DSC Sport Magnetic Shock controller observations
 

Note there is a parallel thread discussing the DSC Controller in the C7 Z06 Forum. It provides a great deal of additional information, comments and buyers critiques. Here's the link:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ervations.html

I have a DSC Sport magnetic shock controller on my 17 C7Z. In my opinion it is the best modification available for cars with magnetic shocks including Z51 and GS cars.

It's game changing and truly transforms the cars performance. I have a hard time putting into words just how transformational the DSC Sport Controller is in EVERY driving situation. The handling gains during aggressive street driving and on the track are shocking. Hugh improvement over the OEM controller. Just truly amazing.

I was out in the country yesterday testing/playing on fun roads with the various modes and observed something "new" I found very interesting/useful just cruising down the highway. Traveling to the fun roads took about 1.5 hours each way on the highway. While cruising I killed the boredom by playing with ALL the shock setting modes.

I was astonished at how comfortable/compliant the ride was while cruising the highway in RACE/PTM WET mode. It was GREATLY better than non-PTM TOURING or non-PTM WEATHER settings. Amazingly good at smoothing out everything including small bumps and expansion joints.

I was surprised enough at the ride that I called DSC Sport from the car on my way home to discuss. They were at first surprised at my observation but then said it makes perfect sense. They said their calibrations in RACE/PTM WET are softer than other OEM settings which results in a much better highway ride. They had just never considered trying that setting on the highway.

Bottom line, my "new" go to setting for going up and down a highway is RACE/PTM WET. Very, very comfortable. Not good for aggressive performance driving but game changing for boring highway cruising.

Just wanted to share my observations. C7 owners with magnetic shocks owe it to them selves to get one of the controllers. It truly provides game changing performance improvements. Not "slight" improvements you "think" you can feel but HUGH, real world performance improvements.

FWIW, I'm not affiliated with DSC Sport but am a very satisfied customer.

Rick

I was following the other thread and never thought the results would have been that noticeable for non track applications. Interesting.

The differences between the OEM settings (Tour, Sport, or Track) are pretty dramatic to me. I can't see needing any additional settings.

I may well not be understanding your description very well.

Agree, OEM settings in Tour, Sport and Track are very different. My observation even in Tour you aren't provided a very comfortable/compliant ride. You still feel the small bumps, expansion joints and imperfections through the chassis, steering wheel, etc.

With the DSC Sport controller in the setting I detail you don't feel these. You are provided a much more comfortable ride. Makes a big difference and gets old when putting in a lot of miles on a long haul. Makes the car ride more like an S class Mercedes.

I truly realize what the C7 was designed a world class sports car and not an S class and you want to have this chassis/suspension feedback available when using the car as designed during aggressive driving and track usage. However, it's real nice being able to enjoy a comfortable ride when not being used as designed, such as boring highway miles....

How much is this device (what's it cost)? How hard is the install and does it mess with the warranty?

If that's the case, that might make it very desirable. Thanks for the elaboration.

:lurk:

I just "googled" dsc controller...all the info you want is there

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ery-trick.html

The controller costs $1,290. Nice part is it's a "black box" and as such is not a consumable component. I bet you could recoup 75% of the controller cost by reselling when selling the car. Just need to put the OEM box back in.

Amazing bang for the buck. There are a number of threads on the Z06 forum where others also discuss the benefits realized. Just do a Search on "DSC". Good stuff.

It took me 20 minutes to install. Simple plug and play. You unplug the OEM controller located behind the left front fender liner. Access is gained by removing the 4 screws securing the fender liner/splash guard. You don't even need to remove the wheel or jack the car up.

I can't imagine it would affect warranty as all it does it control the shocks. If you were to have a shock issue you could pop the OEM controller back in, however, nobody would even know it's in there...

DSC Sport is a supporting vendor: http://www.dscsport.com

Rick

Based on your settings you are saying that the ride is better than regular TOUR mode when you go to TRACK WET, is that right?

Correct. MUCH better for putting in boring highway miles. I haven't tried it driving around town but it might work well there as well.

How do you know they are real world performance improvements? Unless there are published numbers, it's still seat of the pants and feel.

Seems like a nice upgrade but that's a lot of cash. Still I'm in for hearing more.

A good number of quantitative results from people who have been tracking their cars with the controllers are available in the C7 Z06 forum. An entire post search of "DSC" will provide lots of good information and actual results. I've not had my car on the track since getting the controller due to it being winter.

Sort of apples and oranges but I race a 997.2 911T nationwide in the PCA series. We installed the DSC controller on the race car prior to the first race of this years season at Sebring. First session off the truck with no suspension tuning I realized just over 2 seconds. By the end of our first test day I saw over 3 seconds.

Also, I was racing with a broken leg (i.e., tibia and fibula) I experienced in a motocross incident. I didn't think I'd be able to race due to Sebring being as rough and bumpy as it is. I was still on crutches with an air cast but didn't want to miss the first race so we showed up. I was amazed at how the controller tamed the bumps and roughness of Sebring. It made it feel like a repave since my prior race the year before. I had no issues running for 6 days other than getting in and out of the car.

I realize I probably sound like I'm exaggerating but that is not the case. The controller is game changing. The improvement realized from the controller on my C7Z is better than on the race car.

I bought the controller for performance improvements. The more comfortable ride when racking up highway miles in PTM WET is an added bonus I stumbled upon.....

And the GM MRC suspension tuning engineers could not figure this out...??

Of course, they could, but they're also all about keeping costs down.

Given the OP's track experience, he's got my attention. Sebring is one of the nastiest, roughest tracks anywhere, and if it can actually tame that, it must be making better use of the MSRC technology than the box GM gave us.

I have a 2015 Z51 manual trans with Mag Ride and have found that for long mileage highway cruising, selecting Weather mode gives a smother ride than on Tour. For those wanting a smoother ride this could be your solution. I have noticed a softer ride even in town with the Weather mode. I think though that the engine tune is changed resulting in slightly less throttle response.

PSummers,

According to both the owner's manual and to my butt test, the MSRC mode setting is the same in Weather, Economy, and Tour. Sport and Track are the only other settings.

Weather mode softens up the throttle response which could make the ride a bit smoother under acceleration. It's great for slippery conditions.