Experimenting with sway bar bushings

[Rey]

There has been some discussion that the '10s have different suspension bushing without saying which bushings.
I took a look at my sway bars. The front measures 25mm, and the rear measures 17.5mm. Bushings for sway bars are almost generic. I have ordered some harder bushings from Energy Suspensions. Front is part number 9.5161 and rear is 9.5155. Price was $41.97 with shipping I will install the rears first. I will install the rears first and drive it a while. If they are noisy, they will be history. Whatever, I will report my findings.

 

[wallymn]

what is the differences between the stock and aftermarket bushings?

 

[GripperDon]

There has been some discussion that the '10s have different suspension bushing without saying which bushings.
I took a look at my sway bars. The front measures 25mm, and the rear measures 17.5mm. Bushings for sway bars are almost generic. I have ordered some harder bushings from Energy Suspensions. Front is part number 9.5161 and rear is 9.5155. Price was $41.97 with shipping I will install the rears first. I will install the rears first and drive it a while. If they are noisy, they will be history. Whatever, I will report my findings.

If the sway bars were made thinner then the bushing have to change to fit them. Thinner sway bars will reduce the application of suspension deflection from one side to the other, allowing the side receiving the bump to deflect more and reducing the overall feeling of impact to the car. Of course the sway on a curve will increase.

What I would like to know is how much the sway bas changed from 09 to 10 and are the sway bars you have are from a car made after 4/8/09 ?

 

[Rey]

Don't know the build date on my '09, but seeing how I bought it on Jan 4, it more likely that it was built aftger 4/9/09.

Stock sway bar bushings are fairly soft rubber, which offers isolation from noise, vibration and harshness (AKA "NOV" in the auto industry). It also means that the rubber compresses a bit before the sway bar action takes hold - thus delaying response a bit.
Go to the Energy Suspension site. They have been making hard poly bushings for many years now.

 

[GripperDon]

Don't know the build date on my '09, but seeing how I bought it on Jan 4, it more likely that it was built aftger 4/9/09.

Stock sway bar bushings are fairly soft rubber, which offers isolation from noise, vibration and harshness (AKA "NOV" in the auto industry). It also means that the rubber compresses a bit before the sway bar action takes hold - thus delaying response a bit.
Go to the Energy Suspension site. They have been making hard poly bushings for many years now.

I certainly agree with all of that, and sure you agree that different diameter sway bars require different ID (PS ran Bendix Corp Mechanical Engineering Research Lab back in 70's) I want bigger changes than softening and delaying response a few milliseconds I want a true reduction in side to side coupling. If built after 4/9/09 I have recently been informed you have the 2010 components.

 

[Rey]

GripperDon, can you tell build date from VIN?

Agree that the overall suspension needs improvement, but where to start?
My thinking is to start with on-the-shelf readily available and cheap components. My expectations are some incremental compliance improvement, but no earthshaking improvement. When working with aftermarket modifications I prefer to do it incrementally so as to better gauge what really works.
Ideally, someone will spend time with Hyundai's parts book/microfiche and determine what new parts were installed in the 2010s, part numbers and prices.

 

[ctrcbob]

The build date is on the decal in your door jam.

 

[GripperDon]

The build date is on the decal in your door jam.

Bingo! and VIN also.

 

[GripperDon]

GripperDon, can you tell build date from VIN?

Agree that the overall suspension needs improvement, but where to start?
My thinking is to start with on-the-shelf readily available and cheap components. My expectations are some incremental compliance improvement, but no earthshaking improvement. When working with aftermarket modifications I prefer to do it incrementally so as to better gauge what really works.
Ideally, someone will spend time with Hyundai's parts book/microfiche and determine what new parts were installed in the 2010s, part numbers and prices.

So far we know the front struts are changed and the rear shocks and springs as the part number all changed after that build date. I don't know anything else at all about the rest of it. AND unfortunately I don't have the part numbers, but may try and get them.

Personally I am thinking of sheet steel or lead cut to fit under the trunk carpeting over the whole area could add about 300 lb without impacting trunk usefulness.

Next Replacing the shocks with any std full size American car that will fit, requires some measuring etc. But a non performance sedan shock should soften the ride.

But that is what I am thinking, not recommending for anyone.

 

[Disaster]

Next Replacing the shocks with any std full size American car that will fit, requires some measuring etc. But a non performance sedan shock should soften the ride.

But that is what I am thinking, not recommending for anyone.

I wouldn't go with a softer shock. The car is oversprung now (springs are overpowering the shocks) and that is why it can reverberate when hitting bumps. A stiffer shock would probably actually improve the ride. But if you really want to soften it, you need to find softer springs.

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[Rey]

GripperDon, verified my build date as May 28.09. Assuming now that I have the 2010 suspension upgrades you may wish to note the following dimensions:
Front sway bar diameter: 25 mm
Rear sway bar diameter: 17.5 mm
Note: Generally speaking, a larger front sway bar induces a tendency to oversteer, a tendency which most current mfgs seem to build into their autos.
Wire diameter of rear spring: 13 mm
Front shock: label on left front "blulep 063851" and "141" hand-marked on shock body.
Front spring has a "blue dot" marking.
Note: I was looking for part number labels on my suspension components, and this is the only component that I found a part number. This is not to say that part numbers are not on components, it just that my quick look found only this.

Exchanging the front shock could prove to be difficult easy because there is an unusual fitting welded onto the front shock lower body (the part that moves with the wheel) that receives the end of the sway bar. I have never seen a shock with such a fitting. If this is truly unusual, it might be very difficult to weld such a fitting to a gas-filled shock. This means an after-market mfg would have to make a special run for Hyundai Genesis, a small market at best.

The rear shock has a typical lower mount and its upper mount looks similar to a picture I saw of the Genesis coupe rear shock. They may interchange.

Some of the suspension complaints may be coming from the lack of shock rebound dampening.
I had a Cadillac CTS-V with Sachs shocks. That Caddy used the Sachs' "Nivomat" load-leveling rear shocks, which were designed to keep headlights level. These shocks had very little rebound dampening. I changed them to the CTS Sport shocks for a much better ride and handling.

 

[GripperDon]

Great info Rey. I'll climb under and get the rear spring info. I have removed the right rear shock, but stupidly did not get the stroke etc or number while it was off, BUT I Will. I still am hung up wit the rear being the harsh part of the suspension, So I still intend to experiment with softer shocks for the rear and see what I can learn about the rear springs. when I climb under next i'll do some measuring of it as well.

Thanks Gain for providing real Info to me and the Forum, Wonderful!

 

[Rey]

Gripper Don and others with V6: my understanding is that the V8 adds a lot of weight to the front of the car; and that the V6 is the better handler.
My sense is that the rear shocks have some common dimensions, like lower bolt hole diameter, extended/compressed length, shaft diameter, and top mount. If you would make these measurements, you may be able to find aftermarket manufacturers who have the shock in our dimensions. One aftermarket company is "QA1". They make a shock with adjustable compression and rebound dampening, so as to allow you to "tune" shock compliance to your personal taste. I have a set of QA1s that were for my CTS-V from which I can compare dimensions.

 

[Rey]

I've driven several hundred miles with the much harder Energy Suspension sway bar bushings. The car seems to corner a bit flatter. It seems more BMW-like now. It seems better balanced and connected with rapid lane changes. These bushings have not dramatically changed the car. The changes are more subtle and are mostly felt at the limits of performance. As of now I feel no compunction to return to the stock bushings, as I like the change. Note, this is just my personal preference.
Obviously, there are trade-offs. The rear suspension compliance on small bumps is less, making it ride firmer or harder. Nevertheless, my wife, who is very sensitive to hard riding cars, never noticed the change. So, this is not a modification for those interested in a softer ride.
For those who want a softer ride I suggest looking into the new sway bar bushings for the rear sway bar. The OEM rear sway bar bushing on my 4.6 (late May build date) has numbers on it for "09, 10, 11, & 12" which may mean the production years this bushing is implemented. The front bushing has numbers "03 through 10".

 

[GripperDon]

Gripper Don and others with V6: my understanding is that the V8 adds a lot of weight to the front of the car; and that the V6 is the better handler.
My sense is that the rear shocks have some common dimensions, like lower bolt hole diameter, extended/compressed length, shaft diameter, and top mount. If you would make these measurements, you may be able to find aftermarket manufacturers who have the shock in our dimensions. One aftermarket company is "QA1". They make a shock with adjustable compression and rebound dampening, so as to allow you to "tune" shock compliance to your personal taste. I have a set of QA1s that were for my CTS-V from which I can compare dimensions.

I contacted QA1 and unfortunately the response was that they did not have anythng for my car. I bet if I gave them the measurements and a photo the answer night be different. I even told them it did not have to be a replacement in performance just fit and have adjustment that they show on many of their offerings.

 

[Rey]

Don, QA1 responded as I expected. They have no direct Hyundai Genesis applications. Looking at their catalog I wonder if one of their "Street Rod" shocks might fit. You will need to measure compressed length and extended length of the OEM shock. I would also measure the bottom shock bolt and the diameter of the shaft. Perhaps then talk further with QA1 to see if they can fit you.

 

[Mark_888]

According to Hyundai, the 2010 suspension and steering was improved. I got the impression that the bushing changes were related to the steering improvement, while the spring and shock changes were related to the suspension improvement. The 2009 steering is OK, but tends to pull to the left on uneven roads in my experience (and this is what many others on this forum have also said).

 

[Teo]

I also have a 2009 3.8 and the suspension is so bad that i can't even drive the car over 75 miles /hour.I have 2 cases open with the corporate and they don't wana do anything about it.i canged the first set of tires at 13000 miles because the cupping was so bad on them.With the new tires on and a good alingment i tought the car will b a bit better but still bouncing all over the road and pulls side to side.So ,i got tired of dealing with the dealer and the corporate and i order all new parts (2010 suspension including rear sway bar )wich should b here in two weeks.i will have them installed and then i will put another post to lett u guys know if it's worth spending the 1700$.

 

[Joe29365]

Don't know the build date on my '09, but seeing how I bought it on Jan 4, it more likely that it was built aftger 4/9/09.

Stock sway bar bushings are fairly soft rubber, which offers isolation from noise, vibration and harshness (AKA "NOV" in the auto industry). It also means that the rubber compresses a bit before the sway bar action takes hold - thus delaying response a bit.
Go to the Energy Suspension site. They have been making hard poly bushings for many years now.[/QUOT

 

[Joe29365]

Don't know the build date on my '09, but seeing how I bought it on Jan 4, it more likely that it was built aftger 4/9/09.

Stock sway bar bushings are fairly soft rubber, which offers isolation from noise, vibration and harshness (AKA "NOV" in the auto industry). It also means that the rubber compresses a bit before the sway bar action takes hold - thus delaying response a bit.
Go to the Energy Suspension site. They have been making hard poly bushings for many years now.

NVH👍🏻
Most manufacturers new model launch is in August/Sept for the next model year and usually the time when they also implement "minor" model changes where the model of the car stays the same but usually only minor cosmetic or other improvements are made.