Hotchkis Springs + Stock Struts = Underdamping

[Diogenio]

I recently replaced my GTs stock springs w/ Hotchkis and added a Progress rear sway bar. Yikes! The handling has improved GREATLY...but the suspension system is now seriously underdamped. It is obvious the stock struts cannot handle the increased spring rate of the Hochkis, and I'd imagine the same for just about any other lowering spring as well. On smooth roads, handling is excellent; it corners with much higher G force, remaining flat and predictable through tight turns. I can finally get some rear end drift! The ride quality is excellent as well. But get on a CA highway, where there are numerous shallow "dips" in the road surface, the car bobs up and down like a trampoline. This characteristic is pretty ugly, and typical of an underdamped system. The springs are so strong that they rebound up with insufficient damping and the result is the trampoline "bobbing" effect. This is typically eliminated through the application of stronger shocks and struts, ala Koni or Bilstein. The worst part is that nobody yet makes a stronger strut for these cars...uunbelievable! Koni's website indicates that their adjustable sport shocks are in the works, but "TBA." I strongly suggest that we Vibers all contact Koni and suggest that they come out with their Vibe p/n, so that we will be saved from this curse. I don't know how you guys feel about this situation, but I consider it pretty sucky, not having any shock options to set this thing right. It takes a lot of the fun out of having better springs...DennisSan Diego

[damronjr]

Hey, Dennis, good to hear you finally got the springs done. I ended up switching assemblies with another guy and he took my Eibach's. I definitely agree with you about the strut problem, and some guys over on MO have been talking about the Koni thing too. Apparently it has been a while though since they began "talking" about it, but nothing has yet to be created. Looks like it might be a while as apparently there isn't much of a market for Vibes and everyone is scared to build stuff for it.

[Diogenio]

Hi Jason...yeah, I finally got a day to work on the car. For handling improvement, the Hochkis springs have done EXACTLY what I wanted. That 350 lb rear spring + Progress bar have made the Vibe handle much more like a RWD car, similar to the Alfa Romeos I'm used to! The constant bouncing over highway dips is a real drag however, as the Vibe was to be my everyday "comfort" car, with the Alfas setup hard for really spirited driving.I'm not sure if I want to wait for the Koni's...and see if they can tune out the underdamped rears. In theory, a stronger shock should take care of this problem, but that remains to be seen. I'll probably end up getting the Eibachs or Teins and sacrifice a bit of the superior handling with the Hotchkis. If I didn't have the Alfas to sport around in, I'd probably keep the Vibe on the stiff side. But, as I mentioned, this was to be a "mild" performance upgrade on the Vibe and I think I went a bit overboard.Let's rally at the park again and you can drive my GT to see what I'm talking about. It corners WAY different now...even on the crap 16" Connies!

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by Diogenio »Let's rally at the park again and you can drive my GT to see what I'm talking about. It corners WAY different now...even on the crap 16" Connies!Just let me know when!

[Psychobroker]

Let me know too and I'll run down there. I've got the same setup w/ Hotchkis springs. Hmm, I wonder if HOTCHKIS would ever be interested in making struts?

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by Psychobroker »Let me know too and I'll run down there. I've got the same setup w/ Hotchkis springs. Hmm, I wonder if HOTCHKIS would ever be interested in making struts?If he gets back to me I'll let you know! You should come to the Matrix meet on the 7th too if you can. I'm usually the only Vibe there. Dug went to the first meet, I was the only Vibe at the 2nd.

[Psychobroker]

Crud, I'll be out of town this weekend As for struts, I sent an email to Hotchkis -- let's see what they say.

[myredrs]

I got the same setup and I was thinking the same thing also. The springs have imporved handling. Also the pot holes here are horrible on this setup. I'm afraid that something is going to blow when I go over one.