How can you tell the difference between if your struts are bad or if your bushings are bad.

My 95 Max SE has almost 200k miles on it. I replaced the struts 75,000 miles ago with Tokico HP's and am riding on the original bushings.

The ride quality has really gone to hell recently. Absolutely no bump absorption. Feels like every little road irregularity get transmitted to the cabin. However, on smooth roads, the car rides fairly decently......no overly floaty motions or excessive nose dive on braking or anything like that......could it be the bushings?

 

If your struts are going the cars is going to be bouncy (on stiff springs) or really floaty (on softer springs). Best inspection would be to take them out and compress them and see if they rebound nice and smoothly.

If that is too involving try pushing up and down on different areas (front, rear, corners) of the car. It should give to your weight a bit and then settle. There should be no bobbing and it shouldn't take very long.

There also should be no leakage or seepage.

I just replaced all the bushings in my rear struts and the ones I took out (estimated 140K not the original owner) were pancaked about 1/4 inch shorter than the brand new OEM bushings.

I have an aftermarket suspension setup (Tein/AGX) and keep it relatively stiff and I noticed a direct improvement in ride quality.

Besides those bushings, there are bushings on many areas of the front suspension (control arm, sway bar) that deteriorate over time.

 

Thanks Fr33way.

What are the symptoms of bad bushings specifically?

 

Thanks Fr33way for your reply.

What are the symptoms of bad bushings? Anyone else out there?