Hey!
Last year I replaced bushings, control arm, ect, but not shocks--I ran out of money and it's on my list of things to take care of. About a week ago the rear of my wagon begins making a HORRIBLE noise--like metal slamming together. I can drop the bumper and it doesn't move (My ride height seems good) but when I give her a shove from the side she shakes pretty hard. I just had a friend take my ride around the block and declare "possibly shocks", it's dark and I can't go look right now. The roads here SUCK and I knew I needed to replace them, but as a full time student with a full time job.....
Anything I need to look for in the morning? How bad can it be if I drive around for about another week or so?
Thanks!!!

Looks like passenger side is out--a friend is going to help me replace it in the a.m.
THANKS BRICKBOARDERS!!!!!!!!

While replacing bushings, did you replace the bushings in the pan hard rod? If so check the torque on the ends bolts to make sure they are tight, if not check the condition of the P/H bushings. That rear end rod controls side to side motion of the rear axle relative to the body.

Do both sides make the noise? It would be unusual to have both shocks go at exactly the same time.

Stay away from the Gabriel shocks from Auto Zone. I put them on two different cars and replaced them both within two years.

since you replaced the bushings and remember the sloppy bushing feel and feel your ride height is okay - {rear wheel opening should be above the top of the back tire by over 1/2" on stock suspension} then it likely is your shocks that create the horrible slamming sound,

if the car continues to move up and down more than once after compressing the suspension then it is a shock, the action of which is to slow the springs, without shocks you car is more like a bobblehead doll

shocks are super easy to replace and with prices for replacements ranging from $15 to $150 a piece - there is sure to be a shock in your budget
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big rich in arkansas '62 544 132K, 85 244 220K, 95 855 115K

hey big rich, that's exactly the car we bought for my daughter in your profile, even the same color! how long have you had it? and maybe you can tell me what i'm in for, as far as parts replacement, etc, it's coming up on 220k, altho i think thet kept up w/ oil changes,and the like, luckily. it doesn't burn, or blow any oil, and i'd like to keep it that way... what's the most major thing you've had to do to yours,as far as maintenance, etc,. and, what can i expect to be doin to it, you know, any common problems you've had to correct , etc. i will tell you briefly what i've had to do in the month we've owned it: first, crank pulley went out, someone changed the belt, and didn't use locktite, or the like, when puttin crank pulley bolt back on. then fuel pump relay went out, that's when i discovered all the crumbled wiring, here, there every where.....patching/ changing that out as best i can as time, and money dictates the time table on that one.havin a bitch of a time installing an after-market stereo, as i undrstand there's some built-in powe amp for these speakers, which i haven't found yet, so's i can bypass it w/ a clean install on the speaker wires. there is a box marked Danos, up near fuel pump relay w/ some adjustment ports, however, i believe that has something to do w/ the fuel injection, and not the stereo wiring, as was recently told me.. maybe you know what it's for? i damn sure am not gonna mess w/ it, especialy not knowin what the heck it controls. anyway, thanks for your time and let me know what yu think, bein as you've been drivin these cars a long time, accordin to your profile, thanks again, louis