Hotchkis front sway review

philaf_666 · 04-15-2009, 08:57 PM

Got the Hotchkis sway bar installed yesterday and got the chance to drive the car pretty hard to see the difference.

The front is definitely more stable during cornering, more predictable and communicative. The car does understeer a bit more on corner exit but feel more confident in the beginning and mid section of a corner.

The problem is that once you start playing with the front end, you start feeling the problems with the rear. Because of the increased stiffness of the front, I can now feel the back of the car bouncing a bit more from side to side.

Not sure I would recommend this mod for somebody who's not willing to do some more mods to fine tune. For those, I would recommend the front tension rods and wishbone from the M3. That alone was a pretty good mod and didn't seem to affect the overall balance of the car and even reduce understeer a bit.

Luckily for me, I've already ordered the M3 rear subframe bushings, UUC rear sway and 700lbs spring rate for the rear dampers (already on KW v2) to make the rear of the car similar to the front.

Hopefully, the car should be more balanced and neutral after this.

Bdh821 · 04-15-2009, 09:21 PM

hmm interesting. I've been debationg on what to do first. M3 suspention parts or sways. All I can say is goodluck with UUC...

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...41#post4923241

philaf_666 · 04-16-2009, 07:51 AM

Yeah I've seen this. But I think it was due to them moving their facility. Probably done by now. Not that this is excusable from their part...

Mine was showing in-stock so hopefully it will be a week or so.

Else I'll add to that thread

akak1997 · 04-16-2009, 09:32 AM

I've notice very similar thing after I've installed the front sway. When I drove it hard a day after the install, I notice one of the rear seems to lift off during cornering. It's not an "oh sh*t" moment tho. The car still feels to be in control (Traction Control Full ON, i.e. didn't touch the button whatsoever), maybe it's the TC saved my butt, I'm not sure. I's hoping to see that with coilover the rear should be fine, but from what you've seen, I guess not.

Did you upgrade your KW V2 front springs? IIRC the KW front spring rate is something ridiculously low. Putting 700lb/in in the rear might be too much different compare to the front? even with the ultra stiff front sway..

Can't wait to hear what you think with the rear sway + springs + m3 parts

philaf_666 · 04-16-2009, 10:09 AM

My experience was with traction control full OFF. You do have to control the rear end a little bit more, but that part I like

The car understeers a bit more, but once you play with the gas and steering, the rear seems like it wants to oversteer more than before. I think it's only a matter of balance between front and rear that is off right now.

For the rear spring rate, I went with Harold's suggestion and he seem to know what he's talking about. Once installed, I'll see how it feels. I'll upgrade the front springs if I have to, hopefully not.

Can't wait to get the parts! I just hope not to live the UUC nightmare others have experienced...

04-15-2009, 08:57 PM	#1
philaf_666 Philaf_666 14 Rep 163 Posts Drives: Join Date: Nov 2008 iTrader: (0)	Hotchkis front sway review Got the Hotchkis sway bar installed yesterday and got the chance to drive the car pretty hard to see the difference. The front is definitely more stable during cornering, more predictable and communicative. The car does understeer a bit more on corner exit but feel more confident in the beginning and mid section of a corner. The problem is that once you start playing with the front end, you start feeling the problems with the rear. Because of the increased stiffness of the front, I can now feel the back of the car bouncing a bit more from side to side. Not sure I would recommend this mod for somebody who's not willing to do some more mods to fine tune. For those, I would recommend the front tension rods and wishbone from the M3. That alone was a pretty good mod and didn't seem to affect the overall balance of the car and even reduce understeer a bit. Luckily for me, I've already ordered the M3 rear subframe bushings, UUC rear sway and 700lbs spring rate for the rear dampers (already on KW v2) to make the rear of the car similar to the front. Hopefully, the car should be more balanced and neutral after this.
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04-15-2009, 09:21 PM	#2
Bdh821 Major 44 Rep 1,265 Posts Drives: 2021 M550i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: MA iTrader: (3)	hmm interesting. I've been debationg on what to do first. M3 suspention parts or sways. All I can say is goodluck with UUC... http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...41#post4923241
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04-16-2009, 07:51 AM	#3
philaf_666 Philaf_666 14 Rep 163 Posts Drives: Join Date: Nov 2008 iTrader: (0)	Yeah I've seen this. But I think it was due to them moving their facility. Probably done by now. Not that this is excusable from their part... Mine was showing in-stock so hopefully it will be a week or so. Else I'll add to that thread
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04-16-2009, 09:32 AM	#4
akak1997 Major 66 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: BMW 135 @ 135mph Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 135i [0.00]	I've notice very similar thing after I've installed the front sway. When I drove it hard a day after the install, I notice one of the rear seems to lift off during cornering. It's not an "oh sh*t" moment tho. The car still feels to be in control (Traction Control Full ON, i.e. didn't touch the button whatsoever), maybe it's the TC saved my butt, I'm not sure. I's hoping to see that with coilover the rear should be fine, but from what you've seen, I guess not. Did you upgrade your KW V2 front springs? IIRC the KW front spring rate is something ridiculously low. Putting 700lb/in in the rear might be too much different compare to the front? even with the ultra stiff front sway.. Can't wait to hear what you think with the rear sway + springs + m3 parts
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04-16-2009, 10:09 AM	#5
philaf_666 Philaf_666 14 Rep 163 Posts Drives: Join Date: Nov 2008 iTrader: (0)	My experience was with traction control full OFF. You do have to control the rear end a little bit more, but that part I like The car understeers a bit more, but once you play with the gas and steering, the rear seems like it wants to oversteer more than before. I think it's only a matter of balance between front and rear that is off right now. For the rear spring rate, I went with Harold's suggestion and he seem to know what he's talking about. Once installed, I'll see how it feels. I'll upgrade the front springs if I have to, hopefully not. Can't wait to get the parts! I just hope not to live the UUC nightmare others have experienced...
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