i am getting my suspension done part by part lol. so far i have hotchkis leafs,shocks,ruslow 1200lb coil springs, and i am ordering my control arms this week. my next mods are new sway bars. i think i am going to install some shackles on my leafs after i get my c-arms installed. i think the truck will have to much of a rake to it. which means it will be to low for the rear hotchkis sway bar. so i am going to go with the hellwig rear bar. my question is about the front bar. as far as i know you can not buy the front hotchkis bar only. and i do not want to buy both hotchkis bars just to get the front. since i have the 1200 coils i think the hellwig front bar would be to stiff. any one run the stock front sway bar and the hellwig rear bar combo? i wonder how it would handle on a road course? thanks for any advice you can give me. brian

 

My guess is that it would be a great move.

You've increased understeer with the stiff coils, so an increase in rear bar should help reduce that effect.

 

i guess i will try it. thanks tim

 

i am thinking about getting a softer set of coils for the front now. maybe switching them out for a set of hotchkis coils or a softer set from ruslow. i think the new hotchkis ones are 825lb coils. maybe something between that and 900/1000 range.

 

I have exactly that combo. I have the ruslow leafs and coils, two inch drop shackles, rear hellwig sway bar with stock front, and QAs all the way around. The only thing I don't have is the control arms they are stock. My truck sits almost level and the ride is pretty stiff. Although I haven't done a road course yet, what I have should be fine for now.

 

tim - i was reading your webpage about running a softer spring and a heavy sway bar. what do you think about this combo.

hotchkis rear leafs(243lb ones)- already have
hotchkis front coils (825lb ones)
hotchkis shocks-already have
hellwig front and rear sway bars

 

I have no idea, Silver. There are so many variables involved.

As with my new setup, the only way to know is to bolt it up and give it a shot. Then let us know how it works!

 

i guess it comes down to go with a full package kit, copy someone elses suspension or make my own lol. i may end up just ordering the hotchkis kit because my suspension was a copied from svt_ky's. he has roush / i have hotchkis leafs and shocks. i have driven his truck and we all have seen his videos. i can always switch out parts if i dont like it. as always thanks tim

 

svtsilver,
Put it together and run it with the parts you currently have. Base you changes on your findings when you get off the track. Handling is a very personal and subjective assessment. Use your current set up as your base line and adjust from there. Your setup will work best for your driving style. It may be perfect for you and absolutely horrible for someone else. Once you determine if it has over or understeer, proper weight transfer, etc, then spend your money where it needs to be spent.