Should you do shock and struts at same time?

[SteelBlueGT]

I just installed 4 Tokico's at 38,000 miles and they are a good value! Nice smooth ride with much better handling is a tough combo too beat. With stock struts and springs I felt that struts were allowing to much bottoming out. Now I dont feel like the struts are allowing the front end to bottom out! Cornering with my new Yoko Avid V4s and the Tokicos are far superior to stock. Ride is not quite luxo smooth but close! I could not make up my mind between these struts and the KYB units. The KYB's really helped out my Daughters Neon sport but mainly for the ride and not the handling. KYB's are less expensive and may be just as good if your want a smoother ride mostly!![8)]

[njsteve]

save up your money and go with the Stage 2 coilover kit from Mopar. They are design for our cars. I tested out my 2005 where my 2001 would alway bottom out and had no issues with the coilovers. I was also impress last night when I had three passengers with me for a hour and half trip and not once did it bottom out. Check out Tommy T's comments who had Eibachs in his car before the coilovers.

[Scott]

I've got a 2001 PT with 70,000 miles that rode smooth until it got stuck in the mud this spring. Since then, I have a bad hopping sensation from the rear at about 61 mph. I've cleaned all mud out, replaced tires, had balanced and did alignment. Mechanics have told me there's no apparent problem with the rear suspension. Can anyone diagnose the problem, or suggest an order of things to replace, to alleviate the hopping?

[2step]

Scott...
The springs are easy to check. They've been inspected and your shop says that they are not broken. Springs can loose a little of their tension over time but that wouldn't cause "hop".

The shocks are more likely the problem. They are well worn after 70,000 miles and your little "off road" episode may have added the last straw (but not been the cause).

Try this little test, open your hatch and push the rear of your Cruiser down sharply with as much of your weight as possible and release quickly. Your Cruiser should bounce no more than once up past center and settle. If you detect any more movement than that, it's a sign of worn shocks. Keep your eye on the open hatch because it's hanging out and will amplify any motion for you to see.