Has anyone seen production totals for the Azera 2006 and 2007 models?

I did find some sales totals based on Nov. 2007 the '06 models were at 24,354
and the '07 models were at 20,351. I would like to know what the total production was for the 06 and 07 models and we could include the Grandeur models for those years too.

What I am leading up to is just how large a market would there be eventually for after market replacements for the struts, both front and rear.

Naturally in the first few years of production on any automobile there is not a great need for replacement struts/shocks. As the cars get older and have more miles on them the market for replacements begins to get larger and eventually companies like Monroe and Gabriel will offer replacements. How large does the market have to be to make it of interest to such companies?:blink:

Joe

http://www.hyundainews.com/Corporate_News/...3_2008_2784.asp

I also found some CY or current year sales totals a number of places. What I was really looking for were accurate production figures. I did find one website 2006 article which stated that Huundai expected to produce about 30-40K Azeras in 2006 and 2007. No statement was made as to how the production would be allocated to different countries, or as to how many would be Grandeurs and how many were Azeras. I think I saw the Azera mentioned somewhere as being sold also in Australia.

Maybe the actual US sales totals of Azeras would be the most meaningful for consideration by companies that produce shocks and struts. There would have to be sufficient numbers here to justify production for the US market. Of course these days with internet sales and air freight many companies manage to get their products sold around the world without realizing it.

A car might need to be about 3-4 years old before people begin to replace shocks or struts. So maybe we will see those items appear by 2009-2010 if the numbers would justify production.

Joe :)

IMHO it's not just a simple shock and strut replacement as the "fix" for the problems well documented on this web site. THE PROBLEM IS NOT DEFECTIVE OR LOUSY SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. Just replacing the existIng struts with the best of the best would still just be putting lipstick on a pig

A significant improvement can not be obtained unless the aftermarket manufacturers make major design changes to the front suspension. And there-in lies the problem... cost. How many people WOULD put $2K in a 2-3 year old car with many other options available... like trading or selling the car.

Considering the amount of people complaining about the wallowing, when Hyundai came out with "improved" struts I'm sure if they could address the "wallowing" and handling problem as well as they would. The major obstacle however was the original design putting a soft Buick Roadmaster cushy ride suspension on the car.

Having said that there are ways to improve the handling and wallowing somewhat with what I would call "Rube Goldberg" type modifications. The drawbacks such as voiding your warranty and liabilites really takes them off the viable table however... again IMHO.

This post has been edited by raw6464: Jun 4 2008, 12:14 PM

Based on my own experience over the last 50 years of driving various vehicles, I believe that replacement shocks/struts would make a significant difference. OEM parts are usually designed to deliver the "boulevard soft ride" that many people prefer. I have had a number of cars and trucks over the years that benefited from replacing the OEM shocks/struts with after market replacements. Better rebound control and better overall handling improvement resulted in every case I dealt with.

By way of illustration, the comments from those who had their struts replaced under the TSB indicated improvement for at least a while. OEM shocks and struts will always result in a ride consistent with the manufacturer's specifications.

I always used a mid-grade or premium grade shock or strut when replacing OEM ones. It always resulted in an improvement in handling over the OEM units. It is one of the least expensive replacement parts for suspension available to most of us.

If Monroe and/or Gabriel eventually produce replacements, they will likely still have three performance grades available for Azera/Grandeur application and the customer will have a choice of how much improvement or change they want to implement.

:thumbsup:
Joe

all the strut replacement did for me was eliminate the rattle...for about a month. It's back now although not as bad as before. The ride didn't improve and I'd almost say it has actually gotten worse over time. I always had the float and the bouncy ride but I loved the way the car handled on a smooth freeway, it was silky smooth...now it's downright scary at times. The lateral movement is what is killing me. It almost feels like the wheels are only connected to the car by the bearing joint and that they are free to flop around between negative and postive camber...like rickety old wagon wheels. You hold the wheel straight and the car just likes to randomly tug to eaither side as if you were turning the wheel back and forth with short little jerks. I've had alignment checked, wheels balanced, they are rotated every 5k mi. and the dealership says everything is within spec. Figures. Maybe I should ask for my 041's back.

I do wonder if the tires play a roll in this though which is why I asked my question in the other thread. I'm curious if those out there who have replace the stockers with a firmer tire or larger rim/low pro tire have noticed any significant improvement in the lateral motion of the vehicle. If not, I think we can definitely lay the blame all on the suspension.

You can't compare strut replacement on conventional McPhearson suspensions to the Azeras. Or like fine tuning an already good suspension better. You have a car with a major design variation from the norm to attain a given result... a soft wallowing ride.

THE AZERA STRUTS ARE HINGED TO THE AXLE HUBS AND ARE THE MAJOR REASON WHY THE CAR WALLOWS. NO AFTERMARKET STRUTS, TIRES, SHOCKS, SPRING, SWAY BARS ARE GOING TO FIX THIS CAR. YOU CAN MAKE THIS CAR ROLL, PITCH AND YAW STANDING STILL . IF THE HYUNDAI ENGINEERS DID NOT WANT THE CAR TO WALLOW LIKE IT DOES THEY WOULD HAVE NOT PUT THE HINGE IN THE STRUT.

Yes you can mitigate the wallowing just by simply firmer springs and shocks but then it will make the already hard ride over rough roads... ride like a 263HP buckboard... because of the DESIGN of the suspension. You can accomplish the same thing by just putting spacers in the springs... but no matter what you do the hinged struts will still be there.

Because of the hinged struts I do not believe you can fix this car by putting aftermarket struts, shocks, springs on this car. The going rate for the ONLY aftermarket struts/spring/shocks that are available go for around $1200 (not installed)and it's a "lowering" kit with no claim to fix the wallowing. Not only will it NOT fix the car it will void the warranty. Then who you gunna go to when the car STILL wallows?

This post has been edited by raw6464: Jun 4 2008, 01:24 PM

I will make a few observations and comments on the "Suspension Centerfold" thread that andyman32 started.

Joe

Thank you Joe. I cannot agree with you more! :amen: and :liebe011:

In fifty-five years of doing that exact same thing, I have never had any vehicle that I could not improve the loose flopping around monkey motion ride by going to bigger and firmer type shocks!
Never mattered who made the aftermarket shocks, I always noticed plenty of improvement.

As an example, my '66 Corsa turbo with an inexpensive set of heavy duty Sears
shocks and a proper alighment, would out-handle the 'Vettes of that era!

This is completely contrary to what a certain motor-cycle riding type states!
I would ask him, how is it that a certain individual has "fooled around" with
lowering the front end slightly and changing the rear shocks rebound and
jounce rates and made his '06 SE into a real handling machine?
This car not only handles well on the track, but give fits to Bimmers in the
mountains. Those who read this forum regularly know of whom I speak. :innocent:
BTW, there is a YouTube video offered as proof.

I have written to Bilstein but I received their standard reply.
They have no plans to develop a replacement at this time.
I had hoped that Bilstein would indeed come up with a replacement, as I believe that they
build the best shocks bar none. My son-in-laws '97 E-420 still has the original shocks
after 11 years and 140K miles, and our alighment shop tells me that those original
Bilsteins do not need replacement until between 180 and 200K miles!
That car still drives and feels as it did when it was brand new.

So who here will be the first to discover which aftermarket company
is producing a replacement shock for our beloved Azeras? :whistling:

:57:

This post has been edited by snaglepus: Jun 22 2008, 08:40 AM