Alright... tonight was a tough night in my auto shop class. I was installing (or trying to) my new coilovers and shocks. The bolt in the passenger rear lower control arm holding the shock on was seized so my teacher tried loosening then tightening it with an impact and the freaking head snapped off. So I decided to grind off the stock shock and get the bolt/bushing out. What a pain! Then I got the new assembly finally installed but I had no replacement bushings for the LCA so I had to ghetto-rig one. I used the two halves of bumpstops that I had to cut and shoved those in there... and I'm wondering if that's why my ride feels so weird. I didn't have enough time to install the fronts so just the rears are on, adjusted all the way up to stock ride height.

It didn't feel any different (or at least I didn't notice it) until I got onto the freeway. Then my rear pass. wheel felt like a basketball and kept bouncing up and down really fast. Then the rear driver wheel started doing it too. Is this normal? I'm hoping I didn't mess anything up (especially the shocks since they are brand new!). Is that how it's supposed to feel? Oh yeah, I noticed after speed bumps the rear end came down really fast and hard too... but I also had tools/stock dampers in there.

Sorry for the long post, I'm just worried!

Cliffsnotes:
- Installed rear coilovers/shocks
- Bolt on LCA was seized and when I got it out, it took the bushing with it
- Rigged temporary bushing out of bumpstops
- Rides "weird" like my rear wheels are bouncing basketballs (but it's my first time driving a lowered car)

Is that normal?

 

Sorry to advise that you MUST get the correct bushings in the control arms ASAP along with the Honda Bolts (these are not cheap, btw). I will suggest that before doing the front that you have the lower fork bolts available as well. This might be a good time to install a set of ES polyurethane parts as well.
As to ride quality-the reason is as you suggest-the rubber you are using is not the correct material for the bushings. Changing only the rear springs will unbalance the car even at stock ride height. Whatever you do do not go at speed on the freeway until everything has been replaced AND you have gotten on an alignment rack to reset it.

 

Thanks for the advice, it did seem to be worse on the freeway... probably because of the speeds. But my question is, only the passenger side had that kind of bushing, the driver side had the stock on in good condition. Oh and also, I bought new bolts from Honda before ($8 each!) but they might have given me the wrong ones. They look like the bolts that go through the innermost bolt in the control arm. I put them through the one that connects the shock and they seem to work fine.

I've just never been bounced around this much before and I'm hoping it's normal or hoping at least it will be gone when I get a good LCA/bushing.

Thanks

 

Keep in mind that you have stiffened the suspension with different springs. The shocks need to match the spring rates. I really think it will improve once you have the full package on the car. It will no doubt be stiffer and a firmer feel. As to the bolts-I cannot say for sure but I do know the shock ones for my cars are not smooth where they pass thru-easy to verify at the dealer.
Good luck

 

same problem happened to me when i changed my suspension, you nee to buy a new control arm well two, might as well so you start fresh

 

puhaha