justdrive

I just traded in my C5 z51 on a C6 z51 (unconfirmed).

I lost my HUD and I got the suspension of a blown-out Cadillac air shock like ride. It walks all over the highway when I roll on. I also got a stock clutch and exhaust, but I got an LS3 and a T60. I almost want to say the C5 was faster, had more control and was better on gas... rant over, how do i fix it!

I used to put the fun pedal down and never pick it up. This thing is all over the place.. What the heck!

I had a 03' Z51 LS6 clutch, DSS Poly t-tube bushing /w tick master, borla touring /w x-pipe and hp tune. DBA Rotors and Akebono Pro Ceramic pads.. Otherwise absolutely stock! I got like 34 mpg on that ls1.

Someone tell me how to get my canyon carver back on this ls3!

I was looking at the JOC Stage-1 setup...

tblu92

It can be so many things---I would start out with the cheapest---A 4 wheel alignment
Are you getting any codes or messages ???
If it were BCM related or related to the driving modes or suspension I would be almost sure you'd get some sort of message or "reduced power mode"
These cars are very sensitive to having all 4 wheels aligned perfectly---
PS: I hopped a curb on my C5 and both rear tires went bald in 1000 miles--and it was a white knuckle drive until I had it aligned and replaced the rear tires--

ErnieN85

it should not, I'd look into shocks.
when I traded from a C5Z06 to a C6Z51 the ride and quietness was amazing

so I'd say first check out the shocks and alignment, make sure the shop puts it on the numbers and doesn't just check to be sure it is within specs. There is way too much room in being within specs.

TXredc3

34 mpg???? Was that down a hill?

Xtremespeed

Which tires are on it? If it's the Goodyear run flats and they have a good amount of wear, they feel like crap and tend to walk in my experience.

Dano523

To tell if the car is a Z51 option car, just look at the sticker in the glove box for the Z51 code in that list.

Joe_G

Yes I'm going to have to pop the flag on that mileage too.

I, like many of us on here, went from a c5 to c6. The c6 is smoother, more refined, quieter, etc. Both are great cars but your c6 shouldn't ride like a blown out air ride at all.

If your car is doing what you say, it sounds like something mechanical is wrong, broken shock, broken control arm bushing, loose control arm, broken sway bar link, something. Maybe a prior owner lowered it and cut off the rubber bushings and it's riding metal spring bolt to metal control arm.

If it was me, i'd get it on a lift and give it a good once over for something broken by someone who knows a lot about Vette suspension, then I'd get it aligned. Good alignment never hurts. See if that helps and report back.

C4jgriffin

I believe the run flats plus bad alignment can do that, plus if you have old tires you could be breaking lose in 1st and 2nd and the car's traction control is upsetting it. My C6 base model wasted a set of Baer rotors in one lap at Streets of Willow because I thought it was cutting power when it was applying the brakes. I had not put TPS in the race wheels so the car thought I was running with flats. My C4 cut power, a much more satisfactory response. I removed the two fuses and was able to run. But my C6 base model was much improved with non-runflats (Hankook RS3 street tires), and an old school alignment with as much castor as possible, 1 degree negative camber, and a one degree toe in at the rear, zero in front. I have a friend with a C6 Gran Sport that was ready to sell it because his wife refused to ride in such a noisy car that wandered around following the concrete cuts. After trying different inflation pressures without success, I advised him to replace the tires with new Michelin Super Sport non-runflats one size smaller (just to be sure) and he AND his wife are very happy with it. The run-flats bounce off the road when it is rough, and the non-runflats are much more in contact with the road.

justdrive

Turns out the car was a 2010 Base which Z51 was not an option, but the car was sold to me as a Z51 option car..

I went through the car with the following upgrades...

JOC Stage 1 Shocks and adj. end links
GM Z51 Sways
GM Z51 front brake brackets
EBC Slotted Z51 rotors
Akebono Ceramics

Brake Bleed & Alignment


Car rides like its on rails now! A combination of severely bad alignment, blown base shocks and tiny sway bars made it feel like a total death trap.

09_BSM_Z51

I had similar issues as my goodyears were getting old. The ride was fine, but she was getting loose bad at WOT. Also had a few very scary incidents in the wet where I almost put the car into a spin driving carefully and taking a right turn. TC didn't even trigger, I saved it with counter steer. Something was very very wrong.

Got new michelin tires and was still all over the road. Then got Pfadt Street alignment was done and everything is perfect now. The rear toe was off bad. There were some other minor adjustments but I'm pretty sure the toe was the major cause of the problems.

Get it checked, it will only get worse. I'm going to get my car aligned every 6 months, do not want surprises like that.

ATC399

Didn't know the C5 had the Z51 option...ok

let er eat

Lol hate to break it to ya bud...the Z51 RPO does not make it a "z" vette as your title implies....poseur

Internets_Ninja

Sure did. Only 1999 and 2000 FRCs (Fixed roof coupes) were Z51s. Basically they were testing the C5 Z06 body on an LS1 platform. I don't believe the Z51 option was carried past 2000 as the Z06 debuted in 2001.

The C5 Z51's had the same 1-2-3 gears as the C5 Z06 and the 3.42 rear gear. Also had upgraded suspension and Magnetic Shocks option. I think there was another 1 or 2 things that separated them from the base C5.

SteveDoten@ARH

Z51 option all years C5 avail.

Mag ride was not avail with Z51.

I'm pretty sure the c5Z trans ratios were specific to the c5Z.

All M6 cars got the 3.42.

Your are correct with the FRC's, all were Z51 equipped.

Internets_Ninja

Actually I think you are correct regarding the trans ratios. It was the C6 Z51 package that got the C5 Z06 trans ratios. Not the C5 Z51.

However, I am sure the Z51's had the F45 and later F55 Magnetic Selective Ride Control options. I was looking at buying one before I found a C5 Z06 in my price range. So they def had it.

Z51 Auto's had 3.15 rear. Non Z51 Autos had the 2.73 rear. All MN6 had 3.42 rear.