Q: Recently changed rear shocks, now one side sits lower than the other and bangs going over speed bumps

asked by on January 17, 2017

Hi there, I recentl changed my rear shocks on my 1995 toyota starlet turbo and now one side sits lower than the other and bangs pretty hard over speed bumps and pot holes. could i have damaged the spring when compressing it or bent the rear axle??? I'm really worried!!

My car has 90000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

With a typical spring compressor, it would be difficult to over compress the spring to the point of damaging it so that seems unlikely. Nevertheless, if no other cause is found, you may have to measure the free height of the spring and possibly test the spring. Be sure the spring is properly positioned on the spring seat of course. The only way to damage the axle beam is to improperly jack the car. If any bushing mounted suspension components were removed during the work, if such are not tightened with the full vehicle weight on the wheels, there might be some effect on height from that. What you should do is first see if the height of either side is outside the factory service manual specification. If one side is out but the other isn’t, concentrate your diagnostic efforts on the side that is out. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a vehicle is leaning diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do I use a USB drive to play music?
You can play music that is stored in a USB drive directly through the infotainment center. Here’s how: Plug the USB drive into the USB port, which is located in the center console. Make sure the device is compatible with...
Air conditioning blows hot on one side and cold on the other side
There are two possible scenarios that could be causing your problem: As crazy as it sounds, I have had a low refrigerant charge in the a/c system as a cause of this, so it may just be that your a/c...
Gas pedal hard to apply, can't go past 55 mph
Hello. It sounds like the transmission isn’t shifting gears properly. A problem with the first, second, and/or third gear can cause difficulty with acceleration. Another possibility is that the catalytic converters are clogged (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/catalytic-converter-replacement) causing poor acceleration. When this happens...
Why does fuse 13 under the hood keep blowing out?
The job of a fuse is to prevent electrical shorts or over voltage situations from damaging wiring or electronic components in the vehicle. If a fuse (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuse-replacement) keeps blowing, there is an electrical short in that circuit that is applying...
Engine idle fluctuates
There are a couple of reasons your engine idle may run high such as a vacuum leak or a dirty or faulty idle air control valve. The idle air control valve (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement) reads the air intake as it is mixed...
Please help
Hi there. It's possible that you may have installed the wrong sized thermostat, or if you didn't replace the thermostat housing at the same time, this is what's causing your problems. Without being there to see exactly what your issue...
Dry grinding/starting noise when in gear
Hi there. Sounds as if the transmission is low on fluid or the transmission is worn and has roller bearings that are damaged. Check the transmission oil level and see if the fluid is low. The fluid should slightly run...
My 2012 Toyota Corolla blows all over the road in the wind. What causes this? Is the car not heavy enough or is it not aerodynam
All vehicles, regardless of their weight and aerodynamics, are buffeted by high winds. If the vehicle does not have directional stability, it may have an alignment problem or an issue with the tires and/or suspension. If you want your vehicle's...
2013 A6 Quattro 3.0 AC blows hot air. Changed the AC compressor, receiver dryer, value and flush. Car is still blowing hot air. N
Hello. If the system was properly evacuated and recharged and the compressor is still not turning on then it is an electrical problem. Most of the time it is the result of a faulty clutch relay so that is what...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Toyota Camry
America’s America’s best-selling passenger car for over a decade, the Toyota Camry is highly reliable, comfortable, and gets great gas mileage. It’s now available in a four- or six-cylinder engine, as well as a hybrid option, and it continues to...
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Alabama in 2012
2012 2012 was a great year in Alabama for auto manufacturing, but that wasn’t the only bright spot. Vehicle sales in Alabama were also robust in 2012. Nothing much changed in terms of the vehicle types that were most popular...
How to Start a Prius
The The Toyota Prius was a game changer when it was first introduced back in 2000. As one of the first commercially successful hybrid vehicles, it eventually helped launch an entire hybrid industry. The hybrid engine was not the only...