loose spring

[lostie]

What does it mean when a spring sits loose on a shock? Have tighten up the nut yet the spring still can be moved.

[skiddz]

spring is too short

has it been cut? ie lowered makita style?

[RA35GT]

Or it may just be a normal lowered spring.

Which means you need shorter shocks to keep them captive.

[lostie]

was a shorter comrpessed spring.

3 springs fit good onto the shocks. Then i bought another shock from the wrecker for the last spring. But it turned out loose.

Shocks look almost identical. Could it be that the shock i bought is just a fresher one?

[RobertoX]

The open length of the shock wont change as it gets older. Either the one from the wrecker is a different shock or the spring you are trying to put in it is shorter than the others. Pull it all out and measure it up. You'll either need to get a different shock or take the springs back to the maker to get them reset.

With shocks it is a good idea to replace them as at least pairs (ie both front at the same time etc). The rate will change over time and you have no idea how many km's the one from the wrecker has.
They are also very important for safety, personally, I wouldn't get one from a wrecker, but that's your choice.

[oldcorollas]

were they from the same car?
picture will help.

[lostie]

The open length of the shock wont change as it gets older. Either the one from the wrecker is a different shock or the spring you are trying to put in it is shorter than the others. Pull it all out and measure it up. You'll either need to get a different shock or take the springs back to the maker to get them reset.

With shocks it is a good idea to replace them as at least pairs (ie both front at the same time etc). The rate will change over time and you have no idea how many km's the one from the wrecker has.
They are also very important for safety, personally, I wouldn't get one from a wrecker, but that's your choice.

So the length of a shock won't change with age?? If so that cancels out the theory that this shock is fresher than the rest.

Both rear springs looked identical when they were out.

The one shock came off a sedan version, shocks are interchangable with hatches.

[RobertoX]

They may be interchangeable shape wise but there would most likely be a difference in the rate of the shock absorber between the wagon and sedans. Having a difference left to right will make it handle strange.
First of all check to see if the part number on the shock is the same, if not measure the open length of the shock.

[lostie]

They may be interchangeable shape wise but there would most likely be a difference in the rate of the shock absorber between the wagon and sedans. Having a difference left to right will make it handle strange.
First of all check to see if the part number on the shock is the same, if not measure the open length of the shock.

So the shock could be stronger making the corner sit higher. But I am puzzled to why the spring sits loose. It was the same length as the other spring. The other spring sat tight on hatch shock, yet this spring sits loose on the sedan shock.

Both shocks are the same size physically.

[oldcorollas]

if both springs are the same length, and both shocks are the same length.. there is no way that one can be loose and one not.

something is a different length.

or.. the shock piston rod is bent and not allowing it to compress... checked that yet?

[RobertoX]

So one corner actually sits higher? You should have mentioned this

The shock being "stronger" wont really make it sit higher. The rate of a shock will absolutely not affect the open length of a shock.
It's possible that the gas pressure in one shock is higher if its a newer one. This wont affect the open length either.

If the shocks are the same size physically then the springs are different sizes. They will be different free (uncompressed) lengths if one is not captive and the other one is, measure them to confirm and then take them back to the spring maker and tell them to fix it or supply new ones.

OC - the piston rod being bent and not compressing wont cause this problem. Maybe if one is bent and therefore prevented from extending fully then this will happen (the stuffed one will have captive springs and the good one will will have non captive)... but he said they are both physically the same.

[oldcorollas]

i meant ben tin the open position

either way, something has been measured wrong. something is different

[lostie]

So one corner actually sits higher? You should have mentioned this

If the shocks are the same size physically then the springs are different sizes. They will be different free (uncompressed) lengths if one is not captive and the other one is, measure them to confirm and then take them back to the spring maker and tell them to fix it or supply new ones.
.

The problem I have is that the shock with the loose(non-captive) spring makes the corner sit higher. If the spring had sagged(gotten shorter) to make it loose(non-captive) on the shock, i'd think it would make the corner sit lower not higher.

This leads me to think that the spring is not being compressed into the shock properly, making it loose(non-captive) and therefore making the corner sit higher.

the piston rod being bent and not compressing wont cause this problem. Maybe if one is bent and therefore prevented from extending fully then this will happen (the stuffed one will have captive springs and the good one will will have non captive)...

I know the shock with the non-captive spring doesn't have a bent rod. I'm sure the shock with the bent rod also doesn't have a bent shock. But i'll have to take them both off again and look closely. Thanks

[lostie]

i meant ben tin the open position

either way, something has been measured wrong. something is different

What do you mean by bent in the open position.

[oldcorollas]

The problem I have is that the shock with the loose(non-captive) spring makes the corner sit higher. If the spring had sagged(gotten shorter) to make it loose(non-captive) on the shock, i'd think it would make the corner sit lower not higher.

This leads me to think that the spring is not being compressed into the shock properly, making it loose(non-captive) and therefore making the corner sit higher.

lets go back to basics...

ok. the weight of the car is held up by the spring. if the car is sitting on the ground,then the weight is distributed via the springs to the struts, then to the tyres and then the ground.
the shocks move relatively freely up and down, and are there to stop the bouncing of the car on the spring... nothing else

you say one curner is higher... and that spring is loose on the strut...
that my friend, is rooted.
think about it.. what is holding the car up if it is not the spring? the only thing that could be holding it up is the shock.
the shock does not have enough gas pressur eto hold up a car..... so mayeb the shock rod is rooted and binding, so that it can't compress?

something is very wrong... it is just a matter of finding out what.
can you take pictures of everything?