Hotchkis for the AWD
05-29-2012, 09:12 PM
#31
Alright guys now for the review, I've had the sways for a month now and I notice a great difference switching from the stocks to Hotchkis. I am running the stiffest setting in the front and medium in the rear. I feel more connected to the road now, I will not go as far as saying that it handles like a dream and like my 08 sport coupe but its good for what it is and I feel it is money well spent.
There is one variable that gbest03 brought up a while back and that is involving tires, the handling on my car has improved significantly however the tires are holding the performance back. I am able to take sharp turns, however right in to the turn my stock all season tires give out and start squealing. I HIGHLY recommend using sport tires if possible and if you have a spare winter set.
As far as handling and value factor goes, I am extremely happy to have paid for this mod as if made my car feel a lot less floaty and more intuitive as it should have came from the factory.
There is one variable that gbest03 brought up a while back and that is involving tires, the handling on my car has improved significantly however the tires are holding the performance back. I am able to take sharp turns, however right in to the turn my stock all season tires give out and start squealing. I HIGHLY recommend using sport tires if possible and if you have a spare winter set.
As far as handling and value factor goes, I am extremely happy to have paid for this mod as if made my car feel a lot less floaty and more intuitive as it should have came from the factory.
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Mattlorentzoe (09-12-2015)
05-30-2012, 08:21 AM
#33
Administrator
iTrader: (9)
Was the suspension on your 08 RWD Sport Coupe original equipment?
05-30-2012, 11:17 PM
#34
Uh oh... this gives me pause, Goonz. I've been loosely planning on an aftermarket swaybar kit for next year, but am concerned about the handling gains as compared to the already excellent sport suspension on the RWD S-Sedan; (which is not at all the same as the AWD car.) And here you are saying the Hotchkis sways are an improvement, but not as good as your 08 Sport Coupe?
Was the suspension on your 08 RWD Sport Coupe original equipment?
Was the suspension on your 08 RWD Sport Coupe original equipment?
05-31-2012, 08:26 AM
#35
Administrator
iTrader: (9)
I may of had a poor choice of words there but my 08 sport coupe had stock suspension, I could only have imagine how awesome my handling would have been with hotchkis installed as well. So to you I would say YES absolutely you should get hotchkis to compliment your sport sedan. You will have a blast with them. Its not bad on the all wheel drive sedan but its really not fair to compare that with the sport sedan obviously.
I agree with the comment about tires... high-performance, summer-only for the Summer; Snows for the winter. Just imagine the confidence you'll have on snow & ice with AWD and snow tires.
06-06-2012, 03:19 PM
#36
Has anyone that installed the sways notice the steering get lighter? I installed them this weekend and even though i can corner at a faster speed the tightness of the steering has diminished.
09-12-2015, 11:19 AM
#37
Alright guys now for the review, I've had the sways for a month now and I notice a great difference switching from the stocks to Hotchkis. I am running the stiffest setting in the front and medium in the rear. I feel more connected to the road now, I will not go as far as saying that it handles like a dream and like my 08 sport coupe but its good for what it is and I feel it is money well spent.
There is one variable that gbest03 brought up a while back and that is involving tires, the handling on my car has improved significantly however the tires are holding the performance back. I am able to take sharp turns, however right in to the turn my stock all season tires give out and start squealing. I HIGHLY recommend using sport tires if possible and if you have a spare winter set.
As far as handling and value factor goes, I am extremely happy to have paid for this mod as if made my car feel a lot less floaty and more intuitive as it should have came from the factory.
There is one variable that gbest03 brought up a while back and that is involving tires, the handling on my car has improved significantly however the tires are holding the performance back. I am able to take sharp turns, however right in to the turn my stock all season tires give out and start squealing. I HIGHLY recommend using sport tires if possible and if you have a spare winter set.
As far as handling and value factor goes, I am extremely happy to have paid for this mod as if made my car feel a lot less floaty and more intuitive as it should have came from the factory.
09-15-2015, 08:05 PM
#39
Registered Member
Would you guys still recommend for to install the Hotchins if I am already dropped on the Swifts ?
Even after the drop I can still fee the rear being a little bouncy. Would the hotchins be too much though?
Any thoughts ?
Even after the drop I can still fee the rear being a little bouncy. Would the hotchins be too much though?
Any thoughts ?
09-15-2015, 08:19 PM
#40
Administrator
iTrader: (9)
12-05-2015, 10:26 AM
#41
Registered User
I'm still so unsure about how to set my Hotchkis sways when they come in on Monday. It appears many have stuck to Hotchkis' recommendation of stiffest front and middle back. I didn't see this recommendation anywhere on the Hotchkis website...maybe someone talked to their customer service? Gbest03, on the other hand, appears to be very happy with softest on front and rear. I live in NJ and our winters/roads can get bad, so I am obviously looking for the best balance of sport and comfort.
12-05-2015, 05:57 PM
#42
Ideally, like all suspension tuning, it's going to be different per car and driver. If done right you would be setting it based on your driving style and the road you would be using the set-up on. In a track situation you would start at the softest setting (or stiffest depending on which school of thought you learned from), drive around the track four or so laps and adjust as needed until you archive your best times when pushing the car to the limit. Sadly I doubt you have the time or track to do this so your going to most likely go with what most people seem to like. So I will throw in my setting for your consideration: Soft in front, stiffest in the rear. In conjunction with my coilover settings (FT500, +8/+11) and spring rates (11kg/9kg) I get a pretty neutral handling car that so far does what I want it to do when I want it to. If they preloaded right then they are not hard to change the settings on with just a pair of wrenches.
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yonith (12-05-2015)
12-06-2015, 10:55 PM
#44
Installed mine last Friday. Stuff in the back seat slides from door to door all the time now. Good stuff.
Set to stiffest in the front and middle for the rear.
No decrease in comfort. Car feels better overall.
Set to stiffest in the front and middle for the rear.
No decrease in comfort. Car feels better overall.
12-06-2015, 10:58 PM
#45
Registered User