Real suspension parts?

[CaliSting]

Is anyone developing real suspension parts for Stinger?

...You know

High quality adjustable control arms with firm bushings
Adjustable toe arms
High quality swaybar end links
Active coilover system

Seems like this car is a victim of owner demographics that think it needs more power, louder exhaust, noisier intakes, huge 20 inch wheels etc rather than things that could really transform its biggest foible ...Handling

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

I contacted major suspension companies like K&W and Bilstein. The response from K&W was a snobby, "we have no plans to develop products for any Kia", but the response from Bilstein was, "if there is demand, we'll make them." After that, I posted a thread, called "Bilstein is Waiting." Bilstein is waiting

So far, only one person replied. Compare that to any thread on noisy intakes/exhausts, and that validates your point. I think the worst I saw was a post on a $30 intake someone found, and people being excited by that. The quality, or lack thereof, of the air filter protecting the engine was of no concern. That's horrifying. As for the wheels, yes, I'm in agreement with you there as well. Anyway, Bilstein will make the parts, but there needs to be demand. We seem to be in the minority, in terms of those interested in improving handling. I'm just glad that Eibach is making springs and there seems to be a lot of people buying them. Bilstein and Eibach products are often paired, so, Eibach may help usher in Bilstein's interest.

 

[Terra]

I agree the demand is not there.

I find the suspension quite satisfying remembering it's not a track car.

 

[Sensibly Spirited Driver]

I agree the demand is not there.

I find the suspension quite satisfying remembering it's not a track car.

The Aussie market got a different suspension than the US. My understanding is the Aussie suspension is stiffer. So, perhaps the suspension you have would be "quite satisfying" for me as well.

 

[CaliSting]

I agree the demand is not there.

I find the suspension quite satisfying remembering it's not a track car.

Demand is there and this car would benefit greatly from sports damper. You don’t need a track car to benefit from well designed aftermarket damper. Quality damper can actually improve ride while offering even better control when diving car in sporting fashion. Many of us feel car wallow and pitch on uneven surfaces. That could be eliminated with a quality sport damper.

Heck! Bilstein makes dampers for my dodge suv! KW makes dampers for Chrysler 300! Neither of those are track cars. All Kia competitors such as A7, bmw 5 series, Porsche Panamera are not track cars and have aftermarket suspensions. Eibach saw demand and made springs and sway bars for our car. Won’t be long before more of us enthusiasts drive demand for aftermarket suspensions.

Will also remind everyone who is lowering car without adjustable suspension arms that you will be challenged to get ideal alignment specs without adjustable arms.

 

[NorcalJohn]

The car goes around the track just fine with springs and a good wheel/tire setup. Also had zero issue dialing the camber back to ideal settings after lowering the car.

 

[CaliSting]

The car goes around the track just fine with springs and a good wheel/tire setup. Also had zero issue dialing the camber back to ideal settings after lowering the car.

Curious how did you dial camber back to near 0 without adjustable arms? I understand if you want more aggressive camber for track work but lowering would result in more aggressive negative camber. What are your alignment specs? Also curious with lowering what rear toe settings look like? Curious what kind of lap times did you do on Sonoma?

 

[NorcalJohn]

It's running both front and rear -1.5 camber 0 toe, 9" fronts 10" rears with Toyo R888Rs, ebach sport springs. I'd assume the shop that did the alignment just used the "crash bolts" to set it correctly. Timing wise is was a very crowded weekend in HPDE 3. I got very few laps in without traffic or rain. I was running around 2:09 in those conditions.

 

[CaliSting]

Thanks - figured Id be stuck with neg camber without ability to adjust. I suspect ideal track alignment car on DOT R rubber is likely -1.5 to -2.5 rear and -2.5 to -3.0 up front. Little bit of front toe out and unsure of rear toe. Perhaps a bit of toe in or 0 toe. For street driving I do Id like to be under -1 camber front and rear and as close to 0 rear toe as possible. I do see need for adjustable arms. Nice to do my own alignment just in case I want to drag car out to track and play too.

 

[NorcalJohn]

Flushing the brake fluid and replacing it with high heat fluid is the only critical thing you need to do to the car prior to a track day.

 

[CaliSting]

Flushing the brake fluid and replacing it with high heat fluid is the only critical thing you need to do to the car prior to a track day.

Yep that goes without question. All my cars I track get upgraded fluids. And OEM Kia pads held up? I always laugh as I pushed by stock boxster so hard on Sonoma that my stock pads were smoking! I passed a GT3 and he was behind me and I was going real deep into braking zones and smoke came out billowing out of my wheel wells.

Curious any ice braking issues with Kia with those wider DOT r tires? I drive pretty hard and know how to use brakes. Im always scared of cars that ice brake especially big fast cars as I go pretty deep into braking zones. Kia to me will be scary as I get out of turn exits pretty quick and think on sonoma headed down to tires that would be super scary if brakes decided not to clamp. Not a lot of room to recover there.

 

[NorcalJohn]

Brakes held up great with stock pads and stoptech fluid. Still plenty of life in them after the weekend. No fading or glazing.

 

[CaliSting]

Man still can’t believe suspension tuners aren’t all over this and G70 yet. The platform has real potential. A good set of dampers, sports springs and bars, nice firm bushings, wider wheels/tires and adjustable arms would make world of difference in way the Stinger handles. I had more options with my Toyota Echo econo car when it came out than I do with high performance Stinger! Lol! Still writing all usual suspects in suspension tuning world. Some are starting to take notice. I have eibach stuff but was really hoping for new dampers before I install them.

I’m still convinced the number one mod on the car is suspension fix. For me car doesn’t need more power until suspension is fixed. I pulled race chip off not only due to a couple misfires but way soft suspension reacts to more power. Higher power just exaggerates sloppy suspension issues.