CTS-V Suspension Tuning
#161
TECH Resident
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now that i've driven on these spring rates for a good while (since spring, 15k or so) i would opt to have the front springs one step stiffer and pick up a 14k spring set for the front instead of the 12k springs.
i still can't manage to keep the tires out of the inner fenders over sudden, drastic bumps. part of the problem is that i'm "too low" (for most). the other part of the problem is that i'm still on stock diameter sized tires. i need a shorter tire in front at a minimum, but i'll just do the shorter size all around and be done with it.
i still can't manage to keep the tires out of the inner fenders over sudden, drastic bumps. part of the problem is that i'm "too low" (for most). the other part of the problem is that i'm still on stock diameter sized tires. i need a shorter tire in front at a minimum, but i'll just do the shorter size all around and be done with it.
#162
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now that i've driven on these spring rates for a good while (since spring, 15k or so) i would opt to have the front springs one step stiffer and pick up a 14k spring set for the front instead of the 12k springs.
I do have one complaint and it is one Fuzzy has already mentioned. I don't have enough adjustment for ride height in the rear. I am as tall as possible right now and only have an inch gap between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender. With the current alignment I get a little scrub on hard bumps in both front and rear. I will have the camber increased some but I would prefer to dial in more rake and add some height in the rear. Without a longer threaded collar or a taller bottom spring mount I am stuck where I am. I am going to check with KW and/or Belltech and see what they have.
#163
TECH Resident
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i don't rub the fenders at all. i rub the inner tub in the front and am slowly shaving away my fender liner little by little. i've replaced the clips twice already because i just sheared them off. the next time i'm in there i came up with a different solution that'll be more permanent and won't degrade from the tires rubbing on them, but the actual liner itself will still see wear. i'm doing my best not to just cut them out and run without them considering i run the car through so much "weather" up here in wisconsin.
#164
TECH Fanatic
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Originally Posted by Sssnake
I have tooo much compression dampening/resistance (not strictly equivalent) as is. As the manual indicates not to run the shocks at either full soft or full hard for fear of damaging the valving, I am just a touch off of full soft compression with 6 clicks from full hard rebound. I am at the point of a little too much lift when I hit a bump so I will be softening the compression a tad if I can.
I do have one complaint and it is one Fuzzy has already mentioned. I don't have enough adjustment for ride height in the rear. I am as tall as possible right now and only have an inch gap between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender. With the current alignment I get a little scrub on hard bumps in both front and rear. I will have the camber increased some but I would prefer to dial in more rake and add some height in the rear. Without a longer threaded collar or a taller bottom spring mount I am stuck where I am. I am going to check with KW and/or Belltech and see what they have.
I do have one complaint and it is one Fuzzy has already mentioned. I don't have enough adjustment for ride height in the rear. I am as tall as possible right now and only have an inch gap between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender. With the current alignment I get a little scrub on hard bumps in both front and rear. I will have the camber increased some but I would prefer to dial in more rake and add some height in the rear. Without a longer threaded collar or a taller bottom spring mount I am stuck where I am. I am going to check with KW and/or Belltech and see what they have.
#165
TECH Addict
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After breaking my lower ball joint and killing an FG2 I decided to take the plunge on the KWs. I went with the spring rates Fuzzy suggested (after running my weights and deciding the swifts Fuzzy used were the closest I could get). I also did the RevShift Red poly bushings up front while I was at it and put new Potenza RE71-Rs up front.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While I know that many have suggested these spring rates are too stiff, I have to say this is an awesome setup. It sticks the curves much better than my GC/FG2/MM setup. CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. Fuzzy you got this one right.
Thank you!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While I know that many have suggested these spring rates are too stiff, I have to say this is an awesome setup. It sticks the curves much better than my GC/FG2/MM setup. CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. Fuzzy you got this one right.
Thank you!
#166
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Ride quality with my current settings is pretty stiff but then again that is what I prefer. My other vehicles are a Solstice GXP and a Tahoe. I HATE THE HO (at least for ride quality). It is just waaay too soft even with a custom suspension under it. The V rides a little stiffer than the Solstice (30k miles on the shocks). Much like a C6.
I can deal with the stiffness after taking this thing through a mountain road or two (in Mexico). I was amazed that I really didn't have to lug the thing through corners. Everything was just effortless and balanced. I am sure the crappy stock seats contribute that feeling (less body roll from the stiffer suspension means less fighting to stay in the correct driving position). But beyond feel I was actually faster through the curves with a TON more feedback and confidence. The car was communicating when it was approaching limits. Previously the car was, IMO, somewhat numb at the limit.
That is probably a pointless comparison as I doubt you have spent much time behind the wheel of a Solstice but one of their biggest issues was handling approaching the limit. They were extremely unpredictable. Some days you could take a turn at 50 mph without batting an eye. Others 40 mph would make you dirty your underwear. With the Solstice it was an issue with frame stiffness that was remedied with what they refer to as a backbone. The V was never that variable but it never let me know beforehand what was about to happen. Now it does.
I can deal with the stiffness after taking this thing through a mountain road or two (in Mexico). I was amazed that I really didn't have to lug the thing through corners. Everything was just effortless and balanced. I am sure the crappy stock seats contribute that feeling (less body roll from the stiffer suspension means less fighting to stay in the correct driving position). But beyond feel I was actually faster through the curves with a TON more feedback and confidence. The car was communicating when it was approaching limits. Previously the car was, IMO, somewhat numb at the limit.
That is probably a pointless comparison as I doubt you have spent much time behind the wheel of a Solstice but one of their biggest issues was handling approaching the limit. They were extremely unpredictable. Some days you could take a turn at 50 mph without batting an eye. Others 40 mph would make you dirty your underwear. With the Solstice it was an issue with frame stiffness that was remedied with what they refer to as a backbone. The V was never that variable but it never let me know beforehand what was about to happen. Now it does.
#167
TECH Resident
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agreed. the car is much more predictable on the edge. i find it quite easy to find that tipping point and just give the throttle one more jab and the rear end will kick out right where i want it and stay there until i let off the throttle, where it'll snap back because traction is a goofy thing.
i'm still on the stock tire size and the remainder of the suspension is stock as well so i can basically break it loose at will. i rather enjoy it, but with a larger tire out back i could see it being a real corner killer because it'd stay more planted.
i'm still on the stock tire size and the remainder of the suspension is stock as well so i can basically break it loose at will. i rather enjoy it, but with a larger tire out back i could see it being a real corner killer because it'd stay more planted.
#168
Staging Lane
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THe ride quality using Fuzzy's setup is amazing. Very plush and compliant even when the car is lowered quite a bit. The body motions are much more controlled and bumps that upset even my wife's X5 no longer bother the Caddy. I would say the ride is perfect!
Now if we could get a list of setting for track use.
Now if we could get a list of setting for track use.
Last edited by SIGFOD; 12-10-2015 at 11:19 AM.
#169
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So i read all of this thread again. Thank you for taking the time to document and thank you for spending all that money. Thanks for all the good information. Well it was good until ~post 139 or 140, I forget where exactly but it got spotty there.
Fuzzy Logic, do you have anything you wish to add or talk about in the last two plus years for this thread or should I keep delving? I wanted to bring something new, and I see the problems that will occur.
Some current updates are
-Addco only makes the Front 2290 bar as of now (price around $200).
-Hotchkis still makes the 2280 front and rear kit. I find those 2280 kits for ~$400 new (Tire Rack).
-Belltech 21060 still available for ~$1950.
-Swift Z60-228-160 ~$165 for the pair.
-Once again, thank you to everyone that posted in a constructive way.
Fuzzy Logic, do you have anything you wish to add or talk about in the last two plus years for this thread or should I keep delving? I wanted to bring something new, and I see the problems that will occur.
Some current updates are
-Addco only makes the Front 2290 bar as of now (price around $200).
-Hotchkis still makes the 2280 front and rear kit. I find those 2280 kits for ~$400 new (Tire Rack).
-Belltech 21060 still available for ~$1950.
-Swift Z60-228-160 ~$165 for the pair.
-Once again, thank you to everyone that posted in a constructive way.
Last edited by kra86; 03-28-2018 at 08:37 PM. Reason: added pricing scheme
#170
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So i read all of this thread again. Thank you for taking the time to document and thank you for spending all that money. Thanks for all the good information. Well it was good until ~post 139 or 140, I forget where exactly but it got spotty there.
Fuzzy Logic, do you have anything you wish to add or talk about in the last two plus years for this thread or should I keep delving? I wanted to bring something new, and I see the problems that will occur.
Some current updates are Addco only makes the Front 2290 bar as of now(price around $200). Luckily, Hotchkis still makes the 2280 kit. I find those 2280 kits for ~$475 new. Belltech 21060 still available for ~$1950.
Once again, thank you to everyone that posted in a constructive way.
Fuzzy Logic, do you have anything you wish to add or talk about in the last two plus years for this thread or should I keep delving? I wanted to bring something new, and I see the problems that will occur.
Some current updates are Addco only makes the Front 2290 bar as of now(price around $200). Luckily, Hotchkis still makes the 2280 kit. I find those 2280 kits for ~$475 new. Belltech 21060 still available for ~$1950.
Once again, thank you to everyone that posted in a constructive way.
CTS-V VS THE WORLD is likely the most active.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5410...?ref=bookmarks
Lots of the people in this thread are on there.
I personally still have the KWs on my V1 with Swift springs in the rear and the KW springs in the front. I have about 4 years and 35k miles on them and think the front shocks are done. I'll probably upgrade to stiffer front springs when I replace the shocks.
#171
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I do not use that social media or any others nor will I.
I would never find this thread on anything Facebook has to offer. Fuzzy is still around. Why the eff was he banned? For hosting a collective?
I would never find this thread on anything Facebook has to offer. Fuzzy is still around. Why the eff was he banned? For hosting a collective?
#174
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I understand not liking Facebook, but if you like it or not, that is where the majority of posts happen now.
#175
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Still here. Still modding. I had to cut back on posting because I couldn’t get actual work done. My inbox is currently flooded with good questions I haven’t had time to answer (sorry to those people—you know who you are).
Regarding suspension the main changes I made were to install the strongest helper springs Swift makes and replace the main springs with slightly shorter lighter ones. The goal there was to mitigate the shortcoming of the KW V3 not being quadruple adjustable—at higher speeds and certain size bumps on some roads the stiffer Swift springs were not playing well with the KW V3 high speed valving. I’m sure you guys have had complaints like that.
Regarding suspension the main changes I made were to install the strongest helper springs Swift makes and replace the main springs with slightly shorter lighter ones. The goal there was to mitigate the shortcoming of the KW V3 not being quadruple adjustable—at higher speeds and certain size bumps on some roads the stiffer Swift springs were not playing well with the KW V3 high speed valving. I’m sure you guys have had complaints like that.
#176
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![Cheers!!](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_cheers.gif)
Forums are a perfect archive of data. This thread is a perfect example. woohoo Community!
#178
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
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@fuzzy.... have you happened to glance at the Feal threads? I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on that alternative to KW...
I have D2’s now (came on the car) but they seam to bottom out at the slightest rough road.Wondering if it’s even worth it to upgrade to Swift or upgrade the whole system.
I have D2’s now (came on the car) but they seam to bottom out at the slightest rough road.Wondering if it’s even worth it to upgrade to Swift or upgrade the whole system.
#179
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@fuzzy.... have you happened to glance at the Feal threads? I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on that alternative to KW...
I have D2’s now (came on the car) but they seam to bottom out at the slightest rough road.Wondering if it’s even worth it to upgrade to Swift or upgrade the whole system.
I have D2’s now (came on the car) but they seam to bottom out at the slightest rough road.Wondering if it’s even worth it to upgrade to Swift or upgrade the whole system.