mr95accord

My car is a 95 accord EX with 190k miles on it. Very recently, I got my mechanic to tell me everything wrong with it since pretty much everything was original, so he fixed all of this:

timing belt
water pump
balance shaft belt
PS belt(?)
coolant
valve cover gasket
sway bar bushing
oil pressure smith
rear brake pads
window regulator (wouldn't roll up or down)
ac hose (was leaking)
heater control valve
oil change

All this for 1400 including labor



Anyway, the possible problem is that it feels like that bumps are VERY noticeable in the car. The car doesn't rock like a boat after you hit a dip, but rather, the bumps on a bumpy road feel like you're being pelted with a jackhammer. For example, most roads are smooth and the car drives good, but a particular stretch of freeway in my city has constant small bumps and it slams me around so much that it often feels like I only have 95% control over the wheel because my arms are shaking so much. wtf.

The thing is, though, my girlfriend drove this car for the past few years while I was mostly driving a new Camry which drives as smooth as glass. I'm not sure if I'm just used to a newer car, or if there's really something wrong that my mechanic overlooked.

Are bad shocks/struts pretty obvious to a good mechanic who is glancing around at stuff under a car? I'm trying to decide if I'm just being overly sensitive or not, but may get him to look again anyway at the shocks..to add to the confusion, I've read that Accord shocks are designed to never wear out, though I'm positive they have never been replaced on this car as it has been in my family since it was brand new.
Or what else could it be?

mudpuppy4life

struts need to be replaced there bud....

holmesnmanny

possibly control arm bushings ... energy suspension makes a complete kit of bushings for the front

94 accord typeR

struts and bushings. ive seen youtube vids where the springs go bad also and cannot be compressed to remove the struts. might need those too

GhostAccord

If your car isn't bouncing after you hit a bump and the symptom is hard hitting/jolting in the seat of your pants/steering wheel, when you hit bumps. I would say that your springs are showing there age. If you are hearing a bang/metal on metal at the same time then I would say bushings, control arm(s).

MAD_MIKE

Check your tire pressure.
If they are overinflated(60psi) they will not allow any compliance will ride very harshly.
Is your suspension factory stock?
Can you take any photos of the suspension and post?

Not a fan of playing 'jump to conclusions' without some information.

Newer Camrys ride like 70's Caddys. Pure mush.

mr95accord

Here you guys go, I posted a video driving down the freeway. In my 2011 Camry you can hear - but barely feel the same bumps. Everytime you hit one of those bumps the car jolts, making me have to concentrate on keeping the steering wheel stable. I talked to my mechanic and he said when he looked at it last month, he checked to see if they were leaking but that was it. I'm still wondering if it's just normal for a mid 90's honda. I used to drive an 89 civic and trying to remember if it was this rough...doesn't seem like it was this bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpPE...ature=youtu.be

MAD_MIKE

Your front end is bouncing all over the place.

With your car on level ground open the hood. Push down on the front end, pumping it, about three times, let go on the last pump and watch it react.
It should compress, rebound up, and then resettle to normal ride height.
If it keeps moving the shocks are blown.
If you cannot compress the suspension at all, the shock(s) may be locked and not allowing proper suspension travel.
If the car has lowering springs and stock shocks, the shocks will not be able to control the spring and it will have a bouncy ride.

What would be ideal is have your girl drive the car on the freeway and you watch the suspesnsion react. If the wheel is bouncing up and down uncontroled then the shock is bad. If the whole car is just pitching front and back then the springs are too stiff(if the wheel still moves up and down) or the shock is seizing.

mr95accord

How hard are you talking about pushing down? I just tried that and when I let it go it basically just goes back to where it was (no bouncing). It's hard to get much movement from it, just a few inches or so using most of my body weight. The thing I'm most worried about is hitting a bump and causes something else to break and I lose control of the car...is that possible?

holmesnmanny

Push down with all your body and let go. It should go up and then halfway down and then stop at neutral position.

94 accord typeR

u basically want to build up momentum. a "heeve ho, heeve ho" type motion. sounds good by ur description. could need new bushings or just get in there and grease em' good