Hotchkis Stage 1 TVS suspension upgrade

[navylife59]

No store yet, but I am working on a business deal to produce some street/strip and full-on race products for the tC. What I have done to my car is nothing special as of yet. That phase fo my Project tC is just now starting. The secret of the 2 batteries will soon be revealed.

My goal is to R&D, build, and begin race course testing these products by the end of Summer. In 14 month my Active Enlistment will be up and I will transfer to Reserves to pursue both of these automotive passions full-time.

[hotrice]

alright well it's not hotchkis but i put the trd rear sway bar on today and have it set on street mode and it handles so much better i can't wait to get my springs and set the sway bar to aggressive and put that bad mam a jam a on the track.

[navylife59]

hotchkis and TRD are similar setups. The hotchkis just rides a lil lower. Don't forget a front strut bar.

[hotrice]

so i tried to put the hotchkis springs on my car tonight and my mechanic is telling me that they won't fit on my stock struts. he is telling me that the rear spring have a minimal gap and that as soon as we put them on the car and lower it that the spring coils will be touching anybody have an 07 with the hotchkis springs?

[navylife59]

Contact Hotchkis. AFAIK it should be the same. I loked at my Son's RS3.0 it looked ident to mine (2005).

[navylife59]

[Nicolasr21]

I have the Hotchkis (wish it was hotchicks!) Stage I TVS springs/roll bars. This is definately worth the money. Perfect for a budget suspension. No sense in wasting those OEM struts. I have the rear sway bar set to the middle and have not installed the front replacement yet. I have the Hotchkis front strut bar and MMW rear strut bar (useless IMAO). I am also rolling on the stock craptenzas. I also have the Hotchkis rear camber links. The front adjustables were not needed as I only had a slight neg. camber.

Car is lowered about 1.8" and rides fairly smooth for being lowered. I have no prob with rubbing or abnormal tire wear. Car drives straight. Definate change in road characteristics of the car. Can easily take corners 10-15MPH faster than stock. I give it two big toes up.

I already had the dealer install my TRD springs.
I just bought the front/back Hotchkis sway bars.
What set up should I ask the dealer to put on the car? What is better?
The entire reason for having this mod is to make the car more stable on turns. I want to take the body roll out!!
I'm on a short budget, but what other part should I invest on in order to improve handling?
Any tips, comment, suggestion greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[hotrice]

well i have put the trd sway bar on a greddy strut bar and hotchkiss springs on and they have all made a dramatic change. i threw some re-07's tires on the ones off the sti and that thing was a beast on the track.

[PhatBeezy]

Okay Navy. I just ordered the Hotchkis Lowering Springs from TRD Sparks and I'm still waiting for them. But I've been reading this forum and noticed that you said I might have to purchase the Hotchkis camber links. I have a 2005 and a little over 48k miles on my OEM struts. Will all this be a problem? Will I have to order the camber links?

[navylife59]

The camber links really won't affect your struts. Although you do want your entire suspension system in geometric alignment to reduce wear on suspension components, it is mainly for tire wear. There are many people who run without them. It is my recommendation for tire wear and overall handling performance that you do install these. This can be done at a later date, while end up costing you another alignment. Follow my adage, "Do it right the first time".

[pwee08]

so i also wanna get hotchkis lowering springs but i know jack of springs any one can explain the whole setup...i dont know nothing.... i look at the picture pointing out the pieces but wasn't very legible..

[navylife59]

Please ask specific questions as I am not sure what you do and don't understand.

[Soulbane]

I'm confused Navy, if i get the springs, sways, and camber links installed, wont I have to drive the vehicle around for a while for the springs to set in, THEN get the alignment.

Essentially what I'm asking is, don't I have to get an alignment at a later date anyways?

[pwee08]

Please ask specific questions as I am not sure what you do and don't understand.

all i kno is i wanna lower my car and yep thats bout it =/

[bwood87]

all i kno is i wanna lower my car and yep thats bout it =/

http://www.club-tc.com/forums/suspen...k-install.html
Just read that. As for the camber links you will need that if you have a drop of 2" or more. The Hotchkis kit does 1.7" and 1.9" so you should be good on that.

[Graphite]

I'm confused Navy, if i get the springs, sways, and camber links installed, wont I have to drive the vehicle around for a while for the springs to set in, THEN get the alignment.

Essentially what I'm asking is, don't I have to get an alignment at a later date anyways?

thats a good question. i never thought about that.

[Constantine]

i ordered mine from mcgeorgeparts.com, had it within 3 days. next time you order look here, they are cheap and fast.

[navylife59]

thats a good question. i never thought about that.

Good, quality springs so not settle. Once they are installed, you should be good to go for an alignment. Once you drive your car to get the alignment, anything (spring seats, upper strut mount bearing, bolts, etc.) that was not totally in place should be good. Of course, you should have all of this in correct alignment and torqued properly before you drop you jack.