[Zedman]

Hello all. New member here. I have a new 2010 Forte SX and I love my car.

But... after owning it now for 1 month, I have to say the suspension is a bit too stiff for me. After searching this forum, I have yet to see any answers to the question of how to 'soften' the suspension. In my own case, I've checked the tire pressures and find them to be set correctly for the installed tires.

I was wondering if some aftermarket shocks might help, or would you need to replace the springs in the car (making this a more difficult and expensive proposition)?

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[MaxD]

Install springs from a EX model. Sx's are equiped with what Kia calls a sport suspension.

 

[Tsunami]

ooh ooh, I'll trade ya

 

[MFury]

You can also switch your wheels out for the 16 inch EX sizings and get more rubber to absorb the road faults.

 

[Zedman]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I'll check out the shocks first.

 

[Red Rocket]

The first thing you should check is the air pressure in the tires. The cars are being shipped with 45 psi in the tires. Others have complained about the same thing and have confirmed this.

 

[Zedman]

Thanks Red Rocket, but as I mentioned in my original post, my tire pressures are set correctly, unfortunately.

 

[Rapol]

I have the same problem as you. I found this things on ebay. They are called spring spacers, googled it. I havent bought them yet because im not sure they work or how much improvement they do. But i might buy them since they have a 7 day money back. One of the guys told me that it will raise the car about an inch so its not that much.

Oh and theres another pair made of ??urethane?? but more expensive

 

[Zedman]

Thanks for the info Rapol. I will look into those products. Anything to help soften the ride would be helpful.

 

[Rapol]

We need flying cars. No more buying tires and the government saves on roads.

 

[justinadams]

lolololololol

 

[Khonshu]

Well I own a ex and the ride is still pretty rigid speed bumps and rough roads are murder

 

[[email protected]]

Aftermarket shocks/springs/tires/wheel alignment may or may not help - that a lot of $$ to spend just to find out. In addition, there are more factors to just throwing parts at it. The design of the car itself is meant to be sports tuned suspension - there are bushings to consider, weight distribution, etc...
Maybe buy a second car like a used Cadillac or Buick then you have the best of both worlds.

 

[Rapol]

Yeah what he said. Updated: found some bushings but for the koup Kia Forte KOUP Front Suspension Bushing Kit: eBay Motors (item 260609379091 end time Sep-22-10 19:34:03 PDT)

 

[gripphard]

if you think the ride is to stiff with rubber bushings;replacing with urethane will make it more rigid, or, you'll feel the road more. some people want or enjoy that 'feeling'.

 

[Rapol]

So the spring spacers would't help at softening the ride?

 

[[email protected]]

Cars sit on top of the springs [thats what gives it the ride 'height'. Spacers will just give it more height, but not increase the softness of the ride. The Koup was just not designed to feel like a Buick. If you throw enough skill and money at it, sure things can be done...but that will take trial and error, skills and money...it would be so much easier to just buy a second hand Cadillac and have two cars- one for nice cornering and the other for a pillowy ride.

 

[KorsaBlue]

Install springs from a EX model. Sx's are equiped with what Kia calls a sport suspension.

hahaha!! hilarious

 

[stockey]

I have a SX Koup with the Eibach lowering springs and i don't find the ride that bad,unless you have back problems.

 

[P-51]

Those spring spacers will just make the situation worse. Frankly, I can't believe something like that is even on the market. Stupid and dangerous.

The polyurethane bushings will also make the ride worse.

The only way to solve your problem is to get softer dampers. Not sure where you'd find them, most aftermarket are stiffer. If you wanted a softer ride, should have bought a Ford Focus. I'm trading in a Focus wagon on a Forte because I got tired of the excessively soft ride.

My other Focus however... pretty hard...

Notice the rear wheel...