Shock absorber replacement on 1991 Accord?

Great info, thanks everyone.

Any recommendations for make/model of replacement shocks to use here in the
USA? I'll be doing all four corners of the car. It's my daily driver, not a
racer.

Also, is it possible to use an impact driver with a "pancake" air
compressor, even in short bursts?

Thanks
-Mark
 >> Stay informed about: Shock absorber replacement on 1991 Accord? 

What symptoms does your Accord have that suggest the shock
absorber needs replacement?

I replaced the springs on my 91 Civic, but the shock
absorbers themselves showed no signs of leakage and seemed
to work fine by the usual test (push and watch how they
release). Even the springs might have been overkill.

Control arm bushings and ball joints are another matter. For
1991, the bushings in particular may be due.

"Mark G." <anon40629.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1189088350.180736@bubbleator.drizzle.com...
> Great info, thanks everyone.
>
> Any recommendations for make/model of replacement shocks
> to use here in the USA? I'll be doing all four corners of
> the car. It's my daily driver, not a racer.
>
> Also, is it possible to use an impact driver with a
> "pancake" air compressor, even in short bursts?
>
> Thanks
> -Mark
>
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Shock absorber replacement on 1991 Accord? 

"Elle" <honda.lioness.TakeThisOut@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:

> What symptoms does your Accord have that suggest the shock absorber needs
> replacement?

The car wallows like a pig. The nose dances up and down after braking.

It's definitely past-due for new shocks.

-Mark
 >> Stay informed about: Shock absorber replacement on 1991 Accord? 

"Mark G." <anon40629.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote
> "Elle" <honda.lioness.TakeThisOut@nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> What symptoms does your Accord have that suggest the
>> shock absorber needs replacement?
>
> The car wallows like a pig. The nose dances up and down
> after braking.
>
> It's definitely past-due for new shocks.

Meaning no disrespect; it's just that there aren't many
reports of failed shock absorbers here, even for a car this
old. Per chance are you a somewhat, uh, aggressive driver?
 >> Stay informed about: Shock absorber replacement on 1991 Accord? 

"Elle" <honda.lioness DeleteThis @nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Meaning no disrespect; it's just that there aren't many reports of failed
> shock absorbers here, even for a car this old. Per chance are you a
> somewhat, uh, aggressive driver?

Perchance not. My last moving violation was an illegal U-turn
in the mid-1990s.

My mechanic has listed "needs shocks" on my invoices
for quite some time.
 >> Stay informed about: Shock absorber replacement on 1991 Accord? 

I think this was a nice study you did, loewent. I am tempted
to re-consider replacing those on my 91 Civic. Leaking "some
oil" would have been a red flag (alarm, actually) to me,
though. I would replace if any oil was seen leaking.

My 91 Civic is on 198k miles.It's never seen temperatures
lower than about 0 F, so the extremes for it have not been
as bad. Still, for several years I have long felt the
suspension did not handle speed bumps well. I just wrote it
off as the "cost" of an inexpensive car. Maybe I am wrong.

"loewent via CarKB.com" <u10197@uwe> wrote
> My shocks were a little different than yours... once I
> got them out of the
> spring, I did a test on them to see how well they
> functioned versus the new
> ones I had purchased.
>
> None of the old ones appeared to be leaking badly (some
> oil was present), but
> it was the travel that surprised me. The new shocks came
> back quickly once
> compressed. My old ones took their time, and 2 of them
> actually never made
> it back to full extension.
>
> Also, on the old ones when you compressed them, you could
> hear the oil
> squeezing through the passages inside the shock, and
> little air bubbles
> moving around. New ones were silent.
>
> However, I think they held up admirably considering the
> 282000kms on them.
>
> I think what kills shocks up here is the temperature
> differential... +35C in
> summer and -40C in winter. Talk about your severe service
> schedule....
>
> Elle wrote:
>>What symptoms does your Accord have that suggest the shock
>>absorber needs replacement?
>>
>>I replaced the springs on my 91 Civic, but the shock
>>absorbers themselves showed no signs of leakage and seemed
>>to work fine by the usual test (push and watch how they
>>release). Even the springs might have been overkill.
>>
>>Control arm bushings and ball joints are another matter.
>>For
>>1991, the bushings in particular may be due.
>>
>>> Great info, thanks everyone.
>>>
>>[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>>> Thanks
>>> -Mark
>
> --
> Message posted via CarKB.com
> http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/honda-cars/200709/1
>
 >> Stay informed about: Shock absorber replacement on 1991 Accord? 

loewent via CarKB.com wrote:
> My shocks were a little different than yours... once I got them out of the
> spring, I did a test on them to see how well they functioned versus the new
> ones I had purchased.
>
> None of the old ones appeared to be leaking badly (some oil was present), but
> it was the travel that surprised me. The new shocks came back quickly once
> compressed. My old ones took their time, and 2 of them actually never made
> it back to full extension.
>
> Also, on the old ones when you compressed them, you could hear the oil
> squeezing through the passages inside the shock, and little air bubbles
> moving around. New ones were silent.
>
> However, I think they held up admirably considering the 282000kms on them.
>
> I think what kills shocks up here is the temperature differential... +35C in
> summer and -40C in winter. Talk about your severe service schedule....

nah, theres two things that kills shocks. one is mechanical wear -
honda are good in that department. the other is time. the shocks are
gas pressurized - reduces cavitation. over time, the gas pressure
drops, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. once the pressure is
below the cavitation threshold, performance fades rapidly.


>
> Elle wrote:
>> What symptoms does your Accord have that suggest the shock
>> absorber needs replacement?
>>
>> I replaced the springs on my 91 Civic, but the shock
>> absorbers themselves showed no signs of leakage and seemed
>> to work fine by the usual test (push and watch how they
>> release). Even the springs might have been overkill.
>>
>> Control arm bushings and ball joints are another matter. For
>> 1991, the bushings in particular may be due.
>>
>>> Great info, thanks everyone.
>>>
>> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>>> Thanks
>>> -Mark
>
 >> Stay informed about: Shock absorber replacement on 1991 Accord? 

Mark G. wrote:
> "Elle" <honda.lioness DeleteThis @nospam.earthlink.net> wrote:
>> Meaning no disrespect; it's just that there aren't many reports of failed
>> shock absorbers here, even for a car this old. Per chance are you a
>> somewhat, uh, aggressive driver?
>
> Perchance not. My last moving violation was an illegal U-turn
> in the mid-1990s.
>
> My mechanic has listed "needs shocks" on my invoices
> for quite some time.

the best proof you'll ever need is to change them and see how different
the ride is. if you've owned a certain car for a long time, shock
performance decreases slowly and you don't notice the difference. put
new shocks on an old car, and boy, you sure do!
 >> Stay informed about: Shock absorber replacement on 1991 Accord?