1968Maro
11-03-2009, 10:10 AM
First of all I know that a number of vendors and manufactures of both DSE and Hotchkis watch this site, but I need an honest opinion.
Like all projects my Camaro has gone a little over board and I have decided that the bolt on sway bar it just not going to do what I want it to for the handling of my car.
I purchased the Hotchkis basic suspension upgrade package, springs, sway bar, 3 inch drop leaf etc. I have now decided that I want to upgrade the control arms as well.
A few things up front
I would like to stick with the springs I bought and the stock spindle and just replace the arms. (trying to avoid going overboard on parts). Everything I have bought for this car that was "bolt on" has always required some modification, So I don’t trust ANYONE when they say, "oh yeah that will just bolt right in" :machine:
Also, I know that the only way to really slam that camaro is to put Airbags and 20,000 K worth of parts under their but that is not in the cards. Please don't tell me to put an air ride suspension under it unless you are also going to send me a check.:)
Question: Hotchkis control arms are more expensive than DSE’s, and everyone seems to love DSE, but everything I have read on the DSE website says that their parts are designed to work as a system. Arms go with springs, drop spindle, etc to work as one system. If I throw DSE arms on Hotchkis springs and a stock spindle am I going to be pulling my hair out trying to get it all to work together? Is it going to perform like it should?
Second Question: I would be willing to pay a little more for the Hotchkis control arms if they gave me what I want, but I have some reservations about the ride height. A 68 Camaro only really looks sharp when its tires are touching the wheel well and the Hotckis suspension seems to really hold that car up in the air.
Can I get this car to sit where I want it with Hotchkis? If so why are so many people having problems with their ride height and Hotchkis suspensions?
Will DSE get me anywhere closer to where I want to be, or is there even a difference?
What about handling and potential problems with marrying to manufacturers?
There are a couple of threads on this website that discuss the problem with the ride height of Hotchkis and their was a Chevy performance article a couple of years ago that showed a 1967 Convertible they did a whole Hotchkis rebuild on, article said it handled like a dream which I believe (Its Hotchkis) but it looked like it was sitting even HIGHER than stock and I really did not like how the stance ended up.
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60630 (https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60630)
If there is a Hotchkis distributor etc, that runs across this article I am not trying to flame your parts, if it something that was done wrong during the set up of the car please let us know!
Okay last thought before I go! Both sets of control arms are designed to improve the steering geometry as well as stiffness. From my understanding Hotchkis is designed to work with the stock spindle, (which saves me $500 bucks) and DSE is designed to work with their spindle.
Lots of questions here, and I realize I am no Pozzi when it comes to suspension knowledge, so straighten me out!
Like all projects my Camaro has gone a little over board and I have decided that the bolt on sway bar it just not going to do what I want it to for the handling of my car.
I purchased the Hotchkis basic suspension upgrade package, springs, sway bar, 3 inch drop leaf etc. I have now decided that I want to upgrade the control arms as well.
A few things up front
I would like to stick with the springs I bought and the stock spindle and just replace the arms. (trying to avoid going overboard on parts). Everything I have bought for this car that was "bolt on" has always required some modification, So I don’t trust ANYONE when they say, "oh yeah that will just bolt right in" :machine:
Also, I know that the only way to really slam that camaro is to put Airbags and 20,000 K worth of parts under their but that is not in the cards. Please don't tell me to put an air ride suspension under it unless you are also going to send me a check.:)
Question: Hotchkis control arms are more expensive than DSE’s, and everyone seems to love DSE, but everything I have read on the DSE website says that their parts are designed to work as a system. Arms go with springs, drop spindle, etc to work as one system. If I throw DSE arms on Hotchkis springs and a stock spindle am I going to be pulling my hair out trying to get it all to work together? Is it going to perform like it should?
Second Question: I would be willing to pay a little more for the Hotchkis control arms if they gave me what I want, but I have some reservations about the ride height. A 68 Camaro only really looks sharp when its tires are touching the wheel well and the Hotckis suspension seems to really hold that car up in the air.
Can I get this car to sit where I want it with Hotchkis? If so why are so many people having problems with their ride height and Hotchkis suspensions?
Will DSE get me anywhere closer to where I want to be, or is there even a difference?
What about handling and potential problems with marrying to manufacturers?
There are a couple of threads on this website that discuss the problem with the ride height of Hotchkis and their was a Chevy performance article a couple of years ago that showed a 1967 Convertible they did a whole Hotchkis rebuild on, article said it handled like a dream which I believe (Its Hotchkis) but it looked like it was sitting even HIGHER than stock and I really did not like how the stance ended up.
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60630 (https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60630)
If there is a Hotchkis distributor etc, that runs across this article I am not trying to flame your parts, if it something that was done wrong during the set up of the car please let us know!
Okay last thought before I go! Both sets of control arms are designed to improve the steering geometry as well as stiffness. From my understanding Hotchkis is designed to work with the stock spindle, (which saves me $500 bucks) and DSE is designed to work with their spindle.
Lots of questions here, and I realize I am no Pozzi when it comes to suspension knowledge, so straighten me out!