Higher tire pressure is an interesting possibility; I wonder if you replace the tires with some known positive like Michelin HydroEdge or Falken Ziex or Pirelli P-Zero, would it improve the overall car's ride? Based on the noise & driving characteristics, I actually can take relatively quick corners (quicker than my Vanden Plas but maybe not as quick as my XJR... well... you know). It seems pretty straight, pretty accurate steering.

Something isn't matched up right in the suspension and I can't "intuit" whether it's stiff springs & weak shocks, or the other way 'round. In corners, the tires do actually "lean" themselves - so lower-profile tires with thicker sidewalls actually does make a car feel more solid in corners. The tire pressure's effect on the lateral distortion of the tire would probably be negligible, since it's distorting along the sidewall material, not the air mass inside... ride characteristics are obviously effected significantly by pressure but maybe not handling? I don't know.

Aside from a harsher ride, what are the consequences of keeping the tires at 5psi over recommended?

Strong possibility of excessive wear to the middle of the tires.

David <><

I suggested that very same thing to my Service Manger last week. The answer was, "Hyundai will only do the TSB one time on the Azera. Any additional shock replacements will be at the expense of either the dealer or consumer".

David <><

Bob,

I also did the same experiment last week.

After changing the oil and rotating tires, I pumped them up to 35 psi. I usually carry 32 psi. My Azera calls for 30 psi.

I made two round trips to Tucson which was a total of 160 miles of interstate driving.

I found the ride to be much harsher and noisier. I also found the bouncing front end to be the same. My shocks are still worn out and will stay that way, according to Hyundai and no amount of air pressure is going to change that

When I finished these two trips, I promptly lowered the air pressure to the recommended amount, 30 psi.

The ride is now smoother and the bouncing is the same.

I give up experimenting. It is too frustrating. The car needs a few design changes such as HD shocks that will not wear out so soon. Of course, better springs would be great but that will never happen. The shocks are a possibility someday.

If I could find a set of shocks for the front end that would last 12 months, I would buy them in a heart beat.

I had originally thought I'd keep my Azera for 5 years but now, I don't think so. Unless something becomes available to fix the front end, I plan on getting rid of this car when it is 3 years old.

It is a real shame to, because I love everything about the Azera except front end bounce.

David <><

I remember sometime back on the Edmunds-Azera forum there was a huge debate about tire pressure. Many of those guys were advocating 5-10psi over the recommended psi for any and all cars.

"Azera Suspension Problems"?

We know it, Korea knows it. It's time for Korea to step up and fix it.

Fountain Valley and the US dealer nerwork needs to be in the loop as well, for a change.

It's unlikely that 5psi over will actually create center wear in the tire. It might BARELY register at the end of the tire's life... and with any kind of alignment problems, few tires make it that long. As long as the pressure is under the tire's max pressure rating it should still wear relatively evenly. The straight driving characteristics are all you're adjusting.

Fuel economy is better with harder tires but you'd have to drive a LOT of miles over a long period of time to really see a 0.05mpg difference pay out at the pump. Harder tires also reduce the contact patch which will make it easier to lose traction. Peeling out is easier; lateral traction is worse (even if it feels stiffer the car will hold fewer Gs in a turn before losing traction); wet surface performance will be reduced; crosswind sway at highway speeds might be more pronounced. I used to run my cars a few PSI over the recommendation but (you guys are going to hate this) I prefer the softer ride (I guess I'm an old guy trapped in a young guy's body... I found BMWs to be too harsh and loved my Buicks... weird eh?) and am willing to pay for a minuscule penalty in fuel economy. Soft tires on a car might cost me all of $30/yr in extra gas. The Jags recommend 28psi on 235/60R16 tires. I run the Azeras at 30psi and have considered softening them further. Soft tires on a car aren't nearly as dangerous or inefficient as they are on SUVs; the loss-of-roadholding effect is almost exponential based on the height of the center of gravity in a truck. While a car with a soft tire might feel odd or 'washy' in maneuvers, an SUV will flip over. And with the TPMS on the Azzy it's safe to play, see how different pressures strike you.

:thumbsup:

.



Yikes! :o I'm goin' back to the recommended pressure first thing in the morning. I don't like the harshness anyway.

Don't panick. Your tires would have to overinflated by more than 3-5lbs. to cause such behavior.

This post has been edited by jwaters943: Jun 17 2008, 08:37 AM

Rule of thumb is 2-3 lbs. over recommended is best. I had a Toyota Camry and carried 5 lbs. over recommended. Dealer actually recommended 6 over based on their experiences. Got perfect tire wear and no loss of traction, etc. Most manufacturers under estimate needed pressure to improve ride.
Try 2 lbs. over and check monthly for wear pattern. Adjust accordingly.

Im running 38psi, its a little high, but its better than it was at 30psi.

The regional service manager and the dealership senior service manager and I went for a ride in my 07 Azera yesterday. I also had an oil change and rotation while there and we all looked under the car at the suspension components. Everything was normal.
Bottom line, yes, it does bounce, but it is built that way to deliver a "soft" ride.
Interestingly we also went for a ride in a "new" '07 that was still sitting on the lot. No difference in the ride, probably a little worse actually.
RSM called someone and they reported that there is no change in the suspensions for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 with the exception of now using the -040 struts. He also said there is no new strut or anything else on the 2008/2009 per his sources.
One thing I noticed is that the bounce up and down and side to side seems worse when only one person is in the car. Not sure, but it seems three adult guys tend to dampen the bounce.
I am in the Hyundai files to be notified if they come up with a solution.
I still believe that if enough of us individually contact Hyundai corporate offices, we may encourage them to come up with a fix, even on a shared cost basis.
BTW, they are expecting one Genesis in three months.
:puzzled:

If the suspension wasn't changed I wonder why they clearly state in the 2008 brochure that it was.

This post has been edited by jwaters943: Jun 18 2008, 09:18 AM

Because, by the time the 2008 models were being manufactured, they were not using the 041 shocks. Technically, that would constitute a change starting in 08.

From a moral standpoint, what they said is wrong because it is misleading but technically they are correct.

Remember buyer beware?

David <><

If the suspension really is the same with only new shocks than I'd say it's more of a bold faced lie than anything else.

This is what the 2008 Azera brochure says:

"featuring an all-new suspension for 2008, the Azera rides on a double wishbone design in front and a multi-link set-up in the back, along with gas-charged hydraulic shocks.

I can scan it if anyone would like to see it. :57:

This post has been edited by jwaters943: Jun 18 2008, 05:32 PM

"RSM called someone and they reported that there is no change in the suspensions for 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 with the exception of now using the -040 struts. He also said there is no new strut or anything else on the 2008/2009 per his sources."

I posted (somewhere) that there is indeed a new and different part number for the 2008 shocks.

It is 54611-3L640

Haven't gotten around to asking the parts guy if there is a different part number for MY 2009.

I'm getting to the point where I am tired of this entire situation.

I've even contacted Bilstein and they couldn't care less about our situation either.
"At this time, there are no plans for Bilstein to develop shocks for the Hyundai Azera that I know of."

What a shame!

:amen: