Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Your Suspension But Were Afraid to Ask!!!

[JusticePete]

You are probably getting the impression that we are rather passionate about our work at Pedders. I want to be clear that our bits for the LX are not just for the track. Our bits are designed to be street civil and perform on the track. Every LX ever built should have a Pedders Bumpsteer Correction Kit (EP2113). It makes a stunning difference and the cost factor is minimal.

Every LX ever built should have Pedders Sub-Frame Connector Bushes (EP1172) installed. The kit isn't cheap and installation is a MAJOR project. That will limit the number of people who resolve the rear end step out.

Your local Pedders Dealer will work with you, within the constraints of your budget and needs to select the right bits for the way you drive. From under $100 to a complete suspension swap at roughly $5.5K and every where in between.

[dms]

If you are in teh central/northern Ca, and you lwant to know how good your LX can drive, we have a vehicle for you to test in Fairfield. the pre-road test indicated all the classic concerns on a great suspension system, that has been "reduced" from merceded European AMG standards down to a car for the grammas. The back end was especially twitchy, and felt like it was, and it turned out it was, moving in a different direction than the body. Plus it had some serious body role. This unit was an ex rental car with 17k on it. We put the Pedders Track II sysgtem on it, and found all the things that Pete mentioned were a concern on this vehicle. Now it handles like a beast.

for those of you who are drag racing, auto crossing, canyon running, or just doing very spirited driving, your stock suspension, will not work to your bst advantage. Pedders has all the solutions for you. pedders has performance bushings for almost every bush in the car. With matching springs, struts and shocks, and even custom made adjustable sway bars to match the handling of the pedders suspension, you will not find a better, more complete suspension package anywhere.

so if you are interested in making your beast of a ride, into a handling beast of a ride, and want to see what it can do, then contact me and we can arrange a private roadtest for you
thanks
mike
dms

[dms]

Here is info I have posted on the Charger side of this forum for a LX get together on March 30th. You will be able to see the bush concerns on your lx and see solutions. You will also be able to road test a fully Pedderised 300.


Guys

The Fairfeild event is still on for the 30th, which is Sunday. This will give those of you the opportunity to do the Goodguys on Saturday. Sunday at the Goodguys is not much of an event. have been there for years. I will be there to meet all of you and say hi. Is there a area that all of you will be at??

FINALLY, I have a LX product for all of you to roadtest. Today, I just finished 1 of 2 training LX installs that I will have done before the 30th. The first one, a Hemi 300, turned out fantastic. Our inital test drive with 17-18k miles with 18 inch OEM tires, felt very disconnected in teh bacvk end. A tuypical feel for the LX produc t when pushing it hard. Felt like the rear had "orbital steering" This means you go thru the twisties, and the rear feel like it is traveling not vertical, but in a oval. this is primarily due to the lack of performance design on the rear cradle mounts. Plus the body role was significant.

We installed a TRACK II system, which is basically all springs/shocks-struts, and alsmost every bushing in the entire vehicle; about 30-32 of them. Plus on top of that, we installed a custom made, tuned front and rear adjsutable sway bar that is made specifically to complement our Track II system. Our system also makes the front and rear complete adjsutable alignments front and rear. This system goes WAY beyond anything that is out there now. Do not take my word for it. I can arrange a test drive for you to prove my claim

Now that I have some parts, I want to do 1 more TRACKII system to someone on this forum who is very active in the forum. This will be my 2nd training vehicle that I personally supervise to certify the shop. You will get 50% off parts and labor for this install.

This would be your obligation:
1. Must be at the event to show off your car
2. Must be willing to give a test drive or 2 if asked so guys can experience your control and handling.
3. Must be active on the forum
4. Must give a very accurate and honest experience and description of the before and after driving.
5. the week of March 24th, you must allow us to have your L car for 2-3 days, strating sometime between the 25th, and the 28th

Why am I doing this? The Track II system is a very complciated install and will take 2-3 days. For me to certify the shop, I want them to do 2 of them uncder my direct training and supervision, which is one on one.

Go to the pedders web site at: Pedders Suspension

then go to solutions, the Chrysler, and scroll down to look at the Track II system.

If you still are a skeptic, I can arrange a private road test so you can see and feel exactly what I am talking about.

We can set up your alignment for drag racing, road racing, street performance. Our system allows lots of camber adjustability front and rear. Drag racing is set up quite different that road racing or auto crossing. Also, did I mention our sway bars are adjustable front and rear??

So go ahead and be a skeptic. Challenge me to a verifying road test with our first Hemi 300. You will not beleive how good it is.

So if you are interested in being my second training car, email me and we can chat

thanks
mike
dms
__________________

[JusticePete]

Mike needs TWO cars. One in Fairfield and One in Vegas.

[dms]

Originally Posted by davidtx

Please don't misinterpret my post. I like your writeup and am interested in your product. But...its also very expensive and new to this market. Hearing from the luminaries on this site would go a long way towards improving my comfort level.

Tim - thanks for the other names, I knew there were others I was missing, but was having a "senior moment". I had dinner with Grinner this week and got to hear some good Meister stories, so I didn't even have an excuse there...

-david

David,

We are not upset or concerned about all of you wanting to be careful. You should be. suspension work is pricy. We had the same concerns in the GTO community when we introduced Pedders then. To introduce our product to the great community, we start out with one on one training with our Pedders dealers. Have no doubt, the suspension system on the LX is extrmely involved and complicated. We are dealing with 30-32 bushings and none of them were designed to come out from Chrysler. So we offer very special and deep discounts to the training vehicles, which are then associated with a Pedders event. The we do the 28 point Pedders inspection with you and we see how your suspension is holding up. Then we show you our solutions, then let you go on a road test with a Pedderized vehicle. have no doubt, within 2-3 months, everyone on all the LX forums will know Pedders!
To me, it shows great respect and intelligence on this commnity asking questions, and wanting others to be involved in evaluatations. We TOTALLY welcome that and insist on it and want it.

So show care, be open minded. Next month or inventory should be starting to flow in. Some of our bits are still very limited but Au is working really hard to get everything taken care of for us.

So I welcome EVERY LX owner to chat with me, road test with me, let me show you what your LX can do. You will be blown away.

Find a pedders dealer and check it out. go to their events, roadtest their cars.

mike
dms

[dms]

Originally Posted by joey

From my memory bog from another thread, doesn't the whole kit cost in the $7k range, or was it $5k? And then add the cost of the install, maybe 8 hours x $100 = $800. While the kit is beautiful and probably performs up to expectations, that is serious pocket change to plunk down.

Joey,

I am new to this particular forum, and i canno seem to get accerss to sending an email Pete said you might be interested in our Track II for our training vehicle I have emailed admin for assistance. But in the interrum, you can email me at michael.white24@comcas.net, and we can arragne to get together on this. Time is running out.

Mike
dms

[DanRealtor]

You asked for my opinion? Here it is:

The Pedders products do look to be first rate. I did go to Anthem Motors in Phoenix for the "Pedders Day" a couple of months ago. I was mostly intersted in picking up the parts necessary to be able to adjust the Caster & Camber on my car. I did get a chance to meet the nice man from down under (sorry, I'm bad with names) and I did get a chance to ride in, and drive their Pedderized car.

In all fairness to them, I really could not give a fair review, since their car is a relatively stock RT and my daily driver (with 86,000+ not so gentle miles) is an SRT.

At the time they quoted me about $5700 for bushings installed, and they were not willing to sell me the parts to add the camber adjustment to my car. So for me, it was a wasted trip. I do understand their rationale: With their product being new to our platform they wanted to make sure that the installs were perfect, performed by people they trained, to make sure that all of the initial reviews were accurate. As in, not selling parts to someone who screws up the install, than posts everywhere that the product sucks. Still, I left empty handed. Oh well.

I did speak with Pete at the Spring Festival and he assured me that in the not too distant future, parts would be available for me.

As far as suspension goes: When I got my car I was astounded at how well it drove with the stock SRT suspension as were the many cars I flew by on the Infineon road course (Porsches, Vettes, Bimmers....). I thought it was perfect.

Then I inherited a Hotchkis front swaybar. Wow. Much tighter, with less body roll. Eventually I added the rear Hotchkis sway bar. Wow again. Then I got a smokin' deal on some KW V1's and added those. After MUCH trial and error (and advice from Meister) I got the ride height perfect all the way around. DAAAAYUUUUUM!!! The combo is killer. Practically no body roll. Well, since perfect is never as good as it gets, I bought a DC Sport strut tower brace. Another noticeable improvement.

Combined with my Toyo Proxes 4's (245/45's up front and 275/40's in back) my car sits FLAT while cornering and is still very user friendly (just ask HalV48 & his wife who "Enjoyed" a spirited ride back from Cali with me yesterday. I swear I kept it under 160 the whole way!)

In the not too distant future I hope to get Camber adjustability, if not from Pedders, then from someone else, so I can finish dialing in my car.

Before I'd throw down on the full Pedders Bushing package I'd have to feel the difference between two RT's or two SRT's, one with and one without to be able to really judge the difference. In no way am I doubting their claims, and I have seen their first rate products in person. But for me, the results are what count. I bet I'd be even FASTER on the road courses with their bushings!

BTW: I was THE Fastest LX at Fontana last Spring Fling, and THE fastest LX on the ROval in December, and that was without their bushings. If someone with their bushings beats me on a road course, you bet I'll be putting them in ASAP!!!!


I hope the Pedders guys don't mind me telling it like I see it. Those that know me know that's what I always do.

I wonder what MY bushings look like after 86,000+ not so gentle miles???

[davidtx]

Thanks for the great writeup!

-david

[dms]

Originally Posted by DanRealtor

You asked for my opinion? Here it is:

The Pedders products do look to be first rate. I did go to Anthem Motors in Phoenix for the "Pedders Day" a couple of months ago. I was mostly intersted in picking up the parts necessary to be able to adjust the Caster & Camber on my car. I did get a chance to meet the nice man from down under (sorry, I'm bad with names) and I did get a chance to ride in, and drive their Pedderized car.

In all fairness to them, I really could not give a fair review, since their car is a relatively stock RT and my daily driver (with 86,000+ not so gentle miles) is an SRT.

At the time they quoted me about $5700 for bushings installed, and they were not willing to sell me the parts to add the camber adjustment to my car. So for me, it was a wasted trip. I do understand their rationale: With their product being new to our platform they wanted to make sure that the installs were perfect, performed by people they trained, to make sure that all of the initial reviews were accurate. As in, not selling parts to someone who screws up the install, than posts everywhere that the product sucks. Still, I left empty handed. Oh well.

I did speak with Pete at the Spring Festival and he assured me that in the not too distant future, parts would be available for me.

As far as suspension goes: When I got my car I was astounded at how well it drove with the stock SRT suspension as were the many cars I flew by on the Infineon road course (Porsches, Vettes, Bimmers....). I thought it was perfect.

Then I inherited a Hotchkis front swaybar. Wow. Much tighter, with less body roll. Eventually I added the rear Hotchkis sway bar. Wow again. Then I got a smokin' deal on some KW V1's and added those. After MUCH trial and error (and advice from Meister) I got the ride height perfect all the way around. DAAAAYUUUUUM!!! The combo is killer. Practically no body roll. Well, since perfect is never as good as it gets, I bought a DC Sport strut tower brace. Another noticeable improvement.

Combined with my Toyo Proxes 4's (245/45's up front and 275/40's in back) my car sits FLAT while cornering and is still very user friendly (just ask HalV48 & his wife who "Enjoyed" a spirited ride back from Cali with me yesterday. I swear I kept it under 160 the whole way!)

In the not too distant future I hope to get Camber adjustability, if not from Pedders, then from someone else, so I can finish dialing in my car.

Before I'd throw down on the full Pedders Bushing package I'd have to feel the difference between two RT's or two SRT's, one with and one without to be able to really judge the difference. In no way am I doubting their claims, and I have seen their first rate products in person. But for me, the results are what count. I bet I'd be even FASTER on the road courses with their bushings!

BTW: I was THE Fastest LX at Fontana last Spring Fling, and THE fastest LX on the ROval in December, and that was without their bushings. If someone with their bushings beats me on a road course, you bet I'll be putting them in ASAP!!!!


I hope the Pedders guys don't mind me telling it like I see it. Those that know me know that's what I always do.

I wonder what MY bushings look like after 86,000+ not so gentle miles???

We will will have 2 alternative methods of doing rear cambers in the back end very soon. You did hit it on the mark: The LX suspension is one of the most technical suspension systems out there. Only if the left the Mercedes/AMG touch to the bushes, joints, shocks, et, then you wuld have a absolute killer SRT8. Bu alla you have the same compnonets, less shocks and springs, as grammas LX.

It is also wise to do a before/after before making a desicion. We at Pedders encourage this!!. I have done it now, and the results on a SRT8 are fantastic. Every SRT8 I have driven (3) have all been driven very hard, and all had very bad rear cradle mount bushes and torn strut rod bushes. With the cradle mount bushes a problem, the back end will feel like it is disconnected becasue it is moving independanlty of the body. OT me, I have been describing it as a orbital steering in the rear, meaning, when you hit a bump in a corner, the back end feels like it is moving in an orbit. The bushings in your SRT8 re not really meant to be removed and we have VERY specific ways to remove them. Some of them are pretty complicated and if not done correclty, will not only make you unhappy, but the worlkd will know you are unhappy because it hits the forums. Not until the name Pedders becomes a household name like it is with GTO, will we loosen up our policies.

I think Anthem misquoted you for the bushing kit and install and it is not all ther fault. Traditionally corporate sets up the menus, does the time studieds, ect, and gives that info you to the dealers. For a bush install only, that has just recently been done by me and no one has as of yet recieved the latest Peddes menu stuff because we are double checking the data to make sure it is correct. Not knowing their labor rate, I would estiamte a compelte bush install all around and a custom align with all parts and labor should be in the $2600 to 2700 range there in Phoenix. I may be there next week at a new Pedders dealer in Chandler. We will be doing 2 LX vehicles most likely from the 26-28, in prep for the big event on the 29th. I would be glad to keep in communication with you so you can see what is involved, meet me, chat with me, and hopefully go on a post test drive.

One of the things getting involved as much as I have with the LX community, is that the KW product really has a love/hat relationship. But to be honest, before we hit the market, you really did not have any other high quality shock/spring combo out there. The Other major brand, I will not mention, I have turned down 2 training install tests becasue I do not like them and do not want poeple use these vehicles as the first evaluation of Pedders. The KW are very harsh, good for track, but lots of guys have taken them off becasue the ride quality is not what they wnat. This is ultamately a personal decision. I have removed 2 sets of KWs for our Pedders stuff.

But again, if you want to see an actual install, email me a contact method, and if customs could ever bless us and give us our shipment that is in port, we can make final decisions.

But if you really think you SRT8 is good now, drive it with a full Pedders bush package with alignemnt kits, and you will be amazed.

mike
dms

Owe, and by the way, if we have time, and we can connect next week, I would be glad to give you a compelentry Pedders 28 point inspection, and we can both look at your bushings together. Is that a deal??

mike

[diegochrysler]

Dan,

As always good right up and thanks for your input! I'm in the middle of deciding what suspension and so forth to put on my 300 SRT8.

Ryan