Hotchkis drop springs and sway bars

[darkhorse970]

I am considering going with Hotchkis drop springs and sway bars on my '68 SWB stepper. Does anyone here have experience with them and can offer input on ride quality, handling, and streetability?

This truck will be street driven, with some 200-300 mile trips 3 or 4 times a year. It will not be raced, but some "spirited" driving from time to time.

(The TVS kit is cool but out of my budget.)

http://www.hotchkis.net/6772_c10_spo...l_springs.html

http://www.hotchkis.net/6372_c10_tru..._rear_bar.html

[N2TRUX]

Anyone?

[Portmod7]

I've got the TVS on my 68 Short Stepside, but I'm a little ways from having it on the road. I am hoping by the summer I'll have been able to drive it. Wish I could help.

There's another "C10" forum, and the guy with the orange Hotchkis truck is on there, he's answered a couple questions for me and seems like a good guy, you might try that? Although, it looks like Hotchkis sponsors him in some way, so the information might be a little biased.

The Hotchkis fronts are an 1100 lbs/in. spring, and the rears are 380 lbs/in. I'm not sure if you could get the spring numbers from the more commonly used manufacturers and do a comparison that way? The higher the number, the rougher the ride.

Sway bars wont affect straight-line and "highway" ride quality.

The assumption I've made is that since a 4" and 6" drop spring is pretty rare, it's got to be because the ride isn't as pleasant as a stock spring, or even a common 2" front and 4" rear drop spring. Especially in the rear where they are giving a you a 6" drop and not recommending a C-notch, I would imagine the springs are a little on the stiff side. It seems up until recently people just wanted the low look and were focused on getting it with a nice ride, not so much performance. Along with that, I think Hotchkis probably knows what they're doing and I'm guessing the drop springs give a substantial improvement in suspension geometry as well as the roll control offered by stiffer springs. There are many ways to drop a truck, why did a company in the performance suspension market do it with just springs? I know for me, in the front it was important to get the lower ball joint level with or above the control arm pivot, and the 4" front springs get you as close as possible to that without building or buying custom frame parts.

One of the main reasons I went with Hotchkis is be cause I wanted to DRIVE my truck, not RIDE in it. Hopefully it gives the best of both worlds, but if I have to sacrifice ride for handling, I'll do it all day every day. I'm hoping it's the difference between the "ride" of a Lincoln Towncar vs. a Corvette.

For me, when I drive it deep into a curve on a twisty mountain road, and it sticks and asks for more, I'll forget all about the rough ride down the highway.

I know none of that was really what you were looking for, but I thought it might help to read someone else's thought process on the same decision.

Hope it helps, good luck!

[tubbedII]

I'm sure Hotchkis products are very high in quality, but that seems a little steep for springs and sway bars. Typically with a drop that low in the rear you would want shock relocators and a long panhard bar...maybe their spring rate compensates for that, but the shocks would still be layed over.

I think based on what your goal of driving is, you could go with just about any kit out there and be very happy with the handling...so why not save some $?

If it were me, I'd do this:
2.5" Drop spindles and cut a coil off the stock springs (Or 2" drop springs)
6" rear coils (or 4" coils and 2" blocks if running a 16" wheel or bigger)
No Limit shock relocators and panhard bar (No Limit's due to moving the shocks outboard)
Pick-n-pull front sway bar off a C20 or bigger and no rear sway
A good set of shocks all around

I didn't do the math, but I would imagine the parts above would be either at or under the cost of the Hotchkis parts you posted but also more of a "complete" suspension that should handle decently.

I know this really wasn't what you were asking for, but I figured I'd give my opinion anyways. Cheers!