OT - Suspension Problem on a Contour

[Brad97GS]

Any of you trusted mechanics and/or Ford guys want to help me out here? :) My brother-in-law called about an issue with his '98 Ford Contour. The left rear side of the car is hanging down more than the rest of the car. In fact, I even jacked the car up (on the side rail as if changing a flat tire), and instead of making the gap bigger between the wheel and wheel well as one would expect, there was no change in that gap. Seems to me that the strut is stuck in the 'down' position, but I don't know a whole lot about struts. Is it possible for one to get stuck? Or if it lost all of its filler, perhaps it just collapses on itself? The spring didn't appear to be damaged, and nothing was rusted out. Since I couldn't physically see the strut insert itself, and nothing else 'seemed' out of place, I tentatively deduced that the strut insert was bad. But I thought I'd ask here for some opinions. :)

Keep in mind, by the way, that it's been cold here - around 0 degrees at night, and around 10 degrees during the day. Perhaps that has something to do with it. Oh, also, the strut does not appear to move at all when you bounce the rear of the car. The other side bounces, but this side does not. The body and wheel move in tandem. I never drove it, but it sounds like it was quite the bumpy ride!

Thanks for any help. :)

[4kQuad]

From reading what you say I believe you are on the right track.
My son had a car with air shocks that did the same thing after they quit holding air. The body just sagged down over the wheel wells.

[rixGAphx]

I agree with you and 4kQuad.

A MASSIVE slam to that tire could have caused the internals of the strut to collapse, maybe twisting or breaking something that wedged it in that position.
The rubber blocks at the suspension arms on the chassis of most cars is *supposed* to absorb this slam, but maybe his is broken or missing or Ford didn't use them? I dunno, depends on the suspension design.

And at 8 years old (120k+ miles?), replacing struts (both, for even handling) would seem prudent and not unexpected.

Plus, Contours were conceived and built after Ford ended its 'Quality Is Job One' campaign, and they seem to be junk :roll2:

Good luck.
-Rick

[Brad97GS]

Thanks guys! The car doesn't quite have the mileage that you're guessing, Rick, but close enough (a little over 100k). And given the cold weather, the fact that the struts are original, and the overall quality of the Contour, it wouldn't surprise me that the strut on that side couldn't take it anymore. Luckily, it's just his commuter car now...throw in the cheapest struts possible, and they'll outlast the rest of the car! ;)