BitViper

This weekend I lowered my ZO6 about 1in on the stock bolts....primarily for looks and a bit of a bump in handling

Now Ive noticed..and not unexpectedly, that Ive pick up a bit more body roll.
I suspect that by lowering the body Ive changed the relationship between the body and the swaybars.

And the endlinks on the OEM set up are non adjustable.....delima

To return the handling back to OEM'ish levels would you
1. Buy adjustable endlinks and
a. Make them longer
b. Make then shorter
2. Go to Poly bushings..just to firm things
3. Both...

Obviously going to a T1 set up while very attractive is another but I think that it would be overkill for a street car

Hotchicks might be a second "Over the top" solution

wtknght1

You have now changed everything about the handling of that car - suspension geometry, corner weights, rake, bottoming out shocks, roll center, etc, etc. I'd also wager that the car is now 1-3 seconds SLOWER on a road course. Go ahead...ask me how I know this. I lowered mine when I first got the car (didn't know any better) and later realized how much it hurt it.

In short, don't lower these cars unless you REALLY know what you are doing, have a 4-corner scale...and REALLY know what you are doing. The Phoenix guys did mine and just setting the correct height allowed the suspension to move AS DESIGNED...which was about 2 seconds per lap.

BitViper

Ok..thats all really great to know...but....Im not racing

So...given Im not racing..what would you do

mountainbiker2

I'm not sure it could have more body roll, but if you say so then I guess it does. Hotchkis bars and 04,06 Z06 shocks is about all you could do. Poly bushing would not help in body roll and give you a very stiff ride.

Steve

BitViper

Yeah I might not but i does seem to have a bit....but like wtknght1 said lowering the car does change a few things with reguard to the geometry of the car...and short of just throwing parts at the car..and just getting further away of making things worse Id like to get an Idea of what minimaly can be done to help correct the situation.

I mentioned Poly's because I know that they don flex as much a sthe stock rubber bushings.

In a Camaro the ideal position of the ends of the swaybars is approx. parallel to the ground..what "eyeball" mesaurment can be made on a corvette?

XPC5R

Slightly stiffer bars will fix thing nicely - hotchkis is the right level I think for what you want.

What really happened, was lowering dropped the roll centers relative to the CG of the car (1" suspension drop, maybe 1.5-2" drop in roll center). Since the suspension pivots around the roll center in roll, by increasing this distance, the springs and bars now have to work against the cornering force (say 1G) acting on the longer 'arm' between the CG and the roll center. Long story short, more body roll for the same cornering force, which needs to be compensated for.

wtknght1

Guestimate where it was before and put it back. Then put a set of T1 sway bars on there (with the adjustable end links) and drive the crap out of it. If you have a set of scales that you can get the corner weights right, all the better.

Racing or not, you want the car to handle at it's peak. It's not only quicker on track, but it's also safer and more forgiving on the street.

BitViper

Retorically asking..do you really think that a set of T1' is required...

I mean Im running stock ZO6 bars already..stepping up 5mm thats huge.

The endlinks make sense since the cars no at a diffrent height.. and Im guessing that I need to set the the links to be longer than the stock ones to return the "angle of deflection" to OEM

EDIT....
did some data mining...

For anyone following this thread Ive found som other info...


Id love to talk to Sam Strano..does he ever frequent these boards....he worked majic with my Camaro

TedDBere

Goto www.stranoparts.com

Good luck, and report back.

BitViper

Thanks Ted..Im going to try and corner him over on
one of the LS1 sites..he seems to be more active there..I know he had some personal stuff going on a few months ago

kelp

I took photos of my lean in standard corners. The car leaned 3 degrees in one standardized routine corner. I lowered it 1", added 0.5 degrees neg camber, and T-1 bars. Not only is the ride nicer, but I reduced the roll to 1 degree, maybe less.

TommyBoy72

FWIW, I talked with Sam Strano by phone and purchased parts from him over the past month. So far I only did 3 (lowering, alignment, sway bar change) of the 5 (shocks and race tires not done but ordered and on their way) changes Sam recommended and the car was good on the street but stellar at this past weekend's autocross. The right alignment is the best mod you can do on any sports car. Corner balancing is critical as well if it is adjustable like it is on the C5. Figure even if you pay $300 for the corner balance and alignment, you will get better handling than any shocks, sway bars or springs can do on a poorly weighted and aligned car. I'm a top 3 PAXer here for the past few years but not an national level driver so I have a little clue about good handling.

thehammer69

what alignment specs did you use? How far did you lower?

Hammer

TommyBoy72

My setup is completely dependent on the components in the system. Sam asked me not to share, just point people who want to know to him. Considering how well it works, I'm doing as he asked. Also, keep in mind I'm limited to SCCA Solo2 Stock class rules.

For the record, he has answered at least a dozen questions by email post sale. I highly recommend his parts and advice. No affiliation, just a satisfied customer. I think I owe Ted for pointing me to him.

BitViper

Ive always been amazed how much time hes on line answering questions and he personally will answer questions over the phone....