Element suspension/ride on highway

KCguy33 · 11-09-2012, 02:36 PM

Hello,
I recently bought an '07 Element SC, and to be honest, I haven't exactly been thrilled with the way it rides on the highway. It seems like there is a weird up-and-down bobbing motion going on if the road isn't completely smooth. I just wondered if this is normal and if anyone else experiences this. Granted, it's not a huge range of motion, but there is a kind of small, bouncing feeling that gets annoying after a while. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

GaryS · 11-09-2012, 04:18 PM

Yep, that's an Element: short wheelbase, tightly sprung and with the SC, low profile tires. It's not a Buick.

racerc2000 · 11-09-2012, 08:04 PM

just so we can compare... what was your previous vehicle?

as with everything there is a tradeoff.

tires. go with lower profile and you get increased stability and decreased comfort

I would say as a daily driver if looks didnt matter and only the physics were taken into account to get the most performance while keeping comfort.....

a 17" wheel should be installed. 16 is way too much sidewall and 18 is into the stiff region.

the suspension isnt all that bad on an SC. even with my coilovers and all the fine tuneing ive been doing to the suspension going from 19" summer tires to my 16" all seasons is like night and day. the bumps just fade away even with the stiff suspension. as does the aggressiveness and poise. its like the tires give it a delayed reaction.

FEA · 11-10-2012, 02:22 AM

It must be an SC thing. My stock EX is a cushy ride, which i definitely chalk up to the fairly high sidewall tires...

2010E · 11-10-2012, 07:29 AM

It is actually safer to have more sidewall in a high center of gravity vehicle. The high lateral resistance of low profile tires increases the chances of rollover. The NHTSA has write ups on this issue.

I see some big SUV's with low profile tires that look like wagon wheels off of covered wagons.

In western movies, they would flip those easily too.

80honda · 11-12-2012, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FEA

It must be an SC thing. My stock EX is a cushy ride, which i definitely chalk up to the fairly high sidewall tires...

I have both an EX and an SC.

The difference in ride is night and day. To be honest, about the only thing I don't like about the SC is the punishing ride. It's just awful.

80honda · 11-12-2012, 04:01 PM

I considering a switch to 17" rims when tire replacement time arrives.

racerc2000 · 11-12-2012, 05:43 PM

I feel 17s are a good choice for both ex and SC

with all my suspension work it almost feels like the suspension is over working the 16s when I use them. almost like its tuned to use the tires to their maximum potential but the tires lack potential for performance.

however they fit over my brembos if ever so slightly so they will stay as my winter wheels till I come across a set of CRV 17" steelies.

I also miss my wider rears when I revert to stock for winter. with no rear seats and an empty truck the rear end always feels like it lacks traction. most FWD cars suffer from understeer

I dont know if its just me but the element feels to have a bit of oversteer. and with my 245/275 tire set it seems pretty balanced. and ive driven high hp cars of both fwd and rwd that suffered drastically from one or the other.

desinia · 11-13-2012, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCguy33

Hello,
I recently bought an '07 Element SC, and to be honest, I haven't exactly been thrilled with the way it rides on the highway. It seems like there is a weird up-and-down bobbing motion going on if the road isn't completely smooth. I just wondered if this is normal and if anyone else experiences this. Granted, it's not a huge range of motion, but there is a kind of small, bouncing feeling that gets annoying after a while. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Mine is exactly the same. You learn the locations of the bad roads after a while.

Rick92040 · 11-13-2012, 12:26 PM

Check your struts. The back ones seem to go bad first. Look for any leaking.

11-09-2012, 02:36 PM	#1
KCguy33 EOC Rank: Hydrogen 2007 SC 2WD 5AT Other Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 14	Element suspension/ride on highway Hello, I recently bought an '07 Element SC, and to be honest, I haven't exactly been thrilled with the way it rides on the highway. It seems like there is a weird up-and-down bobbing motion going on if the road isn't completely smooth. I just wondered if this is normal and if anyone else experiences this. Granted, it's not a huge range of motion, but there is a kind of small, bouncing feeling that gets annoying after a while. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

11-09-2012, 08:04 PM	#3
racerc2000 EOC Rank: Carbon 2010 SC 2WD 5AT Polished Metal Metallic (PMM) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Long island NY Posts: 1,453	just so we can compare... what was your previous vehicle? as with everything there is a tradeoff. tires. go with lower profile and you get increased stability and decreased comfort I would say as a daily driver if looks didnt matter and only the physics were taken into account to get the most performance while keeping comfort..... a 17" wheel should be installed. 16 is way too much sidewall and 18 is into the stiff region. the suspension isnt all that bad on an SC. even with my coilovers and all the fine tuneing ive been doing to the suspension going from 19" summer tires to my 16" all seasons is like night and day. the bumps just fade away even with the stiff suspension. as does the aggressiveness and poise. its like the tires give it a delayed reaction. __________________ 2010 PMM SC. color matched trim/mirrors,pinstripe,factory spoiler,vent guards,Clazzio leather,carbon fiber trim,various ktuned/mugen/arc/skunk2/crower bits tossed around In solitude, where we are least alone.

11-12-2012, 05:43 PM	#8
racerc2000 EOC Rank: Carbon 2010 SC 2WD 5AT Polished Metal Metallic (PMM) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Long island NY Posts: 1,453	I feel 17s are a good choice for both ex and SC with all my suspension work it almost feels like the suspension is over working the 16s when I use them. almost like its tuned to use the tires to their maximum potential but the tires lack potential for performance. however they fit over my brembos if ever so slightly so they will stay as my winter wheels till I come across a set of CRV 17" steelies. I also miss my wider rears when I revert to stock for winter. with no rear seats and an empty truck the rear end always feels like it lacks traction. most FWD cars suffer from understeer I dont know if its just me but the element feels to have a bit of oversteer. and with my 245/275 tire set it seems pretty balanced. and ive driven high hp cars of both fwd and rwd that suffered drastically from one or the other. __________________ 2010 PMM SC. color matched trim/mirrors,pinstripe,factory spoiler,vent guards,Clazzio leather,carbon fiber trim,various ktuned/mugen/arc/skunk2/crower bits tossed around In solitude, where we are least alone.

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11-09-2012, 04:18 PM	#2
GaryS EOC Rank: Neon 2008 4WD LX MT Atomic Blue Metallic (ABM) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toe-puke-ah, Kansas Posts: 2,120	Yep, that's an Element: short wheelbase, tightly sprung and with the SC, low profile tires. It's not a Buick.

11-10-2012, 02:22 AM	#4
FEA EOC Rank: Hydrogen 2008 4WD EX-P AT Tangerine Metallic (TM) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14	It must be an SC thing. My stock EX is a cushy ride, which i definitely chalk up to the fairly high sidewall tires...

11-10-2012, 07:29 AM	#5
2010E EOC Rank: Helium 2010 4WD EX AT Alabaster Silver Metallic (ASM) Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 129	It is actually safer to have more sidewall in a high center of gravity vehicle. The high lateral resistance of low profile tires increases the chances of rollover. The NHTSA has write ups on this issue. I see some big SUV's with low profile tires that look like wagon wheels off of covered wagons. In western movies, they would flip those easily too.

11-12-2012, 04:01 PM	#7
80honda EOC Rank: Oxygen 2009 SC 2WD 5AT Omni Blue Pearl (OBP) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Atlanta / Smyrna Posts: 470	I considering a switch to 17" rims when tire replacement time arrives.

11-13-2012, 12:26 PM	#10
Rick92040 EOC Rank: Oxygen 2008 2WD EX AT Kiwi Metallic (KM) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Diego area Posts: 794	Check your struts. The back ones seem to go bad first. Look for any leaking.

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