jason7467

iTrader: (1)

Any comments positive or negative about hotchkis coil springs before I purchase them. I have 20" Matrix rims right now and dont want to have to deal with camber alignment and rolling fenders. I was told with these springs I wont have to roll fenders or get a camber kit. Anyone else have any insight on these?

engiNERD350Z

iTrader: (2)

Rolling fenders has nothing to do with your wheel diameter but more due to your offset and tire width/wheel width. If your rolling diameter is the same as stock, I would not worry.

I got camber back to stock in the rear. Camber in front is not adjustable on our cars so it was -1.3 deg. Stock is -.5 deg. The shop told me that's not a huge deal.

whitecel

iTrader: (4)

so far i like them. Seems like road noise has increased with my stock tires. When I run my 19s, they are quiet and comfortable

Going in for alignment tomorrow

runnun

when you lower any car you will get pos camber (slanter outwards)

Z04

iTrader: (15)

should have thought about lowering before buying those 20" wheels

350Zenophile

iTrader: (20)

I've been running them for awhile and not a huge fan. Going to drop the coin here shortly and spring for a coilover kit.

Z1NONLY

iTrader: (2)

I think you mean "negative" camber. ( at least with the Z you do) When looking at the front (or back) of the car the tires look like..... / \ (although not that bad, unless you go real low.

whitecel

iTrader: (4)

my camber and toe wasn't that bad. I just got alignment today and they were able to get it back within specs without any camber kits or toe bolts

jason7467

iTrader: (1)

What dont you like about them? Are you saying you dont like springs in genral vs coilovers (which I understand)?

350Zenophile

iTrader: (20)

I don't think they pair very well with the OEM shocks but I may be in the minority on that b/c many on this site led me to believe otherwise when I was shopping. They may also have been using shocks valved to work with the softer 03-04 springs. I also frequently read that they ride like stock, but they are definitely rougher...maybe b/c of the roads in my area and maybe b/c I also added the sways at the same time. On a side note, the sways set to med. f/r destroyed my endlinks within 1500 miles (again maybe the roads in my area). Sure you can buy beefy aftermarket units for $316 from Z1 but may have kept them stock had I done more research first.

The rear spring is also softer than stock (04.5+) which basically makes the car porpoise over freeway expansion joints like an 03-04. The combination of stiffer-than-stock front and softer-than-stock rear seems skittish and mismatched at highway speeds. I think they are a good autocross setup for that reason since you never really get going too fast.

In restrospect I actually really liked the stock ride/handling...just wanted it a tad firmer with less body roll and a lower stance for aesthetic reasons. On that point...they don't quite drop enough for my liking. I was drawn to the fact that the rear drops more than the front, but even then, once installed they kinda leave you wanting more.

The Bilstein coilovers are expensive but I think exactly what I'm looking for in that they are height adjustable with progressive rates and dampers designed to work with soft springs.