Hotchkiss vs Ridetech

Thomastedder · Dec 17, 2014

I am restoring a 68 Charger RT and am trying to decide which suspension mods to make. I want the car to handle a little better than stock without compromising ride quality.

I don't have the time or expertise to piece together a lot of parts so I'd really like a complete kit that works well. I know there's a price difference, but I'm not overly concerned about that. There may be another kit also that I'm not aware of.

benno440 · Dec 17, 2014

ridetech's quality is second to none.
Hotchkis make good gear also.

Do you want OEM suspension upgrades or a complete new kit i.e custom k member and 4 link.

If upgrading stock good brands would be:
PST
Hotchkis etc.

For ultimate handling:
magnumforce
RMS alterkation
XV performance
Art morrison
Roadster shop

Head over to www.pro-touring.com to find out more info.

personally i run the magnumforce k member and 4 link in my car and am happy with it.

people here will tell you to upgrade stock and spend money elsewhere so you will have to make that decision yourself, best bet would be to find more information from the pros at pro-touring .com there is some dedicated race and engineering guys/teams over there.

once you decide which route you want to take hit me up i can help with more information on the kit, i have researched alot into this.

watermelon · Dec 18, 2014

My 66 coronet was all stock suspension-wise.

I wanted a tighter-than-stock feel. I installed Hotchkis front and rear sway bars, installed new mopar performance xhd leaf springs, and put kyb shocks all around. The car has an entirely new feel --tight. It just boosted my confidence behind the wheel; on ramps and turns go by without ever thinking about preparing for that "floating" feeling because there is none.

My upgrades were only a partial system but handling went through the roof. I was looking for that a-little-better-than stock setup also

PST · Dec 22, 2014

I can put a kit together for you if you are interested. Just PM me. Plus you will get the members discount.

Thanks
James

Thomastedder · Dec 24, 2014

PST said:
I can put a kit together for you if you are interested. Just PM me. Plus you will get the members discount.

Thanks
James

Does anyone know how the PST stuff compares to Hotchkis and Ridetech? I'm really trying to get an idea if of which system is better

dangina · Dec 24, 2014

hotchkis is a proven system on the track, ridetech as well, pst just sells the suspension parts you need

Dennis H · Dec 24, 2014

PST tubular UCA's. USCartool subframe connectors. Hotchkis-tuned Bilstein shocks all 4 corners. Firm Feel Stage 1 or 2. Straight and builds confidence at triple digits. This recipe works for me.

68 Sport Satellite · Dec 24, 2014

If you install front sway bar, be sure to weld in the box-plate on the bottom of your Lower Control Arms so they don't get bent from the extra transfer of force.

Don't forget about Firm Feel! I am running both Hotchkis and Firm Feel parts on my car and it's night and day from stock. Good shocks (think Bilstein) and tires are key, as is a Firm Feel steering box upgrade, and sub-frame connectors will help a whole bunch (get welded connectors if you can).

Merry Christmas!

Thomastedder · Dec 28, 2014

dangina said:
hotchkis is a proven system on the track, ridetech as well, pst just sells the suspension parts you need

That's about what I thought of PST from reading on forums.

- - - Updated - - -

68 Sport Satellite said:
If you install front sway bar, be sure to weld in the box-plate on the bottom of your Lower Control Arms so they don't get bent from the extra transfer of force.

Don't forget about Firm Feel! I am running both Hotchkis and Firm Feel parts on my car and it's night and day from stock. Good shocks (think Bilstein) and tires are key, as is a Firm Feel steering box upgrade, and sub-frame connectors will help a whole bunch (get welded connectors if you can).

Merry Christmas!

Good info! I've never looked into Firm Feel. I'll have to go to their website.

dangina · Dec 30, 2014

Thomastedder said:
That's about what I thought of PST from reading on forums.

- - - Updated - - -

Good info! I've never looked into Firm Feel. I'll have to go to their website.

dick at firm feel is a great guy, bought quite a bit through him, and he has the largest selection of big torsion bars as well as some other custom goodies. I am running probably almost every aftermarket company on my car lol firm feel, hotchkis, pst, hellwig, hypercoil, QA1. Best thing you can do to your car before buying any of this stuff is stiffen up the body with subframe connectors, lower rad brace, inner fender braces, torque box arms, stitch weld the body ect.

Jim Bob The Dancing Bear · Jan 6, 2015

What will you be using the car for? That will dictate the level of suspension mods you need.

If you just want to cruise go with just a solid rebuild, either offset upper control arm bushings or new upper control arms like PST or Firm Feel, sub frame connectors and torque boxes, and sway bars with good shocks. For more stiffness you can get bigger torsion bars from PST or Firm Feel.

If you want more out of your car step up to a different system. Something like a Hotchkis TVS, or more aggresive parts from PST or Firm Feel such as thicker torsion bars, larger sway bars, poly bushings instead of rubber etc.

The next step up would be what Beenno 440 stated with RMS, XV, Ride Tech, Schwarts, Art Morrison giving you a complete change of suspension from torsion bars and leaf springs to coil overs and 4 links or a complete frame with everything on it.

Hotchkiss vs Ridetech

Thomastedder

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benno440

Well-Known Member

watermelon

Well-Known Member

PST

FBBO Vendor

Thomastedder

Member

dangina

Well-Known Member

Dennis H

FBBO Gold Member

68 Sport Satellite

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Thomastedder

Member

dangina

Well-Known Member

Jim Bob The Dancing Bear

Well-Known Member

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