OK Getting Hotchkis TVS - What to about shocks

[RobAGD]

I have the Tow package and I am going to have to replace the rear shocks. The Hotchkis kit is the Swap bars and Spring kit. Should lower about 1 to 1.25 inches so I have to replace the load leveling shocks, so the question is what is the suggested replacement ?

I am not looking for a complete adjustable racing setup I want daily driver shocks that are not going to rattle my teeth as I drive around, but will give a little better handling feel.

I am open to suggestions.

-Robert

[RTracer]

Whats your time frame for installation?
As far as I know, there are currently no aftermarket set ups currently available except for the OEM setup. Stock SRT8 struts would be sweet.
Look for KONI and Bilstein to be comming out with a set-up in the not too far off future.
Both KONI and Bilstein make an excellent product.

[Magne300Csium]

Per the Bilstein and Tokico reps at SEMA, LX shocks should be out near the end of first quarter 2006.

[MattRobertson]

There is bupkis out there unless you want to go with KW coilovers ($1795 plus install) or Eibach Pro Street S coilovers ($1195+install). Thats beyond my pain threshold, although the bouncy bouncy stock shocks are just flat out pi$$ing me off (I have Eibach prokit springs and Hotchkis bars).

I hear tell that Bilsteins ought to be in the $600 range, which is livable.

[RobAGD]

Humm I dont think I am in any big rush

But the mods are starting to pile up and I need to start getting all the part on the car

I just honestly never thought about shocks until I realized that I have the load leveling shocks and I couldnt do the spings Silly me

So I can wait a bit but I wouldnt want to wait until March.

-R

[Vaderwagon]

although the bouncy bouncy stock shocks are just flat out pi$$ing me off

I have the same spring setup and I have to agree. The stock shock valving is terrible. The shocks need more rebound for the ProKit to be really effective. The compression valving is not bad.....but certainly not optimal.

Koni is supposed to be coming out with something early next year. The Bilsteins should be an iteration of the SRT8 Shocks. I emailed Jeff at MSPC about getting part numbers for the SRT8 shocks ( they are built by Bilstein) but have not heard a thing. Maybe a group buy on them would be in order? Jeff??

[Fred]

What about just buying normal off the shelf monroes or the likes? Don't you plan to use the hotchkis springs that you mentioned?

[Vaderwagon]

What about just buying normal off the shelf monroes or the likes

There is nothing available yet and the Monroes will not be valved for higher spring rates or the lowered ride height.

[MattRobertson]

The SRT8 shocks work great. Drove on em at the SRT Track Experience and I had no complaints as to rebound and such.

I wonder if you can use SRT8 shocks, period? As in dealer install. MAybe coupled to the Mopar lowering springs. My Prokits look great and work well but the 1.75" they settled to is a bit low, especially with Zoomers on.

[Fred]

SRT shocks sound good but expensive. Aren't the SRT8 springs lower also? I wounder how you'd do by just getting the full setup off the SRT8 and put it on an RT.

[MattRobertson]

SRT shocks sound good but expensive. Aren't the SRT8 springs lower also? I wounder how you'd do by just getting the full setup off the SRT8 and put it on an RT.

The SRT suspension is a superb compromise between performance and comfort. You can gun it straight into a curve, slam on the brakes, heel it *hard* over so you nail your apex and continue on (on the track of course).

But lowering the center of gravity on this car is a wondrous thing. Not something I would give up completely.

And I have to say it does make the car look baaad. I parked head to head against a midnight blue SXT with some nice 22's (and I don't like 22's) and the difference in stance really was obvious. The lowering just makes it look meaner somehow. But I'd like a half-inch or so back (as in what Eibach advertised for the prokit drop in the first place).

For someone not interested in the sacrifice in ride that go with lowering and sway bars I'd say the SRT setup would be a great choice.

[RobAGD]

Well SRT Shocks/Struts would be a nice work around. I can wait until Feb for the install and see what else comes up.

The Stock ride on the RT needs just a little tweak, just a little firming up on the rebound a tad.

Oh well :(

-Robert

[MattRobertson]

The Stock ride on the RT needs just a little tweak, just a little firming up on the rebound a tad.

Day before Thanksgiving this guy in a Charger starts tailing me, and we play tag all along Hwy 152 into Los Banos and into the steep, windy-but-fast San Luis Reservoir area. Gets pretty bouncy in there towards the end -- sags in the road due to settling. We were in the 60-90 mph range, averaging 70-80 with occasional peaks (peeks? :-) ) at higher speed.

So we pull over at Casa de Fruta and shoot the breeze for a bit. He tells me that from what he can see, the front end is doing great but the back end is whats doing all of the bouncing around. If I can dial in the back its done.

Thats the only time I've been able to hear what it looks like on the outside when at speed.

EDIT:
Just remembered: Darth used to bottom out on those nasty sags even when I had the stock setups. It just didn't bounce as much afterwards. Anyone in the SF CA East Bay who drives Hwy 680 can probably write a book on this one. That 6-8-lane highway is just freakin awful insofar as uneven-ness is concerned.

We need shocks!