95 Civic EX - Hard Ride - Need Struts?

Hi All,

I have a 95 Civic EX which I bought new. It now has 115k on it. The
ride has become very harsh. Every little pothole is bone jarring. I
have never replaced the struts.

Do you think that is what is needed to soften up the ride? So many
people say the opposite... that when struts are needed the ride
becomes very bouncy. It is definately not bouncy!

Thank you.

 

Are your tires overinflated?

 

Hi Andy,
Struts normally fail by leaking, and so become, very soft. But they
can fail by seizing, making the ride very harsh. Go to each corner
of the car and push down hard; the body should move down under the
force, then bounce back, then settle to the original position.
(Try this on another Civic for comparison.)

If it doesn't want to move at all, the strut has failed. (I suppose it
might be possible for something to get wedged into the strut,
keeping it from moving, but I have never heard of it happening.)

Dan

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