Changing out 2009 springs and shocks with 2010 parts

[Mark_888]

I just proof read my entries and realized i made a few critical typos..........i meant to say my car now drives just like the 2010 model i test drove..............

You can edit your previous posts. Just hit the edit button.

So the only parts that were ordered were the springs and shocks? No other mounting parts were ordered?

Also, when the new springs and shocks were ordered, did you tell the Hyundai parts person you had a 2009 car (did you have to give your VIN number).

 

[Disaster]

Hello all..............it has been some time since i have posted because i have been busy tryin to get some answers.......there is a reason some of us like the ride of our 2009 genesis sedans and others of us do not.........i think we are both right..............hyundai changed the shocks on the sedan on 4/21/09...........they put new shocks in the cars after that date and it appears those are the same shocks in the 2010 models as well. The springs are the same part number but they are diff softer..............with info on this web site and some info i obtained i was able to discover the following info

v6 models } old rear shock part number 55310-3m800
new rear shock part number 55310-3m801
old front shock part numer 54611-3m800
new front shock part number 54611-3m801

v8 models ) old rear shock part number 55310-3m900
new rear shock part number 55310-3m901 the front changed fro part no. 54611-3m900 to 54611-3m901......

And just for info my bro is a 25 yr prof mech who has installed these on ny 2009 v8 and it drives just like the 209 model i drove....it is firm, but very controled now.............the weird old behavior i experienced is completely gone,,,,,,,,,,the parts all fit.................good luck with you changes if you need them and pls post you experiences.....i hope i could help.............................good evening.....

It isn't uncommon for manufacturers to release new parts but keep the base part number the same and add a suffix. This is often done for minor tweaks that don't effect fit to other parts. This suffix is sometimes not referenced in the service part number.

My main complaint on the 2009 is lack of damping...not stiff springs. The car pitches far too much. From the seat of the pants, the shocks seem too soft in low speed damping. They may also be too hard in high speed damping which could contribute to the harshness, but it is the low speed damping that causes all the sustained movement.

What did the shocks cost?

 

[Mark_888]

It isn't uncommon for manufacturers to release new parts but keep the base part number the same and add a suffix. This is often done for minor tweaks that don't effect fit to other parts. This suffix is sometimes not referenced in the service part number.

My main complaint on the 2009 is lack of damping...not stiff springs. The car pitches far too much. From the seat of the pants, the shocks seem too soft in low speed damping. They may also be too hard in high speed damping which could contribute to the harshness, but it is the low speed damping that causes all the sustained movement.

What did the shocks cost?

I think the problem with the early 2009 springs/shocks is that the springs overpowered the shocks. So by using slightly softer springs and beefier shocks, they were able to get them in balance and improve the handling and reduce the bounciness, but still maintain a firm ride. The 2009 springs are just too stiff and too bouncy to get effective damping with the early 2009 shocks.

Most people I have heard comment on the 2010 suspension (with the softer springs and beefier shocks) has said that the ride is still firm, but much more controlled than the early 2009's. Apparently they changed the shocks on builds after 04/21/09, so those later 2009's are sort of "in-between" the early 2009 and the 2010 suspension. This would account for those who test drove a 2009 and 2010 and did not notice much difference (even though others did notice a difference).

 

[genesis 45]

I also should have mentioned i diff have an early model v8 my build date is oct 2008..........so i diff had the old parts, but i guess the only way to koe is to check the part number of the shock on your car...........i dont know if hyundai would have used up all the onld shocks before installing new ones? The total cost of all four shcoks and springs was approx. 1,200.00...........no cost for intallation for me..........the old springs and shocks also had different color dot codes on them.........i felt this may also have something to do with differences in parts....????

The cost was well worth it for me..............my car is now driving the way i have always wanted it to................thx for all your help and info reference this situation...........

There were no other parts needed for installation, but the front parts were diff more dificult to put in..........

 

[Mark_888]

Where does your bro live?

 

[DavidNJ]

Suggestion: Start a new thread and have everyone contact Bilstein asking for Genesis shocks. I've had Bilsteins on several street and race cars, always great. I have the 'comfort' versions on our MB 320 CDI and they are similar in ride to the originals, with a bit better control.

The answer is the Genesis needs a properly valved slightly digressive mono-tube shock.

Note: my SUV is a 2010 QX56 and on the Armada/QX56 forum switching the Bilstein front shocks is THE suspension fix everyone does. Bilstein doesn't have a rear shock for that model; for most versions the shock as an integral air bag for self-leveling.

 

[Mark_888]

Suggestion: Start a new thread and have everyone contact Bilstein asking for Genesis shocks. I've had Bilsteins on several street and race cars, always great. I have the 'comfort' versions on our MB 320 CDI and they are similar in ride to the originals, with a bit better control.

The answer is the Genesis needs a properly valved slightly digressive mono-tube shock.

Note: my SUV is a 2010 QX56 and on the Armada/QX56 forum switching the Bilstein front shocks is THE suspension fix everyone does. Bilstein doesn't have a rear shock for that model; for most versions the shock as an integral air bag for self-leveling.

If the springs are overpowering the shocks (as they are on the early 2009 models), replacing the shocks alone may not be the best answer, especially if the new shocks are softer. There is reason why Hyundai re-tuned both the spring rates and the shock rates (according to reports by HMA employees on the Hyundai Think Tank forum) on the 2010 models.

Edit: I just checked the Bilstein website, and they don't make shocks for any Hyundai products. Even for Toyotas, they only make shocks for a limited selection of Toyota trucks and SUV's (no passenger cars). For Honda, they only make shocks for the S2000. Not a lot of support for Asian cars.

 

[genesis 45]

When i said my bro.....i actually meant my brother who is a prof. Mech.................if you dont have the new shocks i think you can just order new ones from any hyundai parts dept............and we both live in california..............the back parts took about two hours and the front approx 4 hrs........

 

[GripperDon]

I sent you a email regarding the date of change over, Thanks Don

 

[GripperDon]

Great pic of those hard rear shocks.

www.autoblog.com/gallery/2009-hyundai-genesis-misc#32

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[Aquineas]

Great pic of those hard rear shocks.

www.autoblog.com/gallery/2009-hyundai-genesis-misc#32

Is that the US version or the KDM version? I ask only because of the H emblem on the front... In fact, the car in the background sorta looks like the old model Sonata

 

[Disaster]

Is that the US version or the KDM version? I ask only because of the H emblem on the front... In fact, the car in the background sorta looks like the old model Sonata

The image, looks like standard shocks and springs, as opposed to adjustable air shocks, so it must be the U.S. version.

While the entire system needs to be tuned based on the inertias and spring rates, damping is the most critical factor for controlling the suspension so that it doesn't go into resonance. I suspect the low speed damping rate of the Genesis suspension needs to be (or was, in the case of the 2010 changed components) increased. The general rule is to keep the high speed rate as low as possible (without allowing suspension overtravel) and adjust the low speed rate to tune out all resonance and "settle" the car as quickly as possible after hitting a bump.

Here is a standard diagram of a spring damper system with different damping rates. The suspension of a car is a little more complicated but the basics are the same, it is a spring/mass/damper system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damping

If one were to just lower the spring rate, without adjusting the damping, the Genesis would probably perform even worse because the natural resonance frequency would be lowered and it would be even easier to excite it over highways with regularly spaced inputs.

Here is a common engineering diagram that shows a damped harmonic oscillator, note the resonance point where the chart peaks. This is the frequency where inputs will cause the system to have greater and greater movement, instead of having the movement damped out. Resonance, such as this, is what caused the Tacoma Narrows bridge to collapse, and causes the Genesis suspension to become unsettled and causes the car porpoise over some road surfaces.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxTZ446tbzE"]YouTube- Tacoma Narrows Newsreel[/nomedia]

 

[Mark_888]

Is that the US version or the KDM version? I ask only because of the H emblem on the front... In fact, the car in the background sorta looks like the old model Sonata

Someone has posted that the KDM version comes with standard shocks/springs and the air suspension is optional, but I don't know for sure.

There are other cars besides the Genesis in that room, and in the background is a car that is obviously not a Genesis. Hopefully the photographer (or editor) only included Genesis photo's in the story about the Genesis, but it could have been a misunderstanding if the photographer took pics of the other car chassis also.

 

[Disaster]

Someone has posted that the KDM version comes with standard shocks/springs and the air suspension is optional, but I don't know for sure.

There are other cars besides the Genesis in that room, and in the background is a car that is obviously not a Genesis. Hopefully the photographer (or editor) only included Genesis photo's in the story about the Genesis, but it could have been a misunderstanding if the photographer took pics of the other car chassis also.

Those are definitely rear wheel drive, longitudinal engine mounts on that cross member so it is definitely the Genesis. Don't know about the standard non-adjustable Korean KDM suspension but if there is one, I imagine it would look nearly indistinguishable from the U.S. version (though it could be tuned significantly differently.) If there were one, it would seem to be the best way for people that want a softer Genesis to achieve that. I'm not interested in a softer ride. I like sporty suspensions. I just want to improve the ride and handling.

 

[Mark_888]

Those are rear wheel drive engine mounts on that cross member so it is definitely the Genesis. Don't know about the standard non-adjustable Korean KDM suspension but if there is one, I imagine it would look nearly indistinguishable from the U.S. version (though it could be tuned significantly differently.) If there were one, it would seem to be the best way for people that want a softer Genesis to achieve that. I'm not interested in a softer ride. I like sporty suspensions. I just want to improve the ride and handling.

I agree that a KDM suspension is probably too soft. The 2010 US suspension is probably the best bet for a firm, but compliant ride.

 

[GripperDon]

To softenup the ride you need the front and reat suspension parts that includes: struts, shocks, springs, sway bars and bushings that hold the sway bars. The origional parts are PN# ending in 00 the changed ones end in 01 or in at least one case 02. So just go buy those parts and change them out, they all fit. Then Reduce the wheels to 18 inch, go to series 60 tires, lower the air pressure to 29 and drive away happy, well controlled, no porposing and no harsh.

 

[Disaster]

To softenup the ride you need the front and reat suspension parts that includes: struts, shocks, springs, sway bars and bushings that hold the sway bars.

"Struts" is shorthand for "MacPherson struts." MacPherson struts are a special type of shock that becomes an integral part of the suspension. It was designed to lower cost and improve packaging. The Genesis doesn't have this kind of suspension. It uses simple shocks. I read that the shocks, springs and bushings were changed, but had not read anything about a change to the sway bar.

 

[GripperDon]

Two changes to the sway bar, both in the rear. First in April of 09 the second in November at the end. Instead of the typical MacPherson struts, Hyundai adopted a sophisticated 5-link front and rear suspension with gas shock absorbers all around. At front is a 25-mm diameter anti-roll bar, with an 18-mm diameter anti-roll bar on the rear axle. I called them struts OK front shocks mounted inside the coils, just look at the picture above they look like a strut and act like a strut plus a linkage so quack quack a duck.. Mainly just look on the parts fiche and check out the numbers that are changed on the list from 00 to 01 or 02 at the end. I should have also called the anti roll bars. The main difference is thinned diameter. less compress of the spring on side not being directly compressed, makes for more of one spring action. If you really want it to ignore the tar strips take a ride with the roll bar off.

 

[Disaster]

Two changes to the sway bar, both in the rear. First in April of 09 the second in November at the end. Instead of the typical MacPherson struts, Hyundai adopted a sophisticated 5-link front and rear suspension with gas shock absorbers all around. At front is a 25-mm diameter anti-roll bar, with an 18-mm diameter anti-roll bar on the rear axle. I called them struts OK front shocks mounted inside the coils, just look at the picture above they look like a strut and act like a strut plus a linkage so quack quack a duck.. Mainly just look on the parts fiche and check out the numbers that are changed on the list from 00 to 01 or 02 at the end. I should have also called the anti roll bars. The main difference is thinned diameter. less compress of the spring on side not being directly compressed, makes for more of one spring action. If you really want it to ignore the tar strips take a ride with the roll bar off.

I wasn't trying to give you a hard time, it was just that you said struts and shocks, so I thought you might have been confused. Thanks for the info about the sway bars. So is the 25/18mm the new diameters...or the old?

I'm not sure what you mean about ignoring tar strips. When a car hits a strip it actuates both sides of the suspension at once, which doesn't effect the sway bar. The sway bar is for transferring load from one side of a suspension to the other when cornering. It has the unfortunate side effect of making and individual corner stiffer and less compliant to individual inputs...like a pothole. There is a point, where the suspension gets stiff enough, that sway bars are usually eliminated, like in some race cars.

Here is an interesting article and some great posts on sway bars.
http://www.stockcarracing.com/techarticles/scrp_0608_sway_bar_doesnt_sway/index.html
http://www.swedishbricks.net/faq/swaybars.html

FYI, the difference between struts and shocks is function. While both act as shock absorbers, only struts function as part of the suspension. Shocks only work in simple tension and compression. You can remove the shock and the suspension would still work...but without damping. Struts are actually beefed up to be suspension members that resist torque load. That is why struts are so much beefier, weigh more and cost more. If you remove a strut the suspension will twist all over.

The Genesis shocks do have one other function, which you can see in the picture. They have an attachment for the sway bar, such that the anti-roll load goes directly into them. This would also create a slight side loading, so they might be a bit beefier than a shock that doesn't have this to deal with this function.

Thanks for the info on the changed sway bars. To get the correct balance, one should probably make all the suspension changes that were done for 2010...not just one or two of them. This also explains why the suspension bushings were changed. Sometimes different bushing stiffnesses are used, but in this case they would have to be changed because the diameter of the sway bar that goes through them changed.

 

[nearwater]

Resonance, such as this, is what caused the Tacoma Narrows bridge to collapse,

Off topic, but it's a widely misinformed info regarding the collapse.
Even some physics books say it was resonance that caused Tacoma bridge to collapse, but it's aeroelastic fluttering that caused it to go down.

more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge_(1940)

Dan