I push the hood/front fender the car will bounce about 3-4 times!
The back dosent appear as bad.

What are the best shocks to get? I diffentatly want to get rid of the soft feel, thats for sure!

The front end also starting to DIP in turns.

Car has Dynaride on the dash, but NO pump under the hood.
Its a 1993 Buick Lesabre Limited!

Thanks for the help..

300,000 is a lot of miles on a car and for struts. I would replace the struts top bearing, top mounts. I would think the struts/ or the mounts are making the noise. Also your sub frame mounts could be bad and causing the noise.

I would recomend Monroe Sensa Trac. Go to Monroe.com and read about them. I think you'll like them. I found the best deal at www.rockauto.com. I just got done putting a set on a 91 LeSabre last week.

I would also check the ball joints and tie rod ends for slack. Jack up the car and put it on jackstands and grab a tire at 9 and 3 positions and feel for freeplay. Next check the ball joints by taking a prybar and check for vertical movement. If you find any play in either of these they'll need to be replaced. It's a good idea to replace them when you're replacing the struts because you'll need an an alignment afterwords.

The front struts require a spring compressor. Auto Zone rents these. The rear do not require a spring compressor.

As for Dynaride this is rear struts with air height adjust. The compressor is located under the car in the rear. There is a sensor that is connected to the body and supension that keeps the car ridding at the same height by adding or removing air psi.

Regards

Dan

[93buicklesabrelmtd]

Thanks for help.
Yea I agree its alot of miles, But everything is ruing great
65k on tranny
80k on engine
new fuel pump / sock / filter

Tie rod ends are good, ball joints are good.

300k on my shocks is alot!
I will be getting those Monroe shocks like u said.

About the rear struts.
I never heard an air pump at all!
I doubt I have this option even though it say dynaride.
None under the hood, I never saw 1 in the back. Where exactly is it located?


Im keeping this car, cause it never gave me any serious problems. Body is super clean, interior is super clean. 16" factory alloys.
She runs like a champ, I mean it purrrrs. Drinks NO oil, get great gas millage.

I corrently have to replace my Harmonic Balancer. So I want to change the struts also at the same time.

Then I should be problem free for a long time.

[HotZ28]

Let's not confuse the generic term "Dynaride", used to describe the "basic" LeSabre suspension, with the optional suspension packages. "Dynaride" does not include the ALC (auto level control)! The ALC is an option and could be included with the standard Dynaride suspension. In addition to the ALC option, you have the GTS (Grand Touring Suspension) and both have a separate RPO codes for the option. RPO codes are listed on your spare tire cover.

If you had the ALC option, your rear struts would have air bladders and you would have a compressor with a level control switch.

Listed below are the RPO codes for the ALC as well as some, but not all, for the suspension systems.

G66 : LEVEL CONTROL, MAN, AIR
G67 : LEVEL CONTROL, AUTO, AIR
G69 : LEVEL CONTROL, AUTO, AIR, HD

FE0 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, FRT & RR, ACTIVE
FE1 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, SOFT RIDE
FE2 :, RIDE HANDLING
FE3 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, SPORT
FE5 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, RIDE l HANDLING ---- DELETE
FE7 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, FRT & RR HD, VAR 3
FE8 : RADIAL TUNED SUSPENSION
FX3 : RIDE AND HANDLING, AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED AAA
F40 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, FRT, RR, HD, VAR I
F41 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, FRT, RR, FIRM RIDE, HANDLING
F42 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, FRT, HD

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by HotZ28

Let's not confuse the generic term "Dynaride", used to describe the "basic" LeSabre suspension, with the optional suspension packages. "Dynaride" does not include the ALC (auto level control)! The ALC is an option and could be included with the standard Dynaride suspension. In addition to the ALC option, you have the GTS (Grand Touring Suspension) and both have a separate RPO codes for the option.

If you had the ALC option, your rear struts would have air bladders and you would have a compressor with a level control switch.

HotZ

Thank you for your correction on my post!

Regards

Dan

[93buicklesabrelmtd]

Yea thanks.
Thats GREAT info to keep.

[93buicklesabrelmtd]

Ok I dont think I got the air pump.
What are some good shocks, I know Monroe
but what kind?

Do I get a gas shock? Are the factories gas shocks?
I want something ALOT FIRMER .

Sorry about all the questions...

[LeSabre97mint]

Originally Posted by 93buicklesabrelmtd

Ok I dont think I got the air pump.
What are some good shocks, I know Monroe
but what kind?

Do I get a gas shock? Are the factories gas shocks?
I want something ALOT FIRMER .

Sorry about all the questions...

Reread my post that will answer some of your questions. Look at Monro's web site. They have a lot of good info there.

Regards

Dan

[GringoPete]

FE1 Code here : Soft Suspension .

What are your codes everyone else?

o
I notice everytime i see somebody in this forum needing new struts they mention aftermarket brands. Why doesnt anyone want OEM ????????

[buick24]

FE1 soft ride here. Wish it was a little more firm.

[Alibi]

F41 for me. Gotta love the now-extinct T Type option