Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

Hotchkis Springs Comments Please..

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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 08:57 AM
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Hotchkis Springs Comments Please..

Anyone out there using them? They advertise a 1" drop. Looking to replace my 15 year old springs on my 89 GTA. A little drop especially in the front would be nice..let me know. I want it to handle just as good as now..or better.

Thanks
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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 09:07 AM
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Car: 91Z
Engine: 355/afr/sr/lpe219
Transmission: built 700R
Steve, get the Eibach springs!! I have the Hotchkis and I hate them!! The front is slammed while the rear is too high still. I swear the front end came down 2.5 inches, and the rear dropped mabey half an inch. I don't recommend them at all. If you really want them, I will sell mine later in the spring most likely.
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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 09:12 AM
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That doesn't sound good at all. Got any pics to post?
Thanks for the info
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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 10:39 AM
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Car: 91Z
Engine: 355/afr/sr/lpe219
Transmission: built 700R
No pics. I actually have two under the readers rides, but they make the drop look good ? If you were to see the mismatch in person you would understand much better.
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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 10:41 AM
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From: Ottawa
Car: 91Z
Engine: 355/afr/sr/lpe219
Transmission: built 700R
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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 11:26 AM
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with sportlines, i did these last year and this is about a week after , so they havent settled, nor do i know if they do settle, but im gonna cut a half coil off so it sits lower in the rear.
Attached Thumbnails Hotchkis Springs Comments Please..-lowed-pic-big-brighten.jpg  
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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 12:13 PM
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FYI, I cut a 1/2 coil off a stock F41 NNL rear spring that had 100k on it, flattened it out like stock, installed it and it dropped only a 1/2 to 5/8 inch.
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Old Mar 16, 2004 | 07:31 PM
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Car: 86 LG4 & 92 TBI Firebird
Engine: The Mighty 305!
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
My Hotchkis springs were at first 3/4" front and 1.5" rear lower then the stock WS6 springs. I think they are a bit lower now that they are a few years old.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 06:32 AM
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From: Ottawa
Car: 91Z
Engine: 355/afr/sr/lpe219
Transmission: built 700R
Justins86, are you happy with them?? Mabey I got a bad set.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 10:26 AM
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Originally posted by 91wtROH17's
Justins86, are you happy with them?? Mabey I got a bad set.
Did you make sure that they sat in the perch the right way. Also did you reuse the stock isolators and make sure that they were on right? These two things can drastically effect the way your car looks when you change or tamper springs.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 11:31 AM
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From: Albuquerque, NM
Car: 1966 El Camino Custom
Engine: 350
Transmission: 200R4
Axle/Gears: 3:73 12 bolt with Brute Strength
I have the Global West springs. Helped with the corners but I lost a little on the launches. I would recommend a Lower control arm bracket kit from Spohn, Global West, etc. to bring the geometry back in line. Car stays lowered but then it will hook. It will be my next chassis mod.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 11:47 AM
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I know everyone is first to blame the suspension geometry but isn't the launch hurt because of the stiffer spring rates on the rear and the fact that the energy is transferred to the ground sooner instead of being 'eaten' by the springs...hmmm I'm sure the LCA brackets will help though..
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 12:25 PM
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From: Ottawa
Car: 91Z
Engine: 355/afr/sr/lpe219
Transmission: built 700R
Did you make sure that they sat in the perch the right way. Also did you reuse the stock isolators and make sure that they were on right? These two things can drastically effect the way your car looks when you change or tamper springs.
They are deff. in the right way and I did use the stock isolators, I used some electrical tape to hold them to the spring to make sure the isolator would stay put.
I just don't like the way they feel, not as tight as I would have liked!! I should have gotten the eibach's to begin with.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 12:46 PM
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From: Orange County,NY
Car: 1982 Z28
Engine: 355
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 12 Bolt
I have had them in for 5 years now with no problems..droped me about an 1" lower than stock worn out '82 springs.Handling is far improved..with stock sway bars..can't wait to upgrade them
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 12:57 PM
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hmmm, 91 it seems you are the only one who's had problems with them. Is the rear stock in your car? Perhaps you should have a look at those isolators..
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 01:26 PM
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From: Ottawa
Car: 91Z
Engine: 355/afr/sr/lpe219
Transmission: built 700R
OK guy's, I am very picky when it comes to the look of the car!! The isolators and the rest of the install is perfect!! The front dropped at least 2.5 inches, no ****!!! The stance for me is not the only problem though, I find that are not tight enough. So in the end I am saying Hotchkis springs are better than stock for sure, but for the same price you can get the proven eibachs!! I am just givin you a heads up.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 01:59 PM
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From: Ottawa
Car: 91Z
Engine: 355/afr/sr/lpe219
Transmission: built 700R
See it's not too bad, but the front end is sitting rite on the bump stops!! If I were to remove those little rubber mounts(bum stops) the front would sit even lower.

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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 02:02 PM
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wow, something has to be wrong there...doesn't it ride like sheeeiitt if it sits on the stops!?!?!??!

Thanks for you input thus far..
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 02:23 PM
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From: Ottawa
Car: 91Z
Engine: 355/afr/sr/lpe219
Transmission: built 700R
It does ride like ****, that's why I hate the springs!! The front end gives me a headache, and the rears I find soft. If you can beleive it. The car still handles like crazy though, I have 285's out back and KYB all around as well as LCA's, relocation brackets, strut brace, spohn pan hard rod(ajustable), and prob. other stuff I am forgetting....I can't wait to get my torque arm and SFC's!! To answer a question you had earlier, yes the rear is stock.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 03:29 PM
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Car: 1966 El Camino Custom
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Transmission: 200R4
Axle/Gears: 3:73 12 bolt with Brute Strength
Originally posted by Steve89GTA
I know everyone is first to blame the suspension geometry but isn't the launch hurt because of the stiffer spring rates on the rear and the fact that the energy is transferred to the ground sooner instead of being 'eaten' by the springs...hmmm I'm sure the LCA brackets will help though..
I bet your right. I even guess that the bigger contributer to the lesser launch is the stiffer rate on the front. The stiffer rate keeps the front end from transfering weight to the rear. Not a huge issue for me because I enjoy autocross rather than a cruise down the 1320 but I still need good bite out of the corners.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 06:58 PM
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Car: 86 LG4 & 92 TBI Firebird
Engine: The Mighty 305!
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Originally posted by 91wtROH17's
Justins86, are you happy with them?? Mabey I got a bad set.
Yep. I reused the old rubber isolators too.

There should be a p/n on the rear springs somewhere.
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Old Mar 17, 2004 | 09:26 PM
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Car: '88 Formula
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: T-5... in need of slight rebuild
Here is a recent pic of my Hotchkis springs. They've been installed for about 3 years, sat in the shed for over a year, and have been back in use for 8 months now. I like them but don't have anything to compare against.

There is about a finger width of space between the frame and the front bumpstops, much more in the rear. I reused the isolators, about 95k miles. The rear springs fell a bit soft for me, the fronts feel about right. I would probably try the Eibachs or some other selection from a place that sells race springs so I can mix and match. But that's just so I can try something different, not because I dislike the hotchkis.
Attached Thumbnails Hotchkis Springs Comments Please..-3-14-6b.jpg  

Last edited by slowTA; Mar 17, 2004 at 09:33 PM.
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