How can you tell if you shocks blown?

[Thinkkker]

and what is the stock spring rate on the fronts???? Dont know if its age or what but Im wanting a little more non bouncing from the front in . Handles great, but in the straights I need some more stability.

[lonchair]

How many miles are on your car? After 17 years it's a good guess the strurs are going bad ,reguardless of miles, from the o-ring seals derating and letting the gas charge and oil leakout or by allowing in contaminats (dirt and grime particles-this can be diagnosed by the strut oil having metal flakes in it). I just took the struts of my car yesterday and with only 49K original miles on them, they were both shot for the above listed reasons.

I rebuilt mine with a Gabrial rebuild cartritge. Granted it is non-adjustable, but they were alot cheaper than a new set of KONIs (30 each vs. 190 each). After instaling them, they are a big improvement over the wornout KONIs.

[Thinkkker]

car has 49650 on it now. It still corners fairly well but after taking it home yesterday and such, I can say that at speed it feels squirley. The front floats some also. Ill prolly replace them this summer with new ones and then see if the front still floats.

[SVOeric]

blown struts

this is a easy one ---

with the car sitting on the ground normally, take the nut off the top of the strut, and push down on the rod, if it pops back up, your strut may be weak, but it ain't blown -- if it just drops into oblivion -- it's SHOT!!

If you do this, and the strut rod drops -- it is a PITA to get it pushed back up into the onion head

[lonchair]

Hey I just realised I got so wrapped up in my explination of lowcost rebuild, I never answered your question of how to test your struts. Glad Eric came along and did that.