Suspension bushings - recently replaced shock absorbers but steering still seams to wander slightly. Also ride is a little rough. Could urethane bushing replacement help? Which ones specifically?

Suspension issues. The air foil is causing your vehicle to change position putting pressure on the steering/suspension and it's not reacting properly.

I would spend a little money on a suspension inspection to include the steering column and components. This could be caused by wear on the suspension parts or a failed ride control system. (shock absorbers.)

tires are ok airpressure you have a joint on the end of the steering colume check for seizing up or loose as well are all the steering and suspension components tight have you checked balljoints,tierods,shocks,coils,and table bushings very important no loose anywhere

Mr. Craigie, The front suspension of the grand Vitara has low Suspension with Lower Wishbones mounted on rubber mountings which mostly the rear round mounting rubber splits. Since you said that you hit a bump ,check carefully the rubber mounting. Also check the shock Absorber on both front sides and see whether if any one seized.

Mr.Mangus have you checked at all your front suspension struts,shock absorbers,or lower wishbones with bushing and ball joints? I had recently a diesel ford focus 2007 with similar case and both front wishbones were replaced due to ball joints and bushes and then sent for steering alignment. Vehicle drive excellent. Please check.

It is unlikely to be the springs but more likely to be the ancillary suspension components such as the shock absorbers (suspension dampers) and either tired or worn rubber bushings on the the anti-roll (anti-sway) bar and control arms. Some cars are fitted with a steering damper arm and if this loses its damping effectiveness the steering will shimmy about. Bounce on each corner of the front of the car. The body should rebound and come to rest within one and half cycles. If the car continues to bounce the shocks need replacing. Lift the front of the car and remove the front wheels. Inspect the rubber bushings of control arms and shock absorber mounts for wear and annular cracks. Use a pry bar to apply force in order to detect for undue play in linkages and control arms. Check for play in the steering control arms ball joints and in the steering rack itself, including the mounting bolts. Everything should be tight and firm. Anything obviously loose and/or worn should be replaced.

If this vehicle is equipped with rear struts....not shock absorbers...which most vehicles are equipped with today the sound you are speaking of seems to indicate worn strut plates and bushings... most repair facilities over look these items when replacing the strut housings and thus customer gets this noise even louder now that the struts are new and the plates and bushings are old not able to absorb the shock the vehicles suspension incurrs whuile riding over a bumpy terrain.

The front[or rear] sway bars have links in them that are rubber mounted,it sounds like one of the sway bar links is broken,or one of the sway bar bushings is missing.Find the sway bar and have a close look at the mounts to see if the problem lies here.

usually the shock absorb make the ride rough or soft if they bad need to be replace also make sure your tire pressure is no more than 35psi

i don't think you have to do any repairs from the top end. I will list most fromFord shop manual. Please rate as Fixya if this answers your questions. Please report back. Good luck.

Section 04-02: Suspension and Wheel Hubs, Rear 1994 Town Car, Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis. Workshop Manual
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Spring Rear
Removal

1. Position a hoist under the rear axle housing, and raise the vehicle. Refer to Section 00-02 . Place jackstands under frame side rails.

1. Remove rear stabilizer bar as outlined.

1. Disconnect the lower studs of the two shock absorbers from the mounting brackets on the rear axle assembly .

1. Unsnap the RH parking brake rear cable and conduit (2A635) from RH upper arm retainer before lowering the rear axle assembly .

1. Lower the hoist and axle housing until the rear springs are released.

1. Remove rear spring and rear spring center mounting insulators (5741) from vehicle.
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Shock Absorber Removal
Raise the vehicle on a hoist. 1. To assist in removing the upper attachment on shock absorbers using a plastic dust tube, place an open end wrench on the hex stamped into the dust tube's metal cap. For shock absorbers with a steel dust tube, simply grasp the tube to prevent stud rotation when loosening the retaining nut.

1. Remove the shock absorber retaining nut, washer, and insulator assembly from the stud on the upper side of the frame. Discard nut. Compress the shock absorber to clear the hole in the frame, and remove the inner insulator and washer from the upper retaining stud.
2. Remove the self-locking retaining nut, and disconnect the shock absorber lower stud from the mounting bracket on the rear axle tube.
3. Perform Shock Absorber Checks. Refer to Section 04-00 to determine shock absorbers performance.

Installation

1. Properly prime the new shock absorber . Refer to Section 04-00 , Shock Absorber Checks.

1. Place the inner washer and rear spring insulator (5536) on the upper retaining stud, and position the shock absorber so that the upper retaining stud enters the hole in the frame. While holding the shock absorber in this position, install a new rear spring insulator , washer and nut assembly on the upper side of the upper frame. Be sure to seat the rear spring insulator in the frame attaching hole. Tighten nut to 34-46 Nm (25-34 lb-ft).

1. Extend the shock absorber , and place the lower stud in the mounting bracket hole on the rear axle assembly housing. Install a new self-locking retaining nut. Tighten nut to 76.5-103.5 Nm (56-76 lb-ft).

1. Lower vehicle.

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Arm Lower
Removal
Refer to the illustration in Description and Operation. NOTE: To improve rear axle assembly noise and vibration concerns, the rear suspension should be fastened to the frame and rear axle assembly at the curb height position.
NOTE: If one rear suspension lower arm requires replacement, also replace the opposite rear suspension lower arm .
WARNING: TURN REAR SUSPENSION LEVELER COMPRESSOR SWITCH OFF (IF SO EQUIPPED).
NOTE: If both rear suspension arm and bushings and both rear suspension lower arms are to be removed at the same time, remove both rear springs as outlined under Rear Spring Removal. For air spring removal, refer to Section 04-05 .

1. Mark rear suspension shock absorber relative to protective sleeve with the vehicle in a static, level ground condition.

1. Remove rear stabilizer bar as outlined.

1. Raise the vehicle on a hoist, and place jackstands under the rear axle assembly . Refer to Section 00-02 .

1. Lower the hoist until the shock absorbers are fully extended to relieve rear spring pressure.

1. Support rear axle assembly under differential pinion nose as well as under rear axle assembly .

1. Remove and discard the lower arm pivot bolt and nut from the axle bracket. Then, disengage the rear suspension lower arm from the bracket.

1. Remove and discard the pivot bolt and nut from the frame bracket, and remove the rear suspension lower arm .

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Upper
Removal
SPECIAL SERVICE TOOL(S) REQUIRED Description Tool Number Suspension Bushing Service Set T79P-5638-A1, A2 and A5 Rear Axle Control Arm Bushing Tools T86P-5638-AH
WARNING: TURN OFF REAR SUSPENSION LEVELER COMPRESSOR SWITCH (IF SO EQUIPPED).

1. Raise the vehicle, and support the frame side rails with jackstands. Refer to Section 00-02 .
2. Support the rear axle assembly .
3. Lower the rear axle assembly , and support the rear axle assembly under differential pinion nose as well as under rear axle assembly .
4. Unsnap parking brake rear cable and conduit from upper arm retainer.
5. Remove and discard the nut and bolt retaining the rear suspension arm and bushing to the rear axle assembly housing. Disconnect the rear suspension arm and bushing from the housing.
6. Remove and discard the nut and bolt that secures the rear suspension arm and bushing to the frame bracket, and remove the rear suspension arm and bushing . If upper arm rear bushing is to be replaced, use Suspension Bushing Service Set T79P-5638-A and Rear Axle Control Arm Bushing Tools T86P-5638-AH and the following procedure:
7. Place the upper arm rear bushing remover tool in position, and pull bushing out. Using Suspension Bushing Service Set T79P-5638-A install bushing assembly into bushing ear of rear axle assembly.

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Stabilizer Bar
WARNING: TURN OFF REAR SUSPENSION LEVELER COMPRESSOR SWITCH (IF SO EQUIPPED).
Removal

1. Raise vehicle on hoist, and place jackstands under the frame side rails. Refer to Section 00-02 .

1. Lower the hoist and rear axle assembly housing until the shock absorbers are fully extended.

1. Disconnect rear stabilizer bars from rear stabilizer bar link and bushing (5C488) . Remove bolts and stabilizer bar bracket (5486) retaining rear stabilizer bar to rear axle assembly .

Hi,
This could be a combination of things. I'll suggest them and see how you go.

The tyre pressures have the most effect on road noise. Strangely there is more transmitted noise when tyre pressures are correct. Under inflation cuases a cushioning effect, whereas over inflation can make the tyre profile balloon reducing road contact.
Check that they are in limit.

Tyre tread profile can produce a humm if there are straight lateral bars. Good designs use offset bars to reduce this effect.

Cover any loadspace, and ensure sound deadening panels are in place.

Shock absorber top and bottom bushes come in different relilliancies. Hard provide tighter handling - but allow more road noise, soft absorbs noise, but allows more roll.
These bushes harden over time - thus transmitting more noise.

Shock absorber seals can swell enough to make a shock "sticky" - thus transmitting more noise.

Other suspension bushes likewise harden and become more solid with age.

So, - If it is bothering you, Check tyre pressure and condition. Cover loadspace with sound deadening material - A rubber mat in the boot works wonders.
Inspect rear shocks for wear/ corrosion.
Remove and replace bushes with new.
Replace shocks with new if required.
Inspect suspension bushes, & replace if cracked or perished.

This should solve the problems for you.