Issue driving over train tracks - stock suspension GT

[techguy888]

Just took the Stinger out for a morning spin and had a very unpleasant situation when traveling over train tracks, experienced a loud "bang" from under the car. There are train tracks on a local curvy road right at a turn, which have been paved over to create a large "hump". The car was handling the twisty section just fine but as soon as it got to the "hump" things got a little loose and car bottomed out or hit the suspension bump stop. A brief visual inspection under the car doesn't reveal any damage, though I did see a scuff mark along the skid plate indicating contact may have occurred.

I believe this is due to the vehicle's stock suspension settings, namely the shock rebound.

What have people done to fix this with a non-adaptive suspension? I saw the sticky suspension thread where the OP solved his problem with an electronic damping controller but that won't work for a base GT. I live in a place that gets real winters so I don't really want to lower the car, can this be solved by just swapping out shocks?

 

[eflyguy]

I have tracks ~500' from my house. I have no such issue.

Other vehicles do - they are on a bend and a rise - the divot in the hill is from one of the many vehicles that have managed to impale themselves there..

The Stinger remains planted and stable. So do my F150 and Sorento, however..

 

[techguy888]

I think our train track situations aren't directly comparable.
You can see here that there is a long, sharp turn immediately prior to the train tracks, followed by another turn after the tracks. Also, the rise in elevation appears to be higher, and the "ramp" or "hump" is longer:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[MerlintheMad]

I think our train track situations aren't directly comparable.
You can see here that there is a long, sharp turn immediately prior to the train tracks, followed by another turn after the tracks. Also, the rise in elevation appears to be higher, and the "ramp" or "hump" is longer:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Go FASTER, and you'll sail right over it. The landing? Can't make a prediction on that one.

Seriously, though, why is this an issue? It's a freaking HUMP fercryingloudout! Do you always demand that your vehicles feel the same no matter what "features" the road before you may have?

(I don't lower either. And if I had, my car would have died already.)

 

[techguy888]

Go FASTER, and you'll sail right over it. The landing? Can't make a prediction on that one.

Seriously, though, why is this an issue? It's a freaking HUMP fercryingloudout! Do you always demand that your vehicles feel the same no matter what "features" the road before you may have?

(I don't lower either. And if I had, my car would have died already.)

Speed wasn't the issue.

Did you miss the part that the car made a loud-ass BANG sound?

This is a solvable problem, with a known cause. I am asking for the advice of people who have experienced similar dissatisfaction with the factory shock rebound and have addressed the issue.

If you are happy with the way your car handles and haven't experienced anything similar - great. I'm happy for you. If you don't have anything else to say that could help solve my issue, please move along.

 

[westcoastGT]

Speed wasn't the issue.

Did you miss the part that the car made a loud-ass BANG sound?

This is a solvable problem, with a known cause. I am asking for the advice of people who have experienced similar dissatisfaction with the factory shock rebound and have addressed the issue.

If you are happy with the way your car handles and haven't experienced anything similar - great. I'm happy for you. If you don't have anything else to say that could help solve my issue, please move along.

Gee Merlin , thats the nicest way I've ever heard anyone tell you to .........................GFY bawaaaaaaaaa

 

[narsnail]

If you could provide a picture of said road, it might help. I'm having trouble visualizing what you're describing.

 

[MerlintheMad]

If you could provide a picture of said road, it might help. I'm having trouble visualizing what you're describing.

He did, it's a Google maps link.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Speed wasn't the issue.

Did you miss the part that the car made a loud-ass BANG sound?

This is a solvable problem, with a known cause. I am asking for the advice of people who have experienced similar dissatisfaction with the factory shock rebound and have addressed the issue.

If you are happy with the way your car handles and haven't experienced anything similar - great. I'm happy for you. If you don't have anything else to say that could help solve my issue, please move along.

It has 30 MPH posted. How fast were you going when your suspension "bottomed out"?

What have people done to fix this with a non-adaptive suspension?

Slow the "F" DOWN! It has nothing to do with adaptive suspension, or your non adaptive suspension being tuned/adjusted "wrong".

 

[eflyguy]

If you could provide a picture of said road, it might help. I'm having trouble visualizing what you're describing.

They are magical.

The ones near me are some of the worst I've ever encountered (as evidenced by the hole in the hill from vehicles that get launched..)

Yet, my Stinger handles them just fine.

 

[techguy888]

It has 30 MPH posted. How fast were you going when your suspension "bottomed out"?

Slow the "F" DOWN! It has nothing to do with adaptive suspension, or your non adaptive suspension being tuned/adjusted "wrong".

I wasn't driving fast enough that I expected there to be an issue, which is why I was alarmed when this happened. If I was driving wrecklessly at say 90MPH I would agree that any loss of control or resultant damage would be my own fault - but I wasn't doing that. Prior to this vehicle I owned a heavily-modified Subaru STI and drove it through that area at the same speed with NO issue (on stock suspension). Given that the Stinger costs more than the STI and is a newer vehicle by 5 years, the result was rather unexpected. If it is necessary to modify the vehicle to achieve similar handling results, I am more than willing to do so, hence my post here.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I wasn't driving fast enough that I expected there to be an issue, which is why I was alarmed when this happened.

Looking at that X crossing, it shows a distinct "speed bump" configuration. Anytime a vertical contrast shows up on a Google Street View you know that it isn't insignificant. A little further on and the speed limit is up to 50 MPH. Clearly, that spot where the X crossing is requires a reduction to negotiate the twisty bits and the tracks.

Is the Subaru STI more of a track car compared to a Gran Turismo like the GT? I ask because I have never expected my Stinger to corner like smaller performance sedans that are more like track cars. Sounds like you need to do some adjusting in driving style. And I'm glad that the lesson was effectively no cost to you.

 

[techguy888]

Looking at that X crossing, it shows a distinct "speed bump" configuration. Anytime a vertical contrast shows up on a Google Street View you know that it isn't insignificant. A little further on and the speed limit is up to 50 MPH. Clearly, that spot where the X crossing is requires a reduction to negotiate the twisty bits and the tracks.

Is the Subaru STI more of a track car compared to a Gran Turismo like the GT? I ask because I have never expected my Stinger to corner like smaller performance sedans that are more like track cars. Sounds like you need to do some adjusting in driving style. And I'm glad that the lesson was effectively no cost to you.

I think we're not seeing eye-to-eye here and that's fine. Yes, the STI is a more track-focused car than is the Stinger GT, but the Stinger isn't exactly a minivan either. There were numerous press events hosted by Kia for automotive journalists to experience this vehicle in a track setting. Kia has set the expectation that this is a (very) sporty grand tourer and that is one of the main reasons I bought the car.

All I am saying is that I find the stock suspension performance to be lacking, and I would like to address it. This is why the aftermarket exists.

If anyone out there has replaced the shocks or taken additional action to address the stock shock rebound issues, I would like to hear what you did and how you feel about the results.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I haven't heard of anyone replacing the shocks on any Stinger trim. "Shock rebound" has never been applied to describe handling "bumps". Are you suspicious at all that your particular vehicle might be set up wrong somehow?

(Now watch, somebody will chime in and say "Do you live under a rock? I know several/many Stinger owners who have replaced their shocks with aftermarket." )

 

[narsnail]

There are coilover options, and lowering springs/sway bar upgrades.

Suspension Product Collection

Here is our complete collection of Suspension Products designed for and compatible with the Kia Stinger

www.k8stingerstore.com

 

[NS_Stinger]

So you bottomed out your suspension by driving too quickly over a speed bump?Doesn't sound like the suspension is at fault here, sounds like you carried too much speed over a large bump. Your STI was designed as a rally racing car for the road, so of course it would handle that situation better.

If you're still convinced your suspension is the problem and you must tackle this hump at high speed, sure you can go drop 1-2k on a set of coilovers that will allow you to fine tune things to avoid bottoming out.

 

[Ozstung]

A visit to a suspension specialist might be worth while. They maybe able to diagnose anything untoward.

 

[runner1]

This is fun. How about a 4 in lift kit?

on a serious note, I got air n the tracks by my house and tore off my splitter, who’s suing splitter companies over this? Just me? Ridiculous I can’t jump a car and not damage my splitter. Ugh

 

[Nuthadey]

Just took the Stinger out for a morning spin and had a very unpleasant situation when traveling over train tracks, experienced a loud "bang" from under the car. There are train tracks on a local curvy road right at a turn, which have been paved over to create a large "hump". The car was handling the twisty section just fine but as soon as it got to the "hump" things got a little loose and car bottomed out or hit the suspension bump stop. A brief visual inspection under the car doesn't reveal any damage, though I did see a scuff mark along the skid plate indicating contact may have occurred.

I believe this is due to the vehicle's stock suspension settings, namely the shock rebound.

What have people done to fix this with a non-adaptive suspension? I saw the sticky suspension thread where the OP solved his problem with an electronic damping controller but that won't work for a base GT. I live in a place that gets real winters so I don't really want to lower the car, can this be solved by just swapping out shocks?

There are coilovers, springs, and sway bar kits available for the Stinger's suspension. Check the k8 store, eBay, Amazon, etc. There are some sites you'll want to avoid so do your research before purchasing anything. Just to be sure, are you positive it was your suspension and not the hatch making the noise? Have you had your hatch recall completed?

And fwiw, there are some people on this forum you will want to ignore if you're posting about a problem with your car. These folks are mechanically stupid and hardcore biased so they know of no way to reply to such posts other than to say "my car is fine, Kia is perfect, blah blah." These folks believe it is their duty to reply to every-single post on this forum, even if they have nothing to say. They don't know how to not reply. If you have a problem with your car save yourself the headache and just scroll pass their post(s).

 

[techguy888]

There are coilover options, and lowering springs/sway bar upgrades.

Suspension Product Collection

Here is our complete collection of Suspension Products designed for and compatible with the Kia Stinger

www.k8stingerstore.com

Thanks for the advice.

If this is the only way to fix the issue then I am willing to go this route. As stated from the beginning, I am looking for an aftermarket product to buy in order to change the handling dynamics of the vehicle.