Joined: Fri Dec 22 2006, 08:41PM
Location: Warrenton, Virginia
Posts: 1366
Drove the car some more today on a variety of road surfaces, highways, exit ramps and emergency maneuvers.
I'm very impressed and very happy (and very broke ) To put it simply, the car 1) steers more precisely, and requires less steering input and corrections 2) corners flatter 3) feels more stable at all sppeds 4) With very, very little penalty in riding comfort !driving
I drove on some of the roads where I noticed things I didn't like about the ride/handling/structural rigidity of the Chrysler and the other cars I usually drive (04 Honda Accord, 2001 Escort, 95 Explorer). All I can say now is that the Chrysler handles better than all of them except the Honda. It definately rides better than all of them. The Honda may handle better, but there is a definite sacrifice in the ride (Honda has a moded suspension too...Big rear sway bar and low profile performance tires). The newer cars mentioned all have power rack and pinion steering and they still do have more responsive and more precise steering. BUT the 300 has improved tremendously in that department.
I guess what was bothering me about the Chrysler's steering before was the UNdersteer!! It felt vague on center and I had to make too many steering corrections that were unnerving on gently bends on high speed secondary roads (like Us Rte 17). That is almost completely gone!!
I tried some avoidance maneuvers at both low and high speeds. The car responds quickly and precisely and goes just where it is pointed.
IN all the driving I did, I just noticed the car was easier to handle. I did not notice any OVERsteering tendency at all in any of my driving. If there is any oversteer, it must not be present unless you drive the car WaY harder than I ever would.
I'll post some more about the cost of all this in a few.....
Joined: Fri Dec 22 2006, 08:41PM
Location: Warrenton, Virginia
Posts: 1366
I'm working on that now Uncle joe. I will post in another thread so this one doesn't get too long and boring! I'll post the what I did and how much it all cost.
I'm so impressed though that I'm calling just suspension today to ask about a "custom" disc brake upgrade. NOt going to do this yet (short on the $$$) but I will post on what is involved and how much it is likely to cost....
Joined: Fri Dec 22 2006, 08:41PM
Location: Warrenton, Virginia
Posts: 1366
Kool, I drove a lot more today (nice weather). All kinds of conditions still very very impressed...The only conditions I have not checked yet are the speed bumps and intersection Whoop de doos where the car seemed (and did occaisonally) bottom.
I never expected this, but the car actually seems to Brake Better !stop
Not sure why that would be, I'm thinking maybe there is less brake dive and more of a contact patch on the road because the tires are more firmly planted to the road....instead of having to deal with Handling issues...they can concentrate on the task at hand...braking. I'm gonna drive some more to confirm this...but if so, that is a Wonderful side effect of all this!! I'm starting a new post now about the costs........
Hi, I have not been on for a bit and wanted to say thanks for sharing your impressions of all the cool new parts. I'm glad to hear you are not experiencing oversteer with the rear bar on, as I have been waiting to try those and the Bilsteins, big-t-bars, new rear leafs, frame connectors myself. Darn-ya beat me to it! D'oh! If you were a little closer I'd ask for a ride! Please update and share any more impressions of the set-up in the future and hopefully I won't be enjoying it vicariously for too much longer. !driving
Joined: Fri Dec 22 2006, 08:41PM
Location: Warrenton, Virginia
Posts: 1366
I'll be driving the car again tomorrow. I drove down some familiar roads on Tuesday...roads where I noticed things about the ride or handling that I thought needed improvement.
When I visit one of my friends, I have to drive down a townhome development road. Cars parked on both sides and kids outside playing...So they have LOTS of speed bumps to keep cars from going too fast.
Before I got the Bilstein shocks, I had KYB's all around. On these speed bumps, the car felt TOO soft even when driving over them very slowly. It felt as if it would bottom the suspension if I drove any faster than a CRAWL. This was one of the primary reasons I decided to try the Bilsteins ....and ....there is a dramatic improvement driving over these bumps...nice and firm and controlled. It does not feel as if the car is going to bottom.
Here's pretty much what I've observed so far after the Bilstein shocks (most of this is probably the result of the shock absorber change alone) Car is firmer and more controled over sudden fast road irregularities...such as speed bumps, drive way cuts, ect. The brakes are much more responsive especially on initial brake application On smooth roads, the ride is just as good and maybe even better than it was with the KYB's.
I know the Bilsteins are expensive.....they are very good....but the KYB shocks are acceptable under most circumstances.
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