Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1996 Cadillac STS, rear shocks, pot hole

Question
"I have a rattle in the back of the car.  The mufflers are secure as well as everything else under the car is nice and tight.  Also, the car seems a bit low and should ride a little higher.  How much money should it be to replace the rear shocks?  Is it a big job? Can you help?  Any idea how much money we are talking?   Thanks"


Answer
Hi Steve:
A rattle do not necessarily mean shocks. The best way to tell if you need shock, is to park the car on level ground, then push the rear up and down several times really hard. When you stop see if the car continue to bounce on it own. If not, you don't need shocks. If it does, the you may need shocks or springs. However, unless you have hit a really big pot hole or have carried a heavy load for a long period in the car, I don't think you would need springs.

Back to the rattle. A rattle would point me in the direction of (of course) something loose. If when you hit a bump or pot hole, it rattles, that could be a broken shock or spring or it could be just a loose quarter panel. Pinpointing the rattle is important to solving the problem.

Rear shocks usually run around $300 to $350.