A33 Suspension Overhaul

[twinhope88]

Hi Brothers,

My A33 has knocking sound when going thru uneven road or bumps.
It is very loud when i drive slow.

Yesterday I checked with TC, they said I need to change these things:

1. Absorbers x4
2. ABS Bounce x2 (component connectting between the absorber and car body)
3. Ti-Rod x2 – inner and outer (component connecting between steering rack and wheel base)
4. Lower Arm x2 (whole piece)

They called this as “Suspension –Overhaul” and the quoted price was RM5,400.00 including labors.
They need two days to get all these things changed.


My questions:
Do we really need

1. Do we really need to change all those things?
2. Is this over-price?
3. Any brother here have their Suspension Overhaul? Please comment.

Thank you.
Regards,
Chay
Email: [email protected]

 

[weikee]

go TCM sure get this price lah.. I think if u go outside minimal saving its at least 40 to 50%

Lower arm, outside can change bush only. but not very sure a33 can change just bush.. i know my a32 can, but go to tcm will need to change entire arm.

Also you need to check the rear bush, cause a33 very common problem with the bush like N16. I change my A32 rear bush for about RM 700 in total. if go TCM, need to change the entire beam and will cost a bomb, minimal 1.5k

 

[weikee]

go TCM sure get this price lah.. I think if u go outside minimal saving its at least 40 to 50%

Lower arm, outside can change bush only. but not very sure a33 can change just bush.. i know my a32 can, but go to tcm will need to change entire arm.

Also you need to check the rear bush, cause a33 very common problem with the bush like N16. I change my A32 rear bush for about RM 700 in total. if go TCM, need to change the entire beam and will cost a bomb, minimal 1.5k

 

[dream.tent]

I've got a pair of rear absorbers "Paraut" used for 2 weeks. (before i change to my TEIN)
For Cefiro brothers, RM100/pair.

 

[twinhope88]

Hi brothers,

My A33 rear absorbers are very soft. The mechanics said this is the original setting and also due to the single bar designs (other cars have two separate arms).
Dream.tent: Your Paraut rear absorbers is for comfort one or racing one?


Weikei: I heard if we change the whole arms that will last for 3-5 years. if replace only the arm's bush, that will only last for 1-2 years. My question is: does the lower arm really cause all those knocking sound? or maybe other bushes.
Actually how many bushes we have?


My relatives he just got his A33 lower arm and Ti-rod changed but the knocking sound still there. now he is trying to change the ABS-Bounce (connetcting front absorbers and body). Wait and see if really the ABS Bounce cause all this probelm.

Thanks bro.

Regards,
Chay

 

[dream.tent]

Hi brothers,

My A33 rear absorbers are very soft. The mechanics said this is the original setting and also due to the single bar designs (other cars have two separate arms).
Dream.tent: Your Paraut rear absorbers is for comfort one or racing one?


Weikei: I heard if we change the whole arms that will last for 3-5 years. if replace only the arm's bush, that will only last for 1-2 years. My question is: does the lower arm really cause all those knocking sound? or maybe other bushes.
Actually how many bushes we have?


My relatives he just got his A33 lower arm and Ti-rod changed but the knocking sound still there. now he is trying to change the ABS-Bounce (connetcting front absorbers and body). Wait and see if really the ABS Bounce cause all this probelm.

Thanks bro.

Regards,
Chay

My Paraut is original Nissan parts. It's soft and comfy type.
I'm driving my feilo fast, so can't use original and change to coilovers.

 

[weikee]

its the same la, cause in factory when they make the rear arm or front arm.. it still pump in.

 

[twinhope88]

My relatives he changed (A33) Front Absorbers x2, Tie-Rod (both inner and outer), ABS Bounce (left and right) and lower arms x2 but the knocking sound still there when going thru uneven roads. Very loud when driving slow.

What else we need to change to solve this probelm? Any idea brother?
I wander if this is the bad design of this vehicle.

 

[twinhope88]

Any brother can help?

 

[weikee]

ABS-Bounce, you referring to absorber top mounting right?

I don't know how your relative knocking sound is, from my experience, it can be the absorber top mount, than the knuckle (if you hit something hard before), than the lower arm, tie rod or ball joints. All this have difference knocking sound.

If the problem are similar to the N16 famous "tuk Tuk" sound, than most likely its the lower arm bush problem.

 

[twinhope88]

Hi weikei,

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, the ABS Bounce is absorber top mounting.
My relative changed the Tie-Rod, ABS Bounce, lower arm and even suspension but still the same.

N16? where it located?

The tuk-tuk sound is coming out when going thru uneven or bumpy road.
I think it is common when the car reached 5 years old.

By the way, do you guys think suspension overhaul can restore our car like new one?

 

[dream.tent]

For me, i'll try not to pay money to buy original parts.

If i spend money, i'll make sure it's an upgrade or make sure it performs better loh.

Nissan cars don't really make unnecessary sound after 5 years. If so, should be able to identify and fixed la. Sentra or Cefiro, i believe the built quality is at good standard.

I'm driving a 2002 Cefi and i can clearly identify every sound tat comes out from every part of the car. Imagine i'm using coilovers with 18" 35 series tires now, other then those identified sounds, the car is quiet and ride smoothly.

Most importantly, the engine is still as quiet as 5 years ago. All i did is make sure belts are changed on time and bearings are changed timely.

 

[dream.tent]

Hi weikei,

Thanks for your reply.
Yes, the ABS Bounce is absorber top mounting.
My relative changed the Tie-Rod, ABS Bounce, lower arm and even suspension but still the same.

N16? where it located?

The tuk-tuk sound is coming out when going thru uneven or bumpy road.
I think it is common when the car reached 5 years old.

By the way, do you guys think suspension overhaul can restore our car like new one?

Just to make sure one thing, the tuk tuk sound is during bumpy road? and tuk tuk = metal knocking sound.

What kind of bumpy surface and at what speed?

Let's see:
A. Highway Speed bump - traveling at 70~80km/h
B. Road Humps or potholes - traveling at 10~20km/h

Possible problem for Type A
Lower Arm bushing (2 inside and 1 on the edge)
Steering rack and ball joint
One silly problem tat i encounter before, mechanic left the front absorbers nut un-tightened!

Possible problem for Type B
Absorber has given up, every stroke goes to the bottom.
Coil Spring weaken. (But this case is rare. Unless the car is trashed and has been carrying heavy things)


My two cents above.....Let me think of more possibilities later....

 

[twinhope88]

HI Bro,

Yes, Both possibility A and B happening.
When travel low speed like 20-40km/h on uneven or bumpy road the tuk-tuk sound very obvious. and when travel faster like 50-80km/h the tuk sound is not very significant maybe due to some other noises cover up like wind and tyres.

U know, the tuk-tuk sound like the entire suspension not being screwed tightly.

But look, as what my relative has done so far (he changed the entire lower arms, tie-rod (i believe this is the steering rack you mentioned), absrobers and ABS bounce) it still the same...tuk-tuk still coming out especially going thru a bump at low speed like 15km/h. He didnt change the coil spring.

What is ball-joint and N16?

 

[dream.tent]

Ball-joint is the part that link the lower arm to the turning/moving part where the disc rotor and absorber is. another ball-joint is at the end of the steering rack joining to your wheel and turns it.

N16 = Sentra's code name.

 

[twinhope88]

any recomend mechanic for suspension overhaul?
anybody has this tuk-tuk problem and solved?

:-)

 

[twinhope88]

any recommendation for this knocking mechanic?
any brother has this problem before and get fixed?
:-)

 

[weikee]

go back to the mechanic and complain, since so much already been paid to the mechanic.

 

[dream.tent]

Ya! since they are paid, so get the job done!

 

[twinhope88]

he did send the car back but the mechanic really cannot find what cause this tuk-tuk sound.

Now he is trying another mechanic.

Any good mechanic in suspension overhaul out there?