Bouncy Ride

[Prowsey]

Hi All,

 

I've recently acquired a 2003 Galaxy TDi Ghia with 56,000 miles on the clock. The ride seems to me to be rather bouncy. I didn't notice this in the test drive (i did notice some body roll through the corners though, but didn't seem different to any others i test drove). My previous cars have all had comparativly firm rides (the last being a focus ST170), so i initially put the bouncyness down to it being a bigger vehicle, built more for passenger comfort than being thrown round corners. Now i have been driving it for a couple of weeks, the bouncy ride is starting to concern me (even making me feel slightly nauseas on longer trips). My questions therefore are:

*Is a bouncy ride normal? (or at least significntly bouncier than an ST170)

*Is there an easy way i can test to see if there is a problem?

*If there is a problem, what are the likely culprits? (rear dampers??)

 

Thanks in advance

 

Dave

 

p.s. I couldn't get the search function to work properly, so apologies if this as been discussed previously.

[insider]

There will obviously be a difference between the ST170 and the Galaxy but I would never describe the Galaxy's ride as "bouncy".

Is it bouncy in that it takes longer than it should to settle down after going over an uneven surface or is it a vibration like a wheel out of balance?

You can check your shock absorbers by pushing down on each corner of the car. If it takes more than one or two bounces before settling down the shock absorbers probably need replacing. Also look for leaks from the shock absorbers.

Are your tyres inflated to the recommended pressures?

[Prowsey]

Hi Insider, thanks for getting back.

 

It is bouncy as in it takes longer than i would expect to settle after going over an uneven (or undulating) surface. I have already checked the shocks at each corner as you suggest - The fronts recover straight away (i.e. come straight back up), the rears bounce twice in total. Shocks show no visible signs of leakage.

I will check the tyre pressures.

 

Other than this issue, i am very pleased with the Galaxy so far - am now able to transport my expanding family in comfort and take massess of stuff to the tip in one trip all without drinking too much fuel :)

 

Regards

Dave

[MadBaz]

Hi Prowsey, other than shocks and tyre pressures, only thing I can suggest is the tyres if not reinforced/extra load they can be more supple and give the feeling of driving a Chrysler Voyager!!!

[skippy 2]

Hi Prowsey, other than shocks and tyre pressures, only thing I can suggest is the tyres if not reinforced/extra load they can be more supple and give the feeling of driving a Chrysler Voyager!!!

Hi guys just to let you know I changed my shocks front and rear on my old mk4 cortina it developed a bouncy ride as you describe and leaned into corners but this all stopped when I changed the shocks. The originals were gas and I replaced them with hydraulic ones coz they were cheaper but they did the job.

[Prowsey]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies and suggestions.

 

I checked the tyre pressures - the front left and rear right were quite low (20psi) - topped them up and i think it feels a bit better (don't feel as sea sick since!) - tho my wife can't tell any difference. It still feels bouncy though. The 'bouncyness' is much more apparent in terms of lateral roll, rather than front/back pitch - responding to road undulations rather than bumps.

 

I've done the bounce test many times now with no real cause for concern. I've also tried Inducing sevre lateral roll on the car by pushing and pulling the roofbar - this settles down in at most three cycles.

 

I'm still a bit concerned and will probably drop in to a garage to have a quick look (or pounce on a friendly looking Galaxu owner in Weymouth to let me have a go on theirs :P )

 

Regards

Dave

[Prowsey]

Hi all,

 

I've since had a local mechanic give the suspension the once over - no obvious problems - he commented that the rear shocks may be 'a little weak'. I've since got used to driving the Gal now and seem to have got used to it - (apart from body roll on sharp corners!)

Ta