2010 C6 base "floaty feeling"
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,411
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From: San Diego Ca
2010 C6 base "floaty feeling"
I installed Z51 swaybars on my 2010 base C6 but I still have a "floaty" feeling from the suspension. My 99 FRC did not have this feeling. C6 has 60k.
I'm thinking its the shocks or the leaf springs. Any input appreciated.
I'm thinking its the shocks or the leaf springs. Any input appreciated.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 203
Likes: 20
From: Asheville NC
Shocks! Good heavens, if you thought a stock FRC wasn't floaty I can't imagine what your car is like. You can get into a set of rebound adjustable Ridetechs or Konis for about a grand. Massive improvement. IMO, C6Z shocks are slightly better but not worth the effort.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 233
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From: Jasper Indiana
http://www.ridetech.com/store/c5-c6-...ck-system.html
Rodney
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,684
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From: Orlando FL
Do you have a solid alignment with a bit 1/8"-3/32" of toe in at the rear?
I replaced my 2008 stock front softride spring with a C6Z front spring and it made a world of difference accompanied by DRM shocks.
Depends on your wants needs and budget? I love my very stiffly sprung coilovers, but really not "needed".
I replaced my 2008 stock front softride spring with a C6Z front spring and it made a world of difference accompanied by DRM shocks.
Depends on your wants needs and budget? I love my very stiffly sprung coilovers, but really not "needed".
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Macon, GA
One of the worst cars I've ever driven on track was a student's base C6.
It felt to me like a combination of poor damping and improper sway bar sizing.
The car would have needed A LOT of work to feel comfortable, but I would have started there.
It felt to me like a combination of poor damping and improper sway bar sizing.
The car would have needed A LOT of work to feel comfortable, but I would have started there.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,450
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From: Palm Beach Florida
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,113
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From: Brookville PA
It's shocks. Stock shocks aren't exactly overblessed with rebound control to start with. Add 60k miles and that's what's up.
There are options. I carry Ridetech, Koni, Bilstein, I have other things too like QA1, KYB, KW. Of those last three I'd not really recommend the first two and the 3rd isn't really useful on a car with the transverse springs still on it.
Anyway. Can help. Sell many, have owned many. Car with good shocks will drive so much better it won't be funny.
There are options. I carry Ridetech, Koni, Bilstein, I have other things too like QA1, KYB, KW. Of those last three I'd not really recommend the first two and the 3rd isn't really useful on a car with the transverse springs still on it.
Anyway. Can help. Sell many, have owned many. Car with good shocks will drive so much better it won't be funny.
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Sam Strano
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Sam Strano
Strano Performance Parts
www.stranoparts.com
814-849-3450
More options than any other single company out there. More parts than any other single company I know: Brakes to Safety, Wheels to Exhaust. Suspension to Air Filters: Girodisc, Hawk, Raybestos, Essex Racing/AP, Ferodo, Wilwood, Penske, Koni, Borg Motorsport, Ridetech, Viking, After Dark Speed, Hotchkis, Bilstein, KW, Forgestar, BC Forged, Forgeline, MRR Wheels and on, and on, and on it goes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,382
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Well I dont see how anyone could make a diagnosis that shocks are the issue based on such a generic description. Sure it could be shocks but at 60k miles you could have lame bushings, poor alignment, improper rideheight, or poor tires to name a few things that will destroy your ride. I don't think there is enough info to instantly condem the shocks.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,113
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From: Brookville PA
You don't? Okay. Shocks are dampers. They damp movement. Movement isn't being damped, and the "float" is an oscillation. He wasn't complaining about ride or things like that, he said the car was floaty. Tires don't make the car float. Bushings being bad can cause wandering issues and such, but again... not a float.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 233
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From: Jasper Indiana
You don't? Okay. Shocks are dampers. They damp movement. Movement isn't being damped, and the "float" is an oscillation. He wasn't complaining about ride or things like that, he said the car was floaty. Tires don't make the car float. Bushings being bad can cause wandering issues and such, but again... not a float.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Brookville PA
I should also add that when shocks get weak the ride will indeed start to suffer as well. Usually more harsh on the high piston speed things like frost heaves, railroad tracks, stutter bumps, etc.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,382
Likes: 250
You don't? Okay. Shocks are dampers. They damp movement. Movement isn't being damped, and the "float" is an oscillation. He wasn't complaining about ride or things like that, he said the car was floaty. Tires don't make the car float. Bushings being bad can cause wandering issues and such, but again... not a float.
I agree but nonprofessionals are notorious for poor descriptions of what is going on with their cars. As a proshock guy you have to admit when helping someone dial in a car with adjustable shocks it is often difficult for people to grasp what is going on with compression, rebound, high speed, low speed, damper curves and the like. I'm just saying a conversation with the op should be had before people key in on one word floaty and instantly condemn his shocks. Certainly, they might be DOA but it is also possible he is not adequately describing what is happening. Telling us he put on z51 sways and the car is still floaty already tells us about his suspension knowledge. No put down intended. I would just hate to here someone pay 400 to 4000 on shocks and that not be the answer to the problem. But hey I got no dog in this hunt. I just recommend good diagnosis.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 251
From: Brookville PA
Likely when the car rolls less and/or he's not paying more attention to the thing in general as he made a change and wants to see what it did, he's noticing other holes in the performance of the car.
Floaty is the most accurate, and common description of bad shocks. Add the fact the car is a base and has the worse control of any of the OEM's (and that's saying something at times) AND it has miles. This isn't some random guess.
Floaty is the most accurate, and common description of bad shocks. Add the fact the car is a base and has the worse control of any of the OEM's (and that's saying something at times) AND it has miles. This isn't some random guess.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 45
From: Merced California
My car used to feel floaty too and I couldn't figure out why. Then one day I realized I had accidentally been using a helium bottle to fill my tires instead of nitrogen! No wonder my car was under weight on the scales too!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,937
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From: Mooresville NC
I agree but nonprofessionals are notorious for poor descriptions of what is going on with their cars. As a proshock guy you have to admit when helping someone dial in a car with adjustable shocks it is often difficult for people to grasp what is going on with compression, rebound, high speed, low speed, damper curves and the like. I'm just saying a conversation with the op should be had before people key in on one word floaty and instantly condemn his shocks. Certainly, they might be DOA but it is also possible he is not adequately describing what is happening. Telling us he put on z51 sways and the car is still floaty already tells us about his suspension knowledge. No put down intended. I would just hate to here someone pay 400 to 4000 on shocks and that not be the answer to the problem. But hey I got no dog in this hunt. I just recommend good diagnosis.
If you don't know "floaty" equates to bad dampening, then please do some research before you condemn all of us for accurately telling the OP where to go look for the issue. I have had this EXACT feeling on multiple vehicles and it was always a bad shock.
It is easy enough to check without spending a dime. Take off each shock and if it is bad, you can feel it by hand. It may be dampening or rebound that is bad and both can be felt by compressing or extending the shock. If either are easy to do by hand, it is bad.