2nd Generation F-Body Hotchkis Suspension

[F-Body International]

I'm starting a thread relating to the Hotchkis products for 2nd generation F-Body. Below is my initial review of how it all came packaged in the mail thus far. Any comments on performance, other reviews, suggestions, pictures or videos are welcome.

Just acquired all the parts I need to rebuild the rear suspension on my car. I chose to go Hotchkis out back. Currently have the rear sway bar, upgraded frame mounts for sway bar, leaf springs and Fox-Hotchkis shock absorbers. The sway bar frame mounts with fittings for grease is pretty exciting to see versus stock applications and I think a major determining performance factor for my setup will be the Hotchkis-Fox shock absorbers. I would like to go with the spherical leaf spring upgrade eventually but I will have to use the standard rubber bushings for now. Everything came in quality packaging and has a great finish. It's extremely minor but my only complaint thus far would be that UPS really tossed around the leaf springs during shipping. It could've been packed slightly better because one section of the box had a spring sticking out and a lot of the finish has been chipped off on both springs. Either way, I hope to have it on the road by next year for some performance review.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/WP_20150917_13_28_56_Pro1_zpsxumszh90-1.jpg (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/jonathonar89/media/WP_20150917_13_28_56_Pro1_zpsxumszh90.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/WP_20150917_13_31_37_Pro1_zpsw7mci7hm-1.jpg (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/jonathonar89/media/WP_20150917_13_31_37_Pro1_zpsw7mci7hm.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/WP_20150917_13_34_38_Pro1_zps4rpfkkxv-1.jpg (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/jonathonar89/media/WP_20150917_13_34_38_Pro1_zps4rpfkkxv.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/WP_20150917_13_37_59_Pro1_zpsspereobm-1.jpg (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/jonathonar89/media/WP_20150917_13_37_59_Pro1_zpsspereobm.jpg.html)

[F-Body International]

I want to get other opinions on the leaf springs getting chipped up and scratched. The pictures in my first post are exactly how 3 small plastic-wrapped foam pads were placed on the bottom (the spring busted through on this side). The top half was packed well with the foam they use. A member on the TAC forum I belong to made this post...

"All they had to do was put each leaf in a shipping tube, tape the ends shut, wrap them in bubble wrap and box them up with expanded foam inserts. For the money they ask for this stuff you should receive your parts in A1 condition. I would contact Hotchkis and request an adjustment, some free stuff or new leafs.

In another life I used to pack industrial robots for shipping. We were not permitted to let any part leave the factory scratched or marked in any way. Every single piece of the machine had muftiple layers of protection.

It should not be very difficult for a company of that size to make sure your expensive parts arrive just like they left the assembly line."






The thing I realize here is that, yes, the leaf springs could've been packed better but, at the same time, UPS could've probably handled the package better. Again, everything else I received from them has been of excellent quality. Everything I have pictured thus far is received directly from Hotchkis suspension (not their dealers).

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/WP_20150918_10_29_13_Pro1_zps2aqs01oi-1.jpg (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/jonathonar89/media/WP_20150918_10_29_13_Pro1_zps2aqs01oi.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/WP_20150918_10_33_11_Pro1_zpsfn2gcctt-1.jpg (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/jonathonar89/media/WP_20150918_10_33_11_Pro1_zpsfn2gcctt.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/WP_20150918_10_30_15_Pro1_zpsfgpcfz2v-1.jpg (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/jonathonar89/media/WP_20150918_10_30_15_Pro1_zpsfgpcfz2v.jpg.html)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2015/09/WP_20150918_10_27_56_Pro1_zpswgvkli9x-1.jpg (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/jonathonar89/media/WP_20150918_10_27_56_Pro1_zpswgvkli9x.jpg.html)


Another small issue I had before getting the springs in pictured condition was the sales representative kind of aggravated me because I felt like I had to haggle around on pricing for my order.
1) He apparently didn't know about all Hotchkis springs being on sale 20% off through September when I called. The guy honored the discount but I had to wait for him to find the deal that was emailed out. This brought their $569 springs to $455. I was cool with this but for a sales rep to not know this threw me off.
2) I couldn't get free shipping on the springs. Their website says orders over $500 get free shipping. The guy I spoke had the shipping calculator drive the price from $455 to $525-$535 from what I remember. These springs on sale now became more expensive than these same parts through Jeg's and Summit. I also spent $145 with them the week prior on a set of sway bar frame mounts so I thought maybe the rep could work a discount with a recent paying customer. At the end of it, I had a smart moment and added their $80 tie rod sleeves to my order to put it back up to $535 instead of paying the $70-$80 for shipping.

[badazz81z28]

Well, your first mistake was buying directly from Hotchks. For some reason, it always cost more to buy direct than a vendor. Even 20% off,Summit would have been cheaper out the door. Hotchkis stuff is sold at Summit Racing and you can guarantee free shipping and hassle free exchanges and returns.

I did the full Hotchkis suspension on my 78 Camaro. Down to even the control arms. Very good parts and my car handled well. I went away from them because they couldn't deliver the 3-link! I since moved on to Detroit Speed.

My springs showed up like that too, but you will scratch the piss out of them installing them, so I would just repaint them rather than making a big deal with Hotchkis and wait time with shipping.

[F-Body International]

I understand what you're saying z28. It's a shame because all their other parts arrived in amazing condition.

Again, other reviews on install or performance of the 2nd gen Hotchkis suspension are encouraged on this thread.

[F-Body International]

Got a Hotchkis front sway bar this week. Very nice quality piece!