Fellas,

I read all the threads about the dreaded Hotchkis clunk and it seemed that the conclusion was that the supports that held the urethane bushings to the frame were the culprit in the clunk. My question is: What have people done to alleviate the clunk? Did they swap out the factory bushing retainers that are much beefier (w/o zirk fitting) for the Hotchkis set? I read of using larger washers to spread the load better to the frame, has this worked? How about using the stock factory setup but boring out the bushing to match the bar OD.
Help a brother out.


F

Fellas,

I read all the threads about the dreaded Hotchkis clunk and it seemed that the conclusion was that the supports that held the urethane bushings to the frame were the culprit in the clunk. My question is: What have people done to alleviate the clunk? Did they swap out the factory bushing retainers that are much beefier (w/o zirk fitting) for the Hotchkis set? I read of using larger washers to spread the load better to the frame, has this worked?
Help a brother out.


F1) Hotchkis-provided collars seem to keep bar from moving side-to-side, 2) Add to that some spirited cornering once in a while to help center the bar, and 3) Big a$$ washers do help out with the rather flimsy Hotchkis bushing support brackets. I must say, however, my driving style may not have exercised these components/fixes sufficiently, and we need others to chime in here.

WW being the uber-suspension guru he is mentioned that the collars werent necessary and that the bushing supports were the culprit. Im looking for the best way to alleviate the support issue. Randy, thanks for your input.

F

hmm, maybe I havent driven it hard enough yet, but I get no "clunk" from the hotchkis bars...just the rubbing sound when the bar hits the shock.

...just the rubbing sound when the bar hits the shock.Just a softer version (audibly speaking) of the "clunk."

oh ok...but you guys are saying that the mounts are actually bending??? mine look fine, but at the same time I saw the mounts that came with the kit at autozone :bigroll: so, I dunno if they really are top-notch...I still gotta call them about getting those screw on collars.

oh ok...but you guys are saying that the mounts are actually bending??? mine look fine, but at the same time I saw the mounts that came with the kit at autozone :bigroll: so, I dunno if they really are top-notch...I still gotta call them about getting those screw on collars.

collars wont help much...the bar is radially problematic thus the support bushing inquiry. Collars will keep it from sliding end to end, but when it distorts up/down or forward/backward slightly, then you get the dreaded clunk from what I understand.


F

I'm now wondering if it's my rear sway making the clunk instead of the GC kit. Hmm.....might have to disconnect it to see. I only get the clunk when the suspension decompresses over a pothole or lower patch of asphalt. Sometimes I can hear it independently too from one side to another. However, under hard turning either way, I don't hear any clunk.

Is this concurrent to the hotchkis clunk you guys get?

I'm now wondering if it's my rear sway making the clunk instead of the GC kit. Hmm.....might have to disconnect it to see. I only get the clunk when the suspension decompresses over a pothole or lower patch of asphalt. Sometimes I can hear it independently too from one side to another. However, under hard turning either way, I don't hear any clunk.

Is this concurrent to the hotchkis clunk you guys get?

Its the front end that is the issue...the rear has all sorts of room, fronts have about 1/4" clearance to the side of the shocks...so any up/down forces (like dropping off a small curb/drive apron at an angle) will cause my V to clunk.

F

Oh......... :ill:

I don't seem to have that problem. I do however have a bent bracket. It's due to not initially installing the smaller Z06 endlinks when I lowered the car.

... I do however have a bent bracket. ...Check out pic on Page 15, Post 148: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-cts-v-series-forum/76062-hotchkis-clunk-15.html?highlight=clunk

I believe this is what Florian is talkin' about. The bracket supplied by Hotchkis is just plain too small ... needs to be thicker gage steel. The washers I added are helpful, but really only a bandaid.

well, just thinking about it..I'll really only know if Im clunking in a day or two..my driver front strut was bad and clunking before I even put the bars in...so Ill let you guys know what I hear....and after this weekend(road race) Ill be able to see if my mounts are bending or not....the only thing I need to do is lube the mounts...I get a good squeak when the front tires drop off the little ledge of my garage door.

I'm thinking a small tab needs to be welded to the end of the bar. Maybe a small beed of weld around the bar to hold the collars could work too. I guess it's time I call Hotchkis for my new brackets and collars.

Thanks Rand49er....:thumbsup:

Oh......... :ill:

I don't seem to have that problem. I do however have a bent bracket. It's due to not initially installing the smaller Z06 endlinks when I lowered the car.
I had both front brackets pooched up as far as the slots would allow. The bushing was flopping up and down in the saddle. I straightened the bracket and used larger hardened washers to get a bigger footprint over the slots.

My guess is that I caught (more than one) big ass pothole most likely going to/from Infineon in NorCal (you guys have some of the crappiest roads around Napa), where I was too lazy to put my street tires to go back to camp. Come to find out I also had two rims bent on the inside rim.

I think with the stiffer sway bars and the stiffer FE2's the saddles and rims took the shock of some big ass pot holes. I don't think the saddles bow from lateral G's because I haven't bent them in the last 4 events. I also don't think I had this when I had the FE4's. I also think the marshmellow OE bushing and bracket with a spine would not have this issue.

I called Hotchiks some time back and sent them pics of my saddles and even a video of the sway bar clunking up and down. They called back and said they are developing a more robust saddle. So I'm hoping they are coming down the pipe shortly.

Dennis nailed it. The saddles are the culprits. I welded/reinforced mine and am still running the collars. Haven't had a clunk since (about 2,500 miles). They do squeak when it rains, but I just need to lube them again.

WW

Thanks Dennis and Bill. I'll be waiting for Hotchkis to get that fix done. Meanwhile, I don't have front end clunk(crossing fingers).

Off topic but clunk related. I plan to take the V into Ground Control sometime in January. I want them to find what is causing the clunk in the rear.

Thanks Dennis and Bill. I'll be waiting for Hotchkis to get that fix done. ... Off topic but clunk related. I plan to take the V into Ground Control sometime in January. I want them to find what is causing the clunk in the rear.I echo Frank in the "thanks" to Dennis and Bill. And, Frank, please oh please keep us informed about your January trip! :thumbsup:

I have the GC it with the car lowered, Hot bars with no collars or anything else and a couple of spirited driving track days but have never had any kind of clunk, rubbing or bending

Thanks fellas...let us know if you hear anything from Hotchkis in regard to beefier saddles. I just ordered the GM saddles to see if I can flanagle them in there somehow. Hopefully Hotchkis will offer them free to swaybar owners.


F

F -

Seriously - just tack weld the lower spacer plate that Hots sent to the original saddle. If you pull the wheel I'll bet you can do it in the car without removing anything (providing the saddles have are still straight).

Problem solved.

WW

ok when you say saddles, you mean the main bracket that holds the bar to the frame???..has anyone called hotchkis complaining about this?? what'd they say??

What... am I using invisible ink again? :pow-mia:

F -

Seriously - just tack weld the lower spacer plate that Hots sent to the original saddle. If you pull the wheel I'll bet you can do it in the car without removing anything (providing the saddles have are still straight).

Problem solved.

WW

If I had a welder that is....Ill wait for the bolt in solution...but good idea nonetheless...


F

What... am I using invisible ink again? :pow-mia::confused:

I called Hotchiks some time back and sent them pics of my saddles and even a video of the sway bar clunking up and down. They called back and said they are developing a more robust saddle. So I'm hoping they are coming down the pipe shortly.

..has anyone called hotchkis complaining about this?? what'd they say??
:helpless: I know between speed reading and the whaa filters I miss stuff too but the previous page...

:helpless: I know between speed reading and the whaa filters I miss stuff too but the previous page...Oh ... now I gotcha.

Hey, Ron ... are you sure you haven't had your saddle/bushing brackets lift up and distort? I don't even come close to tracking my car and they distorted (i.e. bent).

My guess is that I caught (more than one) big ass pothole most likely going to/from Infineon in NorCal (you guys have some of the crappiest roads around Napa), where I was too lazy to put my street tires to go back to camp. Come to find out I also had two rims bent on the inside rim.

I think with the stiffer sway bars and the stiffer FE2's the saddles and rims took the shock of some big ass pot holes. I don't think the saddles bow from lateral G's because I haven't bent them in the last 4 events. I also don't think I had this when I had the FE4's. I also think the marshmellow OE bushing and bracket with a spine would not have this issue.

:pow-mia:

Has anyone talk to Hotchkis lately as to a better fix.. Beefier Brackets, bar with welded collars, etc.?

Mine are starting to distort. Have maybe 8 autocross sessions on them. I was going to call/email Hotchkis to get some standby units if these deteriorate further. I'll ask if they're making progress on a "beefier" unit.

P.S. Yesterday's autoX session was in the rain, through the puddles at the Oakland Colesium parking lot. Tons of tank-slappin' fun! Competative mode works very well indeed. No spin outs, only one cone toppled.

I sent an email to Drew at Hot. He's sending replacement brackets. No mention of a beefier unit yet.

I sent an email to Drew at Hot. He's sending replacement brackets. No mention of a beefier unit yet.Really!!! Let us know how they look, cali.

Just for fun I took off the Hot brackets and tried to put on the stock brackets...no dice. The urethane that holds the bar is about 1/4 inch too short and would bounce around inside the bracket. Hot could save a bunch of dough and make the urethane to match the stock saddle, instead of stamping out new lightweight metal saddles of their own.


F

After one of your previous posts, I was thinking the same thing. But, how much urethane would that leave and would that be enough?

Rand,
Theres a gap between the Hot urethane and the stock bracket. What needs to be done to get a good fix would be to buy the stock urethane and mill out the proper diameter hole to fit the Hot bars.....


F

Rand,
Theres a gap between the Hot urethane and the stock bracket. What needs to be done to get a good fix would be to buy the stock urethane and mill out the proper diameter hole to fit the Hot bars.....


***reed. Without drawings, someone would need some reasonably accurate measurements to do the milling ... I don't know if the Hot bar and the stock one are positioned with the same centerline within the bracket/bushing; if so, t'would make it simpler. Wouldn't you know, the bars/brackets/bushings are the only OEM parts I've sold as a result of doing my mods, otherwise I might make the attempt.

Time will tell if Hot steps up to the plate so we can put this to bed.

Agreed. Without drawings, someone would need some reasonably accurate measurements to do the milling ... I don't know if the Hot bar and the stock one are positioned with the same centerline within the bracket/bushing; if so, t'would make it simpler. Wouldn't you know, the bars/brackets/bushings are the only OEM parts I've sold as a result of doing my mods, otherwise I might make the attempt.

Time will tell if Hot steps up to the plate so we can put this to bed.

Id take the stock bushing and one side of the Hot bushing and put em on a mill and match the holes to keep centerline the same.


F

Mine clunked so bad backing out of my driveway the other day... I thought i blew the differential!!! If Hotchkis is going to make and send out beefier brackets, i wouldn't bother fooling with the stock brackets & bushings. When are the HD brackets going to be available to others.

good question....I think you need to address that to Hotchkis, Id like to know as well.


F