droptopc6

Now I know everyone compared the z51 and the f55 suspension but how much of a difference is the f55 vs. the base performance wise thanks for the info in advance (I know this may sound stupid but I love the f55 button...makes the car feel high tech.)

Weasel

Flat cornering-Great looking cross drilled rotors-Lower gears

Scissors

Uh...no. It has none of those things. Well, except for the flat cornering.

The F55 is better than the base by far. On bumpy surfaces, it handles better even than the Z51.

Suttleone

Correct me if I'm way off base, but I recall a magazine test of all possible suspension combinations by Car and Driver on some C-5's last year. Again my memory is a little foggy but I think they concluded the F-55 suspension with the F-51 tires would be just about perfect.

Vette_DD

Perhaps droptopc6 should have specified whether the question was about suspension systems in general or C6 in particular. Several reviewers have said the C6 base suspension is smoother than the C5 suspension.

peccles

I recall reading the F55 reduces wheel hop significantly on imperfect roads.

Z-07 freak

The F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control is only available with the FE1 base suspension. All of the other suspension components (i.e. brakes, springs, sway bars and busings) are the same as found on a regular FE1 suspension. The F55 MSRC is an upgrade in the shock absorbor catagory. As mentioned earlier in this thread, it will greatly improve handling on bumpy surfaces.

LS WON

From what I understand the base suspension is a balance between performance and comfort. For those potholes and rough roads I would stick with the base suspension. Unless you are going to use the full potential of a handling package the Z-51 is the way to go on the twisties but the Magnetic shocks system when that breaks how much does it cost to fix??? $$$$$$

John George

Either F55 or Z51 suspensions will provide better performance than base. How much is difficult to quantify. I think you can say that F55 will provide superior performance in all measures of a suspension over the base.

In a previous thread it was stated the the F55 was the base suspension with MSRC. I think that may be an understatement but cannot guarantee it. MSRC is a computer controlled real-time system when working with active handling that should provide good performance while while managing dangerous driving conditions.

HHC5

droptopc6

Sorry if my question was not specific enough but this post defenetly cleared stuff up for me. Thanks!! Basically what I was wondering was if the z51 gives a .2 second better time in the 1/4 over the base where does the f55 come in...is it as fast as the z51 or the base??

John George

I'm not the person to answer to the specific question. I can say that the comparison is not just for suspension when trying to determine time over a 1/4 mile. The Z51 includes different tires and gearing ratio. In a straight 1/4 mile those may be more important than suspension differences. The F55 real-time damping may make it easier to control than the base. My WAG is from slowest to fastest, base, F55, Z51.

Anyway, I'm in over my head here. There's a lot of people on CF with better answers so I'll leave it to them.

http://www.c6vr.com/c6/stats.asp

EvanZR1

The Z51 1/4 mile advantage is due to the different gear ratios in the transmission (C5 Z06 tranny). The F55 does not get a different tranny from stock, and therefore should have exactly the same 1/4 times.

TRAYC7

You have to factor in the tires too on the Z51 package... they make a little difference in handling as well....

Vette_DD

Are the gear ratios different for the auto. tranny with Z51? I know the auto. gets a 3.15 axle ratio with Z51, but didn't know whether the gear ratios would also be different or not.

LS WON

Good question I wonder about this too if the automatic trans get different gearing like the 6spd? I doubt it I think it only gets the performance rear axle 3.15 gears already included in the Z-51 package.

73VetteMan

The automatic transmission ratios are exactly the same for the base, F55 or Z51.

The F55 differential ratio is the same as base, 2.73:1. The Z51 includes the optional 3.15:1 ratio which gives better perfomance.

The base suspension or F55 is also available with the 3.15:1 rear ratio when the G90 option is also ordered at an additional $395. Then, the performance would be very close to that of the Z51 with the only difference coming from the less sticky tires compared to the Z51. Of course cornering and handling are much better with the Z51.

The ONLY thing you get with the F55 option is electronically controlled shock absorbers.

With Z51 you get better gearing, better tires, bigger brakes, oil coolers, and a bigger sway bar. The only "disadvantage" is springs that are 11% stiffer and fixed rate shocks. If you really feel you need a softer ride, swap the Z51 shocks with standard ones. I am sure you will find someone to even give you money to swap with you.

Since I consider the optional $395 gearing mandatory for performance, the extra $1100 for all the additional advantages of the Z51 option is the way to go.

The total cost of F55 with G90 is $2,090, for not quite as good of performance of the $1495 Z51 option. If you are at all interested in performance, the F55 doesn't make sense to me whether you are getting a manual or automatic transmission.

eugenee326

Does anyone know if there is aftermarket "programming" for the C5 magnetic suspension and, therefore, for the C6? Does GM provide periodic updates? I know we've read that the F55 will interact with the Active Handling System to "anticipate" damping requirements individually for each wheel. It seems to me that, just like any other software, there could be improvements/updates.

LS WON

Would you then get the base suspension over the F-55 if you didn't want a bumpy ride or a softer ride? What is the cost for those Magnetic shocks when they need to be replaced?

John George

I think this is an oversimplifcation of F55.

Agreed, if it's performance first, don't get F55.