2001 Hyundai Elantra Drivers side Rear has stiffened up

Tiny
GMAN1091
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 87,800 MILES
My left rear (drivers side) has no bounce to it at all. All other 3 corners have normal bounce. Now it handles bad and bounces me in the seat on any bumps. Can a shock/strut (I'm not sure what this car has in the rear) freeze up like that? I might add here the car was raised up on a mechanic's lift one day priar to this occuring (the kind you drive up and over like going up ramps and down the other side straddling your underside) and the drivers side was WAY higher than the passengers side. The mechanic then lowered it, backed up a bit, and raised it again (still leaned but only a little). I can't see any visable damage under there from just what I can see but any ideas on why that side in the rear is suddenly stiff like that? No shocks/struts have been replaced on this car yet. Can shocks/struts do that or is it likely something got bent/damaged/etc. From the lift? I'm just looking for the short amswer here. Thank you.
Friday, June 11th, 2010 AT 10:22 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
HI there,
Thank you for the donation,

I have lifted thousands of cars over the years and never had a strut fail because of this, I am not saying that it is impossible to happen, just that I have never seen it, what will have to be done, it that the strut will have to be removed and check on the bench for any fault or damage.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, June 11th, 2010 AT 10:51 PM
Tiny
GMAN1091
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I guess I'm asking if a strut "can" stiffen up like that if it goes bad and cause that corner to have no flex/bounce or if it would have to be something else causing that to happen. Thanks again Mark.
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Friday, June 11th, 2010 AT 11:00 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
About the only possible way would be for the strut to be bent, but saying that you may also have a seized lower control are inner bush or something physically stopping the movement of the suspension, there must be inspected first.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Saturday, June 12th, 2010 AT 12:54 AM

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