Estima Hybrid Suspension Problem

[Deker]

My Estima has a suspension problem, I ve had a mechanic and mot person look to see what is causing the problem, they cant understand what is causing the problem

Is there a specific part of the forum to help me with this.

Deker

[Deker]

My Estima has a suspension problem, I ve had a mechanic and mot person look to see what is causing the problem, they cant understand what is causing the problem

Is there a specific part of the forum to help me with this.

Deker

Looks like I can edit a post, is this allowed ?

Anyways am I at the right forum Toyota Eztima Hybrid ??

[Deker]

Above should read right place FOR ESTIMA HYBRID

Sorry, touch screen typing is difficult.

[Xanadu_999]

Topic moved to Estima forum.

[JohnGW]

So what is the problem?

[Deker]

Left front is low, spring is not broken, shocker may be weak -

What I would like to know - is the strut gas pressurised  ?

I have had two mechanics and mot person look at it, they cannot see what is causing it.

[Red_Corolla]

58 minutes ago, Deker said:

Left front is low, spring is not broken, shocker may be weak -

What I would like to know - is the strut gas pressurised  ?

I have had two mechanics and mot person look at it, they cannot see what is causing it.

The shock absorber is there to prevent bouncing, it doesn't provide support to help maintain the ride height. If you separated it from the rest of the strut assembly, you would find you can extend and retract it just by pushing and pulling with your hands (slowly). All they do is absorb energy - there's little-to-no thrust. The spring supports the vehicle.

[flash22]

Droplink or anti roll bar bushes, even a snapped anti roll bar

 

if you have had a drop link changed did they change both sides, one side shorter than the other will have the car on the wonk

had a tire changed ? Wrong sized tyre

Bent lower A-arm

I would get a 4 wheel alignment that should find the issue (don't use a chain garage)

[Cyker]

They do actually provide a bit of spring support - Usually a good shock will push itself back out if retracted; A classic sign of a failed shock is it doesn't self-extend after it's compressed.

However, that shouldn't be enough to have a major effect as the spring provides the majority of the sprung force.

I reckon a mount point or something's snapped or there's a major problem with the suspension geometry or bushings somewhere...

 

[Red_Corolla]

45 minutes ago, Cyker said:

They do actually provide a bit of spring support - Usually a good shock will push itself back out if retracted; A classic sign of a failed shock is it doesn't self-extend after it's compressed.

However, that shouldn't be enough to have a major effect as the spring provides the majority of the sprung force.

I reckon a mount point or something's snapped or there's a major problem with the suspension geometry or bushings somewhere...

 

A little bit, yes, because of the gas inside compressing when you reduce the volume. Not enough to make much contibution to lifting a van, I wouldn't have said. There were a few exceptions to be found amongst affordable cars, back in the day. The Mini-Metro was one of those that genuinely used pressurised gas as a spring medium, IIRC.

[Deker]

Thanks guys, but please bear in mind two mechanics and MOT inspector have looked, 

No broken parts   or wrong tyre size.

So, Q = are Toyota springs known to weaKen ?

The distance twixt front wing and tyre on left is less than that on the right.

If the strut is not gas pressured, Conclusion must be weak spring

Do you all agree ?

Oh yea, the Ol git found out how to edit  😶

[JohnGW]

Could also be a strut top bearing, on an old Renault I had there was a plastic part which either came out of position or damaged, I can't remember it required replacement. Sounds like you need that suspension leg removing and checking. Yes a spring can go weak.

[flash22]

Either a failed or failing strut top or the lower A-arm, a proper 4-wheel alignment will pick up the issue

[Cyker]

I've never heard of a spring going weak unless it's actually failed in some way, i.e. it's snapped somewhere.  It is possible for the spring to fail without it being visually obvious. I'm sure I remember seeing a post a while ago where someone changed their rear springs on a Mk1 or Mk2 Yaris, and it wasn't until they removed the old ones they discovered one of them had snapped!

Strut top is a good shout if they haven't already checked that. Some cars have a rubber doughnut thing supporting the top of the spring so might be worth seeing if that's a thing on the car that has worn out or something...?

 I am curious what the cause is too now...!

[JohnGW]

Cyker I remember taking a coil spring out that was splitting along the coil rather than shearing across.

Rear leaf springs, well there's a different matter.