Genesis suspension - One more kick at the can

[BigTrace]

I agree with most in that the rough roads tend to be a bit rougher maybe, but it's not really that bad if you ask me. Of course, my other vehicle is a 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon with the works so going over rough surfaces is that vehicles job.

I think sometimes the cabin is TOO quiet, meaning in a normal vehicle, you hear less because everything outside is louder. With the Genesis, it's so quiet, other, un-welcome noises, tend to be amplified. Yes, uneven roads tend to be a little fishy, but i'm betting they address this issue with the next generation of the Genesis. So far, I'm very pleased with its performance on many levels and if the ride quality is a little off on some bad roads, so be it.

 

[gipp]

The all-hydraulic system decreases damping over minor "stimulations" like road imperfections, but increases damping during major loading, as in hard cornering."

I find this to be accurate and believe this to be a primary root cause for the suspension issues. The car is so quiet and smooth that it is just so counter intuitive for these minor road imperfections to have the major impact that we are all perceiving this as a major design issue.

I think when you combine this with the Dunlop's unforgiving nature we have a real issue that needs to be addressed by Hyundai. Two minor issues can often combine to equal one real issue. Hyundai needs to fix one, if not both at no cost to the owners.

I further submit that this issue is so real and apparent that it will begin registrering with overall customer satisfaction perceptions and ratings.

I also wonder if the varied sensitivity to this issue is dependent on what you are used to driving. I just hope Hyundai does not choose to be penny wise and pound foolish with this issue because the "luxury converts" will influence long term sales figures much more than the entry luxury car buyers will.

 

[Jimbo46]

So, how would we approach Hyundai on a fix for this? The easiest thing for them to start with would be getting these crappy Dunlops replaced.

FYI, I did take the pressure down to 28 lbs in each tire and the ride is softer! I sure do hate the idea of putting weight in the trunk as I have in the past (particularly in my 1991 Q45) for snow traction. By the above calculation I would have to lug around 8 bags of solar salt which cut my fuel economy and reduce my trunk capacity, not to mention making me look like an ass for buying the Genesis in the first place!!!!

 

[Sonata2009]

I have been riding around for several weeks with three 50 pound bags in my trunk.The extra weight in the trunk makes the car ride much better over rough roads. The rear suspension on the Genesis is very stiff, try pushing down on the rear bumper , you can hardly compress the rear springs. Try putting 150 to 200 pounds of weight in the trunk and see how your car rides.

This is interesting - since I just finished talking about a 2400 mile "great ride" - I have to say, it was in a fully loaded car with a bunch of bags and "stuff" filling the trunk. I'd certainly try the "Loaded up" situation and try the Canadian roads again.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

This discussion, along with the one about alignment issues, has been moved into the Issues Requiring Dealer Attention area. There are enough complaints about these issues that Hyundai should at least look into them.

 

[Duaine]

I would like to add that this past Friday my wife and I took our 4.6 Genesis Christmas shopping. There were certain area's that we thought the car rode fairly rough.

Then today we had a birthday party to go to. This time I had my parents in the back seat. We took some of the same roads that we considered rough Friday and the extra weight did help out quite a bit.

My wife was the first to mention it but she said wow a little weight in the back sure did improve the ride.

This seems to backup the other commments about extra weight in the back helping out.
I just thought I would throw our opinions in as well.

 

[BacktoHyundaibychoice]

agree about the extra weight. I've had 3 50lb bags of salt in the trunk for almost 3 weeks due to snow and paranoia about a rear wheel drive car in the winter. Today I drove the road that gave me problems initially (thread called First Impressions) and the ride was MUCH less harsh. All in all, I suspect a lowering of 1-2 lbs of tire pressure in the rear will solve many complaints. I won't find out until spring...

 

[sandy]

I just re-checked the Suspension Poll and note that only 56 votes have been cast out of a total membership of 857. It probably would be helpful to this discussion and the statistical relevance of the poll if more owners voted.

 

[rmwweb]

I just re-checked the Suspension Poll and note that only 56 votes have been cast out of a total membership of 857. It probably would be helpful to this discussion and the statistical relevance of the poll if more owners voted.

Where is the poll your referring to? I would very much like to vote on this issue.

Adding 150 pounds of weight in the trunk may help and lowering the tire pressure would undoubtedly will make a difference although I don't know what the combination will do for tire wear. I plan to try these tricks as short term fixes but have no interest in paying for the extra fuel and reduced tire life that they will cause over the term of ownership. This is becoming a very well publicized issue and Hyundai needs to step up and take responsibility for a bad design (or bad implementation of a good design perhaps). Guess there's no secret on how I will be voting in the poll eh?

RW
3.8 V6 With Tech Package.

 

[esptuning]

if i'm not mistaken, the sedan in korea uses much softer suspension. it won't feel sporty anymore if you swap it out, but that may solve your issues

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[Jimbo46]

For the record, I called Hyundai USA on the west coast today @ 800-633-5151 and was promptly told they have a Genesis Team. I was quickly connected to a personable guy named Mike (he told me he is the only Michael on the team) at extension #54275 who listened to my concerns about the genesis suspension. We talked at length and he did say I was not the first person to raise the issue. Though I don't know what will come of it, some of the rest of you may be interested in talking to them. The more of us who raise the issue, the more likely it is we will see a company wide solution

 

[Sal Collaziano]

if i'm not mistaken, the sedan in korea uses much softer suspension. it won't feel sporty anymore if you swap it out, but that may solve your issues

The softer suspension should have been an option here. Not everybody wants a luxury "performance" sedan. In fact, I firmly believe that most people prefer a softer riding vehicle.

 

[VaiFan]

I have no complaints.
I like it the way it is just fine. In fact, the more I drive it, the more I like it.

 

[BigElm]

With enough complaints, I'm sure Hyundai would change the suspension for 2009. My concern would be that it will compromise it's superb handling. I highly doubt Hyundai would introduce a sport suspension option so early in it's birth of the Genesis. I hope I'm wrong though.

 

[santosonly]

I have no complaints.
I like it the way it is just fine. In fact, the more I drive it, the more I like it.

I, too, have the V6 and I have a very good ride. No complaints.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

With enough complaints, I'm sure Hyundai would change the suspension for 2009. My concern would be that it will compromise it's superb handling. I highly doubt Hyundai would introduce a sport suspension option so early in it's birth of the Genesis. I hope I'm wrong though.

The only thing I think they should change is to give the option of a softer suspension. I wouldn't want them to change the formula altogether...

 

[rmwweb]

Based on suggestions made in this thread (or the rough ride thread) I lowered the tire pressures by about 3 PSI - first just the rears, then the fronts. Each of these adjustments helped a bit. Tonight on my way home I picked up 130 lbs of sand/salt (three 44 lb bags) and put them in the trunk. Adding these changes on top of changing to the winter tires and I'm starting to feel a bit better about the ride in my car. It was only a short drive from Home Depot where I bought the sand/salt to home but I purposely went down a bad stretch of road that I've been avoiding for the past few weeks and the ride seemed quite a bit better.

The good news from my perspective is that if little things like this can add up to an improved ride, there should be a relatively easy way for Hyundai to fix the problem that some of us are experiencing. I'd just as soon not have to lug around 130 lbs of ballast for the next several years. However at least I'm starting to feel better about the ride.

RW

 

[VaiFan]

If people are loading up the car and there is a noticeable improvement in the ride, then that means the spring rate is too high for the way you prefer your car.
Not a design flaw, but just simple suspension tuning.
I wonder what rate Eibach chose for their replacements.

 

[DesertGen]

Gotta say, I don't get what all the fuss is about. I have driven 100 miles now (just bought yesterday) and tried all types of roads and I have no problems whatsoever. I think the ride is just plain awesome. Personally I prefer a little stiffer suspension over a marshmallow ride. This car is easily exceeding my expectations of it.

 

[gipp]

I have had "Performance Luxury Sedans" all the way back to the first VW Quantum with its tiny 12" tires thru to my latest E Class. My daughter has an RSX and my son has a Suzuki Grand Vitari. My wife has had Lexus models for over a decade. I have been one of the biggest supporters of the Genesis but there is a definite issue with the way this car rides. I am not looking for a softer ride. I do not like cars with soft rides. I want to know what is going on with the vehicle in relationship to the road. What I want is a consistent and predictable driving experience so that I know what the car can safely accomplish and be able to push it to those limits on the rare occasion that traffic, weather, etc, present themeselves. Taught accurate steering, firm ride, minimal lean or roll and just a touch of understeer make me happy. I expect a luxury performance sedan ride to be well dampened in all conditions.

That said, the drive train of the 4.6 is incredibly smooth and powerful, the steering is accurate and well weighted(aside from crowning issue) and as mentioned before the tautness feel wise is between the Mercedes and the Lexus. The 4.6 displays minimal lean or roll and has less understeer that the 3.8. Both very acceptable to me. But the ability of the car to deal with minor road imperfections is horrible. The Genesis seems to deal with expansion joints at high speed with aplumb but falls apart at 15 mph over an irregular surface. I almost feel at times like I am in a 1960's pickup truck with the shock absorbers under the front seats going off roading. The Lexus, RSX and Suzuki all have a better ride at this point of time on low speed local roads that have an unsmooth surface.

Case in point- we just had our first major snow storm here in NJ. You know how the roads get a little bumpy as the snow gets packed down? In the Lexus you do not even know there is snow, in the RSX (a car noted for the firm suspension and taught handling) you can feel the irregularities in the road in the wheel but the overall ride is fairly well dampened. The Suzuki has a fairly even distribution of bumps communicated by both the wheel and the chasis, much more notable than in the RSX, still dampened but to a far lesser degree. But in the Genesis you get a series of jolts from the seat and almost a feeeling that the car is hopping from snowbump to snowbump and mogul to mogul.The powertrain continues along smoothly and the chasis remains level but the driver experience is one of concern... Is the car falling apart? Will I accidently bite my tounge? Why am I so aware of this road's bumps and brusies when I've driven it thousands of times before and never noticed them? The closest I can describe it is like it was when you rode in the back of the school bus and would literally get launched from your seat- but this is happening in the drivers seat at 15mph....
Again this is hard to pinpoint because the Genesis will handle a major expansion joint between road and bridge on RT23 South at 55mph better than the Lexus, much better than the RSX and in another world from the Suzuki. This expanision joint in Wayne has been known to make grown men shudder, but here the Genesis shines.

I am not looking for a "softer ride". I want to be able to drive the local streets not living in fear of a kidney transplant.
So far out of the tire/spring rate/amplitude-selective damping ideas over the root cause of this issue I have to believe it is the tire/damping combo. Daviderle suggested that the ZF “Agility Control” was adjustable “dependent of the tuning philosophy”.
My question to the forum is that for those of you who know suspension systems does this make sense and more importantly is this something that our local dealer can take a crack at adjusting? For me this is sucking major joy from an otherwise fantastic car.