biospot

Hello All.
I am a former Honda master technician that has retired from the auto industry in 95. I currently purchased a 94 del sol with salvage title (I know). I found a creak in rear suspension, found a broken trailing arm bushing on right side. I replaced with factory trailing arm for outragous amount of money for the part and found creak is still there. WORSE is the wobble of the rear end when I go over any bump. The front end goes up and down evenly. The rear however, goes up then go sideways as it goes down. It does not track straight over any medium to large size bump. It is uncomfortable for me to drive it at normal traffic speed, and my wife is even more uncomfortable.

I recently found the trailing arm bushing on the left side was also broken and indeed may have been the problem all along. What worries me is that the right rear suspension pieces (a-arm and a few others come to mind) have yellow writing on them saying "94 civic". Of course this is on my 95 del sol, so I know it was a junk yard part.

I am wondering if this is common on del sols when the trailing arm bushing is brokent? I don't like to drive it because of this behaviour and would love to feel confident to put more monty into it.

I have not replaced the bushing, but I have ordered some polyethelene bushingis and will install them when they come. I also have ordered some upgrade replacment roll bars front and rear. I intend to fix this wobble that makes this car so uncomfortable to drive, but any insites or thoughts you can give me would be a great help
Thanks
Biospot

98civdx

Have you inspected any of the of the other bushings?

You replaced the entire trailing arm, or just the bushings?

How are the shocks? Possible bent wheel?

instructor74

My first gut reaction is take it to a good frame shop have the car checked for frame damage.the rear arms are the same for civic and delsol. It sounds like something is bent and replacing all the bushings is a good idea

sde780

next time replace just the bushings. trailing arm bushings are $60 a pair or so, use honda oem.

Also yes it does sound like trailing arm bushings. Mine would snap oversteer when turning and I hit a bump in the rear.

biospot

Shocks seem OK. Wheels are factory alloy and straight and true.
I wondered about shocks, but when I bounce the car up and down, each side moves identically.

Thanks for any insites about this...

sde780

1. It's an old Honda, it's going to make noises. That being said, if it's abnormally loud then have someone drive and pinpoint where it's coming from.

2. You got jipped buying the entire arm - just the bushings could be had for much cheaper and install is not too bad.

3. Replace the other trailing arm bushing if it is bad. Inspect your LCA bushings as well.

mike:

You said tires were good, how about wheel bearings, lift the rear end up and somewhat forcefully try to move tire in and out, as well as side to side to see if there is any play, play should be minimal to none. Bad wheel bearings will also make a louder noise at higher speeds so spin tire in air and listen.

Creaking, in my situation was bad springs, I had suspected and had already ordered tokico blue's so I used those with a new pair of springs and rear bounce(jump) and creak disappeared but my wheel bearing is going out which accounts for the noise of tires rubbing but it should be fixed this weekend

Cliffs: Car may have been in an accident, take it to an alignment shop and have them take a test drive to tell them when you hear the noise and feel the movement

Best of Luck

biospot

I have examined the frame with a fine tooth comb (as best as I can with a creeper and light). It looks straight and undamaged. No obvious bondo on the rear panels, and no signs of damage on inside of sheet metal in trunk. All looks clean, original and straight.

I did miss the left rear trailing arm bushing being broken, and I know it's the cause of the creak. I parked the car in my driveway , accross the gutter so all the wheels were at diffenent heights, then I lifted the car up and down by the open doors and felt for the sqeek by touching the trailing arms on both sides.

biospot

OK. I have researched some of the issues raised her. I will give results.

1. Wheel bearings are fine. No wobble, loosness or noise during testling.

2. I don't know what kind of accident it was. I bought from someone else "after" original sales from salvage title.

3. I don't mind to take to an alignment shop, and I will, but in my previous experience as a Honda Dealer auto tech, I did not find alingment shops to be that great. I would send a car over there and they would send it back with no idea what it was.

4. I will have to take it to a good reputable alignment shope. The kind that have a map of the frame and can place the car over it and precisely measure distance from point to point all over the body (frame) of the car.

5. In the meantime, I will replace the bushing over the weekend.

6. CAN anyone say if a front and rear sway bar will help or hinder this issue?

I just wonder because the rear end just feels unstable all the time to me. It is so soft, almost mushy. This side to side motion when I go over any bump on the freeway is very uncomfortable.

Thanks for reading.
Biospot

biospot

UPDATE:
I finally got around to a full suspension rebuild. Here is the results. (partial success)
1. Right rear camber link had a bad bushing causing it to squeek going up and down.
2. I replaced all four shocks with AGX shocks. Adjusted to level 2
3. I replaced all bushings front and read with Hard Race rubber bushings except for the upper rear camber (replaced with aftermarket adjustable link with new rubber bushings), and front upper control arms and ball joints (replaced with aftermarket new parts).
4. Found lca bolt hole for right rear tire was partially torn out (instead of a hole it is a slot), and the bracket itself was bent. The direction of the bend was the front hole (if I can make myself clear) was now a slot torn through the sheet metal towards the centerline of the car. The front half of the bracket is bent, but not broken. The back half of the bracket appears to be OK, but it was being pulled, not pushed like the front half was
I have done some repairs to #4 above, but I still get side to side motions when the suspension travels more than 2".
When I go over a freeway bridge, and the car goes up and then when it goes down, the side to side motion shows up more clearly during going down. I noticed that when I go off the high area and the car drops, that the right front corner drops first.. then the left side afterwards. Then the rear starts bouncing side to side (just a little bit but upsetting still).
This is the original problem but greatly reduced.
I have had the alignment done by the string method and it is at factory specs,but I don't know where to turn now. I am thinking the right front suspension may have taken some damage in the original accident and it is hidden so I can't see it.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thank You,
Biospot

strategy400

I will say Sol's aren't the most stable handlers anyway, what with the targa top/flexing chassis syndrome. But if one of the bolt holes is torn maybe you should get that cut out and a new one welded in?

Could take it to a collision repair/frame shop and have them measure it.

Are any of the tires wearing funny?

Also, my Sol creaks over bumps, I think it is coming from the front, and the tires are wearing on the inside up front. I do know just about every rubber boot is torn up there. Prolly time for new joints/bushings throughout.

biospot

Thanks for the reply.

I have spent many hours on the road (freeway) and I think you are correct.
Something may be bent, but I wonder.....

What I notice from the time on the freeway is that as I drive over a bridge,

I have to bite the bullet and take it to alignment shop, and get it tested for straightness....
Thanks everyone for your ideas. They have helped me.

Biospot

WichitaDelSol

has anyone figured this out yet? I know its old.....