Modernization of the Hyundai Solaris suspension

Do-it-yourself Solaris suspension upgrade

After some period of operation of this car, its owners begin to be interested in upgrading the Hyundai Solaris suspension.
This brand of Korean car has become popular in many regions of the Russian Federation and CIS countries in a very short period. The beautiful appearance of this car and its good performance characteristics attract many potential buyers. Upgrading the Hyundai Solaris suspension with your own hands is quite possible, you just need to approach this issue competently and responsibly. Problems with the suspension appear mainly when traveling on bad roads, which is why the question arises about the possibilities of its modifications. Changes can be different, depending mainly on the capabilities and requirements of the car owner.

Upgrading the Solaris suspension at home is of interest to many car owners. How to do it yourself, what tools are needed for this and what spare parts to use will be discussed in detail in this material.

Almost every owner of a Hyundai Solaris, after using the car for some time, asks the question: how to upgrade the suspension? This is not difficult to do, but it is important to approach the task responsibly and competently. Problems with the Hyundai Solaris chassis usually arise when driving over uneven surfaces, of which there are a lot in our country. Changes in the suspension can be different and they usually depend on the capabilities and requirements of the owner for his own car.

When preparing cars specifically for our market, the Koreans wanted the best. And they endowed the car with a comfortable suspension, which is especially valuable in bad road conditions, and a lively engine - as you know, there is never too much horsepower. However, it soon became clear that the car, which was soft and quiet on a flat road, lost its nobility of character on potholes and began to shake with its entire body. And in turns or during active maneuvering, you can even jump off the trajectory like a hare confusing the trail.

Having learned that the designers tried to correct this defect in the car updated in the spring, I immediately wanted to check the car in action. And turning off the Kaluga highway towards Borovsk, I immediately found what I was looking for. The surprisingly smooth M3 federal highway turns into a regional road here.

No, you won’t be scared of a bad, expensive Russian Hyundai! After just a few tens of kilometers, I concluded, not without satisfaction, that the car had become more stable and clearer in all driving modes. Even where previously the stern was overcome by rocking, now there is nothing like it; and, ultimately, the car allows you to drive faster and more confidently.

Having believed in the energy intensity of the suspension, I immediately caught such a pothole that forced the front shock absorbers to break down. Well, yes, you still need to be more careful! Moreover, the grip properties of standard Kumho-Solus tires still leave much to be desired.

Has Solaris become tougher? Perhaps. Not enough, however, to shake out the soul. I would be happy with just such chassis settings. Although my fellow traveler doesn’t seem to be very happy: at the next speed bump the car shook noticeably, and my colleague, snoring peacefully in the passenger seat, looked reproachfully in my direction. Still, it is a thankless task to try to please a sophisticated public.

Other features of Solaris remained with him: there are few of them, as before, but they still exist. The sound insulation of the arches leaves much to be desired, and you will have to put up with the low ceiling above the sofa. The 1.4-liter engine does not come with side and window airbags, and convenient central locking with remote control becomes available at least in the expensive “Comfort” version.

But now, even in the most affordable versions, the hood is supplemented with sound insulation, and the trunk lid of the sedan has received interior trim. In addition, if previously in the basic version the back of the sofa could only be folded entirely, now it can be folded in parts on any sedan. Finally, a photochromic mirror and a rear view camera have settled in the top-end configuration.

It turns out that combining incompatible things while remaining within a modest budget is still possible. True, it’s still not possible to please everyone, as usual.

The updated “Solaris” caters to the traditional Russian desire to drive quickly more skillfully. The car has become a little stiffer, but this is an absolutely adequate price for stable handling. By maintaining a tasty price, this “Russian Korean” will be able to remain the most popular car on our market for a long time.

I tore out the skin on my finger. So you need to work very carefully with pullers. And here's the drav test. My wife and I sit down. Solik now looks like a crossover. The front end was raised by 15 mm.

More on the topic: Which is better: Kia Rio or Hyundai Solaris

The landing was different before. The rear is raised towards the bottom. Now there is complete harmony.

Checked the speed limit. On a flat area up a small hill, I accelerated up to the road and holds it like a cat. Very comfortable. No knocks, no breakdowns, bumps fly by like a big jeep. Handles the road perfectly. But my desire for idealism does not give me the opportunity to abandon this problem; in general, I will try and improve.

I also removed the bracket from my car to change the angle of the shock absorber, since the Ls are quite rigid and in a vertical position they begin to transfer the road terrain to the fifth point, of course, the car’s handling in this position of the shock absorbers improves, but for me comfort is also important, so for now removed.

According to reviews from people who also redid the suspension and who have L shock absorbers, over time they become a little softer and then you can put them vertically, in general, for the time being, my shock absorbers are in an inclined position.

We cut off a corner of how to remake the rear suspension of a Hyundai Solaris 17cm, according to the picture I took it from Dr. Solaris manufactures stabilizer mounting bracket. We also manufacture a second mirror bracket using the existing bracket.

We fasten the brackets to the spring cup; it is advisable to cut off one edge of the heads of the bolts fastening to the cup, since when fastening in the cup itself, the inner circle will interfere, this will give us the opportunity to place the bolt head straight and prevent twisting when tightening the nut.

Thanks to the inventor for the drawing. We prepare the bumpers. We need to cut off the top of each bumper, measure 35mm from the bottom and cut it off. We install them in the center of the spring cup and screw them from below.

Find your place in life and benefit society, benefit the people around you how to redo the rear suspension of a Hyundai Solaris. Korean cars that have swept our market like a wave. These brands have become popular in a very short period of time. And these are not simple words. The motto of these cars is, first of all, innovative design, certainly beautiful harmonious shapes. Exterior and interior that revived the entire range of passenger cars, setting a high bar.

So the move was right.

But the basic platform on both Solaris and Rio turned out to be not so successful. And the triple modernization did not correct the main problems of the suspension.

But the car is good. Is it possible to customize it for yourself? Why not? Of course it is possible. How to remake the rear suspension of a Hyundai Solaris, we buy various accessories for beauty or convenience, sometimes paying a lot of money for it. Why can’t you improve your car in terms of its behavior on the road? Isn't that the most important thing? Need stability on the highway? No problem. Shouldn't there be any swing? This is solvable. Is the suspension flimsy and breaks?

And there is a solution. Small things hammering the fifth point? This can be solved and noise from road unevenness can be reduced.

This can all be solved. And your humble servant decided it for. I studied and studied this with interest for almost three years. And he came up with a certain concept in which it is possible to improve the suspension of this platform, not in mock-up slang in words, but in real deeds, with real developments and tests.

Testing time and reviews from owners of those who decided to redo the suspension. More than three years have passed. Year Has the problem been resolved at the plant at this point?

Formally yes! The stern rocking was removed and the suspension was strengthened. But there is no need to delude yourself about this. The problem is still not resolved. Why do I say that the previous changes had little result and the latest reincarnation completely worsened the results. And this is not an unfounded statement, but the result of working with correspondence.

Real reviews from owners on websites, letters that I receive in large numbers, how to redo the rear suspension of a Hyundai Solaris, have how to redo the rear suspension of a Hyundai Solaris, complaints about the suspension. The main thing is insufficient stability at speeds of more than km/h. Unpredictability of the car’s behavior on uneven surfaces.

Weak suspension to breakdown. There is a topic on the forum: I think that my Hyundai Solaris has a bad suspension! In the second 36 thousand. This suggests that this problem is more likely to exist.

More on the topic: Strengthen the suspension of the Solaris || Strengthen the Solaris suspension

Moreover, not how to redo the rear suspension of a Hyundai Solaris will want to simply and truthfully write about their car, because so much money has been given. And in terms of the number of views, the first one is one and a half times higher. This indicates that there is a problem.

But don’t you want to have the best if there is such an opportunity? And so let's start with this. It all started with Solarisiv from the first batch produced over the years. The car is very good, beautiful, reliable and simple, inexpensive to maintain.

DIY front suspension upgrade

The restyling carried out in 2014 gave Solaris many advantages over its predecessors. However, not every car enthusiast was pleased with the quality of the suspension. As a result of this, many car owners began to use all sorts of independent modernization methods, as a result of which the front suspension of the Hyundai Solaris is slightly changed. Tuning it consists of the following methods.

To upgrade, it is necessary to replace the front shock absorbers. Drivers must install a KIA Soul part instead of the original one. This method is the most popular.

Initially it is necessary to jack up the car;
then the wheel is removed;
the standard shock absorber is removed;
the shock absorber from Kia is slightly longer, so it is necessary to trim it in line with the original part of the car;
then the new shock absorber is pumped (4 passes);
car assembly.

Thanks to this tuning method, it is possible to achieve high rigidity on bad roads; in addition, the car acquires improved qualities in the form of stability and controllability.

Another method of modernization is the use of purchased elements. The unique design is called a cube suspension. Despite the little popularity of the pendant, many speak flatteringly about its performance. The suspension is based on the use of front springs, the strength of which is much greater than conventional ones. Thanks to this, the car becomes even more dynamic and controllable.

The right to choose remains with the driver. It is he who decides whether to upgrade the suspension and get a completely different car in terms of characteristics, or save money and spend money on repairs.

A few words about the problems

A lot has been said about the shortcomings in the design of the rear suspension of this car for a long time. The manufacturer assures that in the latest models all the wishes of the owners have been taken into account and corrected, but models of earlier releases need changes. The most complaints come from owners about the car's yaw when driving at speeds from 80 km/h to 140 km/h. As experts have found out, the reason for this is the poor design of the rear shock absorbers.

We all understand perfectly well that there is no such thing as an absolutely ideal car, but we want to have a car with as few shortcomings as possible. After a certain period of operation, the wheel bearings become weak and the steering rack of the car begins to make unpleasant sounds. Because of this, the steering wheel begins to beat, and the steering tips quickly become unusable. In order to somehow get rid of this, its elements are being improved.

How to improve rear suspension handling

And there is a solution. Small things hammering the fifth point? This can be solved and noise from road unevenness can be reduced.

Testing time and reviews from owners of those who decided to redo the suspension. More than three years have passed. Year Has the problem been resolved at the plant at this point?

Real reviews from owners on websites, letters that I receive in large numbers, how to redo the rear suspension of a Hyundai Solaris, have how to redo the rear suspension of a Hyundai Solaris, complaints about the suspension. The main thing is insufficient stability at speeds of more than km/h. Unpredictability of the car’s behavior on uneven surfaces.

Weak suspension to breakdown. There is a topic on the forum: I think that my Hyundai Solaris has a bad suspension! In the second 36 thousand. This suggests that this problem is more likely to exist.

Remaking the rear suspension of Hyundai Solaris video

I have a car from this lot. Even during the purchase and transfer, I noticed that the stern of the Solaris gallops on uneven surfaces and sways especially unpleasantly on the waves.

But the car is new, rose-colored glasses and this is the first foreign car. They can become unusable both after 50 km and after km.

The best indicator of the need to install new parts is one of the following factors: Knocking sounds coming from the rear when driving on rough roads.

Rear axle steering effect.

Deviation from the direct vector of the direction of movement. Many car enthusiasts are interested in how much it will cost to replace the rear silent blocks on a Hyundai Solaris, how to redo the rear suspension of a Hyundai Solaris, or the price of such repairs in a private workshop - it all depends on the region. So, in the outback at a dealer, the cost of work starts from 4 rubles. Within the capital, the official price tag reaches 10 rubles. Garage specialists from Moscow and St. Petersburg are ready to get down to business for 3 - 4 rubles. The same process for a private mechanic, say, in the Tver or Pskov region, will cost .5 hours in time, and 1 ruble in money.

What can be done?

In most cases, many begin to improve the stability of this car when driving at high speeds. As noted earlier, the most complaints are caused by the yaw of the rear of the car, pulling to the side when there are side gusts of wind or heavy vehicles passing by.

They are installed on the car at a certain angle, which leads to a steady increase in loads and inertial forces. Installing shock absorbers in a strictly vertical position leads to a decrease in suspension travel, but this will also lead to a decrease in loads and inertial moments. These are the kind of modifications that are carried out in most cases by the owners of these cars. Let's try to figure out this change together.

When moving the shock absorber mount, a new mount for this unit is made. It is made in such a way that there are four points for attaching the lower point for it. This allows you to select the most optimal type of suspension geometry for the owner. It was noticed that in this situation, suspension breakdowns became more frequent, which can be eliminated by installing other springs.

At first, thick rubber inserts were inserted between the coils of standard springs, but this turned out to be an ineffective solution. After numerous experiments with springs from different car models, the best results were obtained with springs from a VAZ 2108 or 2110. They are shortened slightly by cutting off approximately 2.7 parts of the coil and bending the outer part of the cut coil.

This modification shows very good results, just don’t forget to install the lower bumpers for the springs, they will also be the center for the new springs. Installing coil springs instead of barrel-shaped standard products significantly improves suspension characteristics. Depending on the desired vehicle clearance, the spring can be trimmed a little more or less.

Changes to the rear suspension immediately highlight weaknesses in the front end of the car. The front struts are treated in the same way. They are removed from the car and disassembled. Instead of factory springs, new ones are installed, which are again used from the “six”, cut into 2.9 parts of the coil. You should also take rubber gaskets for the springs from this model.

Rear suspension

The rear suspension of the Hyundai Solaris can also be restored quite quickly with your own hands; some drivers also modernize it themselves. Tuning or improvement does not always change the driving performance of the car; this is often due to the installed parts.

It is better to purchase replacement parts using the corresponding article numbers, which can be found using the car’s VIN code in specialized services. To repair the stabilizer bar of the Hyundai Solaris rear suspension or replace it, you will need a standard set of tools.

The Hyundai plant has already changed the suspension in its models several times, and most often the necessary modernization is associated only with replacing the springs.

By studying the rear suspension diagram of the Hyundai Solaris, you can establish that the springs have their own classes and are marked with paint. When replacing, you need to install only identical parts, and of the same class that were installed previously.

Some people use parts produced by VAZ when replacing them, but in this case it is impossible to guarantee high-quality suspension service. The replacement process is no different from similar operations performed for the front suspension.

If shock absorbers, levers or springs can be replaced independently, then if the bearings fail, you will have to change the entire assembly and this is best done at a service station, where the technicians know exactly what kind of rear suspension the Hyundai Solaris has, its control values, advantages and disadvantages, and will be able to Replace parts with jewelry precision.

Finally

We will not dwell on the issue that only high-quality spare parts should be used. In some cases, especially on cars with high mileage, the quality of the parts used alone increases the controllability, stability and other characteristics of the car. Fans of traveling at high speeds install a stabilizer bar on the rear axle, which, after minor modifications, is used from domestic cars with front-wheel drive VAZ 2108.

As can be seen from our story, there are opportunities for improving this car model. We tried to tell everyone how the Hyundai Solaris suspension is modernized. Assess your technical and financial capabilities for such work and only then get to work.

Behavior on the road

The opinions of Solaris owners are divided: calm drivers are quite satisfied with the car’s “soft” suspension, while those who have to drive at higher speeds on the highway note its significant shortcomings.

Indeed, when driving a Hyundai Solaris on an area with an uneven road surface: potholes, waves or ruts, the car begins to behave unnaturally. It skids, throws to the sides, and throws up, which forces the driver to slow down for his own safety. On the one hand, you should not break the speed limit on such a road, but on the other hand, a deplorable situation also develops when driving on smooth asphalt. Even at a low speed for a suburban highway of 90 km/h, the body of the Solaris is subject to slight vertical swing. At higher speeds, over 120 km/h, the car begins to “float” along the road, getting into even minor ruts, as if it were being blown away by a strong wind.

The Hyundai Solaris suspension lacks energy intensity, but this problem can be solved..

Existing problems

On all forums dedicated to Hyundai Solaris, car owners discuss design flaws in the rear suspension. The automaker assures that after

More on the topic: Renault Sandero Stepway or Hyundai Solaris compare which is better

Hyundai Solaris suspension

In recent models, the wishes of motorists have been taken into account and everything has been corrected, however, models of early years of production require certain changes. Owners make especially many complaints about the yaw of the car when driving at speeds over 80 km/h. Experts determined that this was due to an unsuccessful mounting design for the rear shock absorbers.

We all realize that a car that is ideal in every sense does not exist, but everyone wants to have a car with a minimum number of shortcomings. After a certain operating period, the wheel bearings may become weak, and the steering rack may also begin to hum. Subsequently, the steering wheel will begin to beat, and the tips will wear out faster. To avoid the problem, certain elements need to be modified.

Front suspension

Most often, levers and shock absorbers require “care”; this is a typical problem even for a modernized unit of new generation cars. When knocking noises occur, it is necessary to repair or modify the Hyundai Solaris suspension and replace the lever, which is easy to do in the garage.

To do this you need:

secure the rear set of wheels with anti-roll bars;
loosen the nuts of the front wheels, lift them and fix them on the stand, then remove the wheels;
unscrew the ball stud nut;
disconnect the lever from the steering knuckle, remove the front bolt nut;
remove the bolt from the silent block;
remove the remaining part of the fasteners and remove the faulty lever;
replace the part and repeat all steps in reverse order.

After repairs, it is advisable to check the wheel alignment angle at a service point; the cost of the service is low and will have a significant impact on traffic safety. If, after changing the lever, the creaking and knocking does not stop, it is necessary to repair the front suspension shock absorber.

The first stage of work is similar to replacing the lever:

open the hood and remove the shock absorber fastening nuts;
remove the front wheel;
remove the stabilizer pin;
withdraw your fist, remove the stand and compress the spring using a clamp;
replace the pre-pumped shock absorber;
fix the springs in their seats and reassemble in reverse order.

The shock absorbers must be replaced in pairs, after which a wheel alignment must be performed. The parts used can only be original.

How to modify the Hyundai Solaris suspension?

It is necessary to move the shock absorber mounts by making new fasteners for the assembly. They are made so as to obtain four points for attaching the lower point of the shock absorber. This will allow you to select the optimal suspension geometry for specific operating conditions. Note that such a modernization of the Hyundai Solaris suspension increases the chances of breaking through the suspension. This can be eliminated by installing other springs.

Changing the stance angle

Initially, to avoid breakdown, car owners made inserts from dense rubber, inserting them between the coils of standard springs, but this solution was not very effective. After experimenting with springs of different brands from other cars, optimal results were achieved using springs from VAZ 2108 and 2110. They should be slightly shortened by cutting off approximately 2.7 parts of the coil and bending the outer part of the cut coil.

This upgrade produces good results, but it is important to install lower spring bumpers to act as a center for the springs. installation of standard barrel-shaped coil springs for Hyundai Solaris significantly improves the technical characteristics of the chassis. Depending on the required ground clearance, you can trim the springs a little more or less.

Reworking the rear suspension immediately helps to identify weaknesses in the front axle of the car. They do the same with the front struts: they are removed from the car and disassembled, and instead of the standard ones, new ones are installed, which should also be taken from the VAZ 2106, cutting them into 2.9 parts of a turn. From this model you should also take rubber gaskets for the springs.

Main types of suspension repairs

Despite the excellent assembly of the car, the most susceptible to repair elements are still the front suspension arms and shock absorbers. If extraneous knocking noises appear while driving or uneven tire wear occurs, it is necessary to repair the front suspension of the Hyundai Solaris. You can replace a bent or broken front suspension arm yourself in the garage. To do this, you need to stock up on a set of tools and, accordingly, a new part. The procedure for replacing the lever is as follows:

it is necessary to place anti-roll bars under the rear wheels of the car;
loosen the front wheel nuts;
raise the front;
place a safety support;
remove the wheel;
then you need to remove the ball pin nut;
the finger is pressed out using a puller;
the lever is disconnected from the steering knuckle;
Next, you need to remove the nut of the front bolt securing the lever to the cross member;
after removing the nut, it is necessary to remove the bolt from the silent block;
then also remove the rear fastening bolt and nut;
then the lever assembly with the ball is removed;
Installation of the part is carried out in the reverse order.

After replacing the lever, be sure to set the wheel angle at a service station. If, after replacing the lever, the knocking does not stop, you need to check the front suspension shock absorber. To remove it you must:

it is necessary to place anti-roll bars under the rear wheels of the car;
loosen the front wheel nuts;
Under the hood, remove the protective caps on the shock absorber fastening nuts;
loosen the nut - this is done with two keys, one holds the rod from turning, the second key unscrews the nut itself;
remove the top nut;
remove the thrust washer;
lift the front end and remove the wheel.

On a note! When removing the shock absorber on the right, you first need to unscrew the bolt of the wheel rotation sensor bracket, then remove the wires. If the car has an ABS system, then sensors are installed on both sides.

then the nut of the upper stabilizer hinge is unscrewed and the pin is removed;
Next, remove the bolts securing the strut to the knuckle;
after removing the bolts from the holes, the fist is moved to the side and the stand assembly is removed;
then you need to compress the spring using a clamp and unscrew the rod nut;
then the support bearing is removed;
the support cups are removed from the rod;
then the spring and protective rubber are removed;
if the rack has various defects in the form of streaks or cracks, it must be replaced;
Before installing the shock absorber, it must be bled to ensure proper operation. Pump until the rod is completely lowered and raised. There should be no failures;
assembly is carried out in reverse order. It should be noted that the spring is fixed at its end in a special seat.

The front shock absorbers must be replaced in pairs. After the repair, you will need to adjust the wheel alignment.

Let's sum it up

We didn't say that only high quality replacement parts should be used, because that's obvious. Sometimes, especially on older cars with high mileage, the quality of the parts used improves handling and stability. Fans of driving at high speeds install an anti-roll bar on the rear axle, which, after certain modifications, can be taken from the domestic front-wheel drive VAZ 2108.

As is clear from our story, there are a lot of opportunities for upgrading the Hyundai Solaris suspension. We have described the basic methods for remaking the chassis of this Korean passenger car, and all you have to do is assess your financial capabilities and technical requirements, and begin work.

More about Solaris

How serious are the problems of the Hyundai Solaris?
DIY Hyundai Solaris suspension repair
Renault Logan – Renault Logan is the best car What is better Renault Logan or Hyundai Solaris
Modifying the Solaris suspension with your own hands || Modification of the Solaris suspension
Analysis of the stock suspension of the Hyundai Solaris. Checking the technical condition of the front suspension parts on the car
How serious are the problems of the Hyundai Solaris?
Hyundai Solaris rear suspension design
Which is better: Kia Rio or Hyundai Solaris
Which is better: Kia Rio or Hyundai Solaris
What's new in Solaris suspension

Suspension features

The Hyundai Solaris car is a long-term project of Korean engineers, which has received many flattering reviews throughout its existence. However, the manufacturer's transition to new equipment made it possible to present a completely different Solaris to the world. The first car was characterized by original features that indicated the designer's ability to think outside the box.

The new product captivated many with the performance of its power units, as a result of which no one paid much attention to the presence of any shortcomings in the operation of the vehicle. However, over time, many car owners became less happy and satisfied with the use of the car and demanded that management carry out improvements.

The front suspension of the Hyundai Solaris received most of the complaints. According to car owners, it could only work well on perfectly smooth surfaces. If you had to travel across the expanses of Russia, the driver was faced with many problems with the suspension.