I just bought a 79 Corvette and I'm not happy with the harshness of the ride. Is there anything I can do to soften the ride on it? The suspension is all original with the exception of a fiberglass rear spring. I read in Richard Newton's book "How to restore and modify your Corvette" that the stock steel rear spring is 140 Lb/in and that the fiberglass rear springs come in four weights starting at 300 LB/in. That sounds like quite a difference to me. Should I go back to the stock steel rear spring for starters? That sounds like to me it should soften up the ride quite a bit.

 

Fiberglass springs are totally different than steel so don't go by the spring rate. Best bet is to try new shocks.

The truth is that Corvettes have always had a rougher ride. A '79 is right in the era when GM was transitioning to more of a cruiser but they are still a sports car, not a Cadallic. The later C3's came with fiberglass springs stock.

 

Put some bilstein sport shocks on it and you won't beleive the difference. Gauranteed

 

this is absolutely true.

also, the tires are gigantic. want a softer ride just lower the pressure.

 

just remember that if you have a fiberglass spring you have to put in shocks that are valved for fiberglass springs

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

 

I've tried a dozen or so different combos on my 71 SB. If you want a smooth ride that corners VERY well, see my signature for components.

 

I'm not sure what those pieces are or where to find them Flynhi, but I'm going to see if I can find them. I don't care about cornering, in light of that would you have any suggestions for something different than what you have?

 

Not sure what happend flynhi, but after I posted my last comment your signature disappeared. Can you post those components for me and/or anything different you'd suggest for a girl that doesn't care about cornering?

 

I put a TRW fiberglas rear spring,330 lbs on my 79 L-48 and it made a world of a difference. And I installed a set of Gas shocks over the old hydraulic.

 

I recently made changes to my 1982. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires, replaced rear monospring 330 lbs, GR-2 Shocks all four, front coils. The ride is very close to my "old"2006 Convertible.

 

I have billstien sports and they are a STIFF, you wont get a softer ride with them. I installed them with my VBP full performance plus suspension, I have the spring rates on the LIGHTEST possible setting. I have been told by numerouse people with the same setup that the shocks themselfs are the reason its so stiff. I was told if I went with a different shock I could run the springs rates all the way up and still have a softer ride with better cornering.

Billstiens are not for smoother ride they are PERFORMANCE shocks. What you are wanting is a smooth loose ride. For this I would make sure all your bushings are good, make sure you replace them with rubber not poly, find some cruising shocks or new OEM ones.

its never really going to become soft though since it is a sports car

 

You should try to find out what Fiberglass Spring it is. If the spring is wider at the ends its a Stock or TRW Style Spring. If its the same width all the way its a Vette Brakes and Products style. If its a VB&P it had a Sticker and some writeing on it and a Call to them will tell you when it was made and what Spring rate it is. As a general rule a composite Spring rides better than a Steel one. But if its a Super stiff one its not going to. I'm assuming that there is only one mounting point in the middle (3 Bolts). There is a possibility that it has a Dual Mount in wich case there arn't any Bolts in the Center. If thats the case move the dual monts as close to the center for the softest ride.

 

If cornering is not a goal, there are several things to change from my setup. Instead of poly bushings all around, use OE rubber bushings in control arms, trailing arms, strut rods and antiroll bar bushings. Do not install the spreader bar between the shock towers. Use the OE diameter front anti roll bar. Do not install a rear anti roll bar. Install front coil springs of appropriate rate for your engine and options. I believe Corvette Central has four different rates for SB, BB, with and without AC, etc. I think the correct rate will be around 285 lbs.
Install a TRW OE design 315 lb rear spring from Muskegon Brake. I have tried both designs and have found these to be much smoother than the Vette Brakes fiberglass springs. The front and rear springs on the C4, C5 and C6 use a similar spring profile to the TRW so that tells you something.
I have tried about 10 different shock manufacturers and I liked Konis the best for a smooth ride. They are somewhat adjustable so you can tune them to your taste.
Ride on 60 series tires on steel rims. The tires will be a bit wider and the heavy rims will dampen the spring action somewhat. Run the tires a few pounds below recommended tire pressure so they will mush a bit.
Inside, replace the foam in the driver's seat.

That covers the soft buttons that I think will work for you. Good luck.

 

I had the same experience with Bilstein Sports. I switched to Bilstein HDs (their standard) and the ride is MUCH better - no porpoising. I run a TRW 315 rear and a VB front transverse set on the softest setting.

 

If you think C3's are harsh, you should try some of the C4's ouch, now they are bone jarring. My 1990 with it's factory performance suspension (in good condition) is harsher than my '70.

Back on topic put bilsteins on all round and then decide if you need to start changing springs, I have bilsteins on my '70 and they made the biggest difference over the crap that was on there, smoother ride yet far better handling. As someone said above vettes aren't caddys!

 

Thanks everyone, that's a lot of information to go on. I don't expect my Corvette to ride like a Cadillac, but it would be nice if it could approach the ride in my 81 280ZX.

 

If you don't have to slow down to a crawl to cross railroad tracks, your ride is too soft! If you can hear your radio at highway speeds, your car is too quiet! If your (left) leg doesn't get tired at a stop light, your clutch is too weak! If your car doesn't scare the passenger when you mash on the gas, your engine is too weak! That's why we drive a Corvette - isn't it?

 

Bilstein Sports are VERY stiff. I have them now and they are borderline too stiff for the street.

KYB Gas-A-Justs are just right for the street. Give them a shot.
I was very pleased with their level of smoothness.

 

My 78 L-82 4 speed came with the F-41/gymkhana suspension and rode very hard years and years ago. I have had a 360 monospring in the rear (1987) with 550lb front springs for a long time and have had Delco, KYB Gas A just shocks, Koni oils, and Bilstein Sports and Heavy duties. By far, no contest, in terms of shocks are the Bilsteins-Heavy duties for a softer ride and Bilstein Sports if you want a stiffer ride but still acceptable with a fiberglass spring, none the less. I know many of you know that there are TWO different Bilsteins for a C3-Sports (30% Stiffer than the HD's) but it seems as many are not aware of the difference. With the Bisltein HD's with my setup, the ride was incredibly smooth AND much better than any of the other aforementioned shocks I have used over the years with 360 and 550 springs. I currently run Bilstein Sports in the rear with the 360 monospring and Heavy Duties in the front with the 550 springs lowered about 1 inch since the front is very stiff with those steel coil springs and I have found a great compromise between handling and ride with this setup (I also have poly upper and lower control arm bushings, the OEM 1 1/8 inch front bar with poly bushings everywhere, poly shock mount bushings on the Bilstein HD's, Competition Struts with Heim joints in the rear, poly on the rear spring, 3/4 rear OEM type sway bar, and Bisltein Sports in the rear)-it still rides really well.I have to believe that with a base 300lb monospring, 460 base front coil springs and Bilstein HD's ( not sports), the ride would be incredibly good. BTW-Sway bars have very little effect on ride quality (rear non OEM sway bars would stiffen the ride somewhat using the front type endlinks which limits the rear control arm movement, very little effect with the OEM type rear endlink, which is why I am sure that it was designed that way from the factory) and do what their name implies, control sway/roll. Hope that this helps!