Js_the_man

Hi everyone, thanks for making me crazy about the new dodge Caliber Srt4. I got my new Caliber last week and now it has 609 km this morning. Of course km means I am Canadian! I love the car even the interior that people over the web claim to be cheap.

My concern at this point is that I own the first Caliber to be delivered in my Area and I think I know more than the dealer on my car. Sure thing I'm a 100% sure that this community knows more than my dealer. lol

My suspension is so hard ... I previously Owned a Toyota Celica. Not quite the same  engine but the suspension was much more comfortable. Nobody on this site seams to complain about the rigidity of their suspension. I had read previously on this site something about spacers. Since I’m not a mechanic at all I need your help to locate my problem.

Thanks for your support.

Munch

There are ORANGE spacers that they put in the suspension during shipping of the car, so it can make it up onto the truck for delivery to the dealerships. It's possible they left yours in. Just jack the car up, remove the wheels, and take a look. If you see a orange plastic piece in there. just wiggle it out and do the same for the other wheels.
No tools are needed besides a jack and a tire iron to remove the lugs for the wheels.

ianmcp

what year celica did you have? i'm driving a celi now, 94 ST, and am likely to move onto a csrt4 or volvo c30 or ms3 depending on how my test drives feel. the ST celi puts out all of about 115 hp, so stepping up to any of those others would probably feel like a phenomenal difference. my toyotas have been fantastic cars and handle like a dream, but it'll be nice to have something that can move in a straight line.

denglis3

The ride is definitely stiff. I live in neighboring Detroit and our roads are atrocious. Still the ride is not bothersome to me, considering the car rides on some large wheels and really thin rubber. The suspension really shines when you are taking corners at speed. The stiffness helps to keep the car flat and reduces body roll considerably over the other caliber models. The suspension is one of those things that you bare with because it rewards you when you are thrashing the car around on smooth fast pavement

__________________
08' CSRT4
72' Pontiac Grand Prix SSJ

Js_the_man

Thanks for your help everyone. Had a great weekend and I managed to get these spacers out!!! Still dengliss 3 is right, the ride is stiff! I officially fell in love with the second gear! I also met the cops for the first time. The guy was 29 and was very comprehensive with me. I had to trade my 2000 Toyota GT that I had bought bran new in 2000 because of the kids and I never thought driving a four door car would be so pleasant. I’m surprised how aggressive the Caliber can be in high speed turns. I never thought I’d say that but for an American car I barely miss my Toyota. You got to love being able to hold a Porche and as the guy wonder what’s pressuring him he sees my baby seat ! hilarious ! I only saved 70 000$ buying a Caliber instead of a Porche ! And my insurance company sees no difference between a sxt caliber and an SRT4 so it’s costing me half price of what my celica was costing after 8 years and half as much as my Toyota 4Runner 2006 ! It’s crazy ! I love it.
I’m running 12 liters \ km is that what you are getting ?

Take care !

mikekuriger

wow, in my opinion the ride is too soft. if you're doing any spirited driving, you'll notice a lot of body roll and the car just doesn't feel very solid - as if it could spin out of control at any second. I've been looking for some eibach or similar sport springs for mine to increase the stiffness and make the car handle and corner like it should.

my scion xa handles like a slot car!

__________________
Mike "Oyaakalayle Moo Moo" Kuriger

2008 dodge Caliber SRT-4

2005 RAM SRT-10 QC 12.05@114 (sold)
- Stock bald ass tires|Stage II|Drop in K&N|Magnaflow + 2 extra spintech's|A LOT of NOS

2006 Scion XA vrooom!
- 40 MPG bitches

1991 Isuzu Impulse RS
- sits in the garage

1991 Isuzu Stylus XS 10's are slow, so lets go for 9's!

denglis3

According to the EVIC or Perfprmance Pages or whatever the hell that lil computer is called.... I pulled .92g on a circular freeway exit ramp at 62mph, and was just starting to hear the tires complain. My SAAB 9-3 tires scream and yell at 50 or so. I think I can push the car harder than that, it was just my first time in the new car and I am still trying to find the limits

__________________
08' CSRT4
72' Pontiac Grand Prix SSJ

chizzel

i had my spacers taken out today big diff i toook some pictures for you all

chizzel

here is a pic of the spacers

Attached Thumbnails

 

Dr Evil

Is that whole orange thing the spacer, or just the wider ring at the top, because I have seen pictures that has only the bigger ring, but not the other orange stuff.

edit:

I checked it out myself and I'm confident that the upper orange ring is supposed to be there, but my caliber SRT4 also had two about 2" high orange plastic things, which I removed. The difference in ride quality is very substantial!