User impressions of Hotchkis TVS (Coils and Sway Bars)

[HEMEEE]

Originally Posted by Tmagnum

Here's company!!! Hehehe

Thanks for the right up sorbs it's really very refreshing to know that I made the right decision.

I and another Magnum friend, OzzieGuy, both bought our TVS kits at the recent Hotchkis Open House and as Vinny would say; "We gotta deal we couldn't refuse". I haven't got the system installed yet as the shop that Hotchkis referred us to is waiting for a tech to come out and re-calibrate their allignment bay.

After reading your post I can't wait. Hopefully sometime next week. I'll post an update after the install.

You're not company Tom, you're family... even if you don't visit much, ya don't write much, ya don't call... but hey, that's another story! Glad to hear you guys got the Hotchkis kits too, hopefully you'll both have them installed before the January meet. (Which reminds me, I still need to email you guys about the committee meeting on the 8th, but that too is another story ) So just in case you didn't see it, I did a write-up as well and so did FastEd ... a little more reading to whet your appetite before the install and to go along with the next set of pics that sorbs is gonna post for us.

We'll look forward to your update!

[joey]

Guess I'll ask here.

My opinion of the stock 300c ride is a lot of road shock gets transmitted to the cabin. I feel like I am tossed out of my seat when driving over road imperfections/humps in the road. No other car I have ever driven feels this way.

I am looking for a modification that will get rid of this road shock.
I want a much better feel for the road, where the wheel will keep contact with the road when driving over bumps.
It feels like the wheels are bouncing over bumps, which gets mostly transmitted to the cabin.

Do any of these mods, Coils/Sway Bars fix the bouncy shock ridden ride?

[HEMEEE]

Originally Posted by joey

Guess I'll ask here.

My opinion of the stock 300c ride is a lot of road shock gets transmitted to the cabin. I feel like I am tossed out of my seat when driving over road imperfections/humps in the road. No other car I have ever driven feels this way.

I am looking for a modification that will get rid of this road shock.
I want a much better feel for the road, where the wheel will keep contact with the road when driving over bumps.
It feels like the wheels are bouncing over bumps, which gets mostly transmitted to the cabin.

Do any of these mods, Coils/Sway Bars fix the bouncy shock ridden ride?

Joey, firstly if you feel the wheels are losing contact with the road, be sure your tire pressure is not too high.
Barring that, most definitely yes... the TVS kit will help, especially the larger anti-sway bars, which will address wheel hop or lift, rear break-away, body roll, wandering and high speed instability.

(...and did I mention it looks great too?)

[sorbs]

Originally Posted by joey

Guess I'll ask here.

My opinion of the stock 300c ride is a lot of road shock gets transmitted to the cabin. I feel like I am tossed out of my seat when driving over road imperfections/humps in the road. No other car I have ever driven feels this way.

I am looking for a modification that will get rid of this road shock.
I want a much better feel for the road, where the wheel will keep contact with the road when driving over bumps.
It feels like the wheels are bouncing over bumps, which gets mostly transmitted to the cabin.

Do any of these mods, Coils/Sway Bars fix the bouncy shock ridden ride?

Hi joey, over railroad tracks or whoops in the road I would feel loose. Haven't been over tracks yet but there is a couple of whoops on a nice 80MPH straight on my way home that in the past made me feel not in total control. Not anymore! Also, I used to bottom out coming through this particular patch of road. Not anymore. It is like a new car and I didn't lose the supple ride quality either.

Something of note about this kit. The hood and trunk are now level. No more rake at the tail.

[Tmagnum]

Thanks HEMEEE, I got all misty eyed. With the group of LX's we've all come to meet it truley does feel like family.

I read your write up and again I truley feel comfortable with my choice and decision. I too had a lot of questions while at their open house and of course my biggest concern was losing the ride I enjoy now. After all the car does weigh 4300 friggin pounds. But they assured me, and by these two write ups, it's obviously true.

Pics coming as soon as the install is done, hopefully next week sometime.

[joey]

Thanks for the feedback Hemee and Sorbs. After posting my question, I did some forum searching/reading and have decided to first buy the sway bars and see how they feel. I will be ordering the sway bars today. Big-O tires says they will install them for $100.
But I don't have high hopes this will significantly reduce the jarring/bouncy ride, so my next step will probably have to be the KW Coilover Kit with dampers. I am not looking to lower the car, just trying to get a better handling car. If I do lower it, probably not more than 1/2" to 3/4". I got enough trouble scraping bottom today, and hitting curbs.

[Meister]

Originally Posted by sorbs

Since I didn't hear from anyone on this I might as well let myself know what my impressions are after installation...

Great read, sorbs! - both highly enjoyable and informative.

You've just prompted me to not wait for coilovers to install the Hotchkis anti-sways. I'll then be able to report on the individual differences each mod makes.

(That's my excuse; the real reason is I've got a date with some twisties that will no longer wait after reading your M3 account. )

[HEMEEE]

Originally Posted by Meister

Great read, sorbs! - both highly enjoyable and informative.

You've just prompted me to not wait for coilovers to install the Hotchkis anti-sways. I'll then be able to report on the individual differences each mod makes.

(That's my excuse; the real reason is I've got a date with some twisties that will no longer wait after reading your M3 account. )

Sheeesh... been touting this since August, some of you are so hard to convince... prolly cuz I'm just a dumb ol' girl or sumthin'

Okay kidding (kinda), but it will be cool to have an analysis broken down by component, thanks Slick!

[sorbs]

Originally Posted by HEMEEE

Sheeesh... been touting this since August, some of you are so hard to convince... prolly cuz I'm just a dumb ol' girl or sumthin'

Okay kidding (kinda), but it will be cool to have an analysis broken down by component, thanks Slick!

I listened! Glad I did too. This is a must have upgrade. Not sure about the KWs since I won't be on a track riding this regularly but for around town I can't express what an upgrade this is. Completely different vehicle now.

Go here if you want to see a moving transition of the metamorphosis...with music! http://homepage.mac.com/sorbs/iMovieTheater53.html you'll need QuickTime to view it.

[lmhoward]

I'm sold since august Hemee, but my Sweetee is NOT. Perhaps a stealth installation is the way to go. While I dream of going all the way, TVS 1 is what would satisify my driving desires. Let me say the group buys are testing my mettle. I'm getting weaker all the time. Supporting vendors, look for me in the near future. It will be easier to justify a little routine suspension maintainence (sic) over headers, don't you think?