My suspension options?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
My suspension options?
my 69 is going to need a suspension upgrade or repair before it'll be drivable safely again. bushings rotten, tie rod ends probably shot, ball joints?, springs rusted to hell....
Price per performance is key here.
Best way to get it to handle better for the price? I don't need it to handle like my 96 did but getting it better then stock would be nice. and keeping it stock is not my prerogative.
i can just replace all the stuff....tie rod ends, bushings,..... looks like this option is about $300-400
steeroids rack and pinion upgrade kit? worth it?
rear composite spring i hear will help a lot?
Price per performance is key here.
Best way to get it to handle better for the price? I don't need it to handle like my 96 did but getting it better then stock would be nice. and keeping it stock is not my prerogative.
i can just replace all the stuff....tie rod ends, bushings,..... looks like this option is about $300-400
steeroids rack and pinion upgrade kit? worth it?
rear composite spring i hear will help a lot?
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
Well, I will tell you what I have done and i wilol do my best to rate it from 1-10, 10 being best
and one being the least noticeable....BUT that being said, I noticed an improvement in every mod... and the improvement has been awesome...
rear composite leaf spring, middle weight,,,, 8, but MUST be accompanied with great shocks.
Bilstine Sport Shocks, another 8
poly everything..... 5
shock tower spreader bar.......3
lower 2+" and put in 550 lb front springs....... 8
Big front sway bar, and mid size rear sway bar...... 7
nets will be a Rack and pinion steering system, then 18" wheels...
As it sets now, it handles AWSOME very close to my C5 in handling, but not near as smooth of a ride...a triad off you don't have to make in the C5.... but again, it handles like it were on rails!...and best of all.... its a C3!!
and one being the least noticeable....BUT that being said, I noticed an improvement in every mod... and the improvement has been awesome...rear composite leaf spring, middle weight,,,, 8, but MUST be accompanied with great shocks.
Bilstine Sport Shocks, another 8
poly everything..... 5
shock tower spreader bar.......3
lower 2+" and put in 550 lb front springs....... 8
Big front sway bar, and mid size rear sway bar...... 7
nets will be a Rack and pinion steering system, then 18" wheels...
As it sets now, it handles AWSOME
very close to my C5 in handling, but not near as smooth of a ride...a triad off you don't have to make in the C5.... but again, it handles like it were on rails!...and best of all.... its a C3!!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
There are 3 basic things you can do: larger sway bar(s), stiffer springs (& larger wheels/tires).
If ride is an issue: larger sway bar(s) & for 68-72 the later body mounts esp. w/ stiffer springs.
So for cost, larger ft. bar, then decide on springs. If you like the fronts, then mono rear.
Take no prisoners: Ft. springs 550 w/ VBP mono rear.
FE-7 has the larger bars & stiffer springs (550 front) & VBP mono rear spring cuts weight.
If ride is an issue: larger sway bar(s) & for 68-72 the later body mounts esp. w/ stiffer springs.
So for cost, larger ft. bar, then decide on springs. If you like the fronts, then mono rear.
Take no prisoners: Ft. springs 550 w/ VBP mono rear.
FE-7 has the larger bars & stiffer springs (550 front) & VBP mono rear spring cuts weight.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
Okay. So I've been looking around and researching on here and it seems like what might suit me best will be a composite rear spring, some beefy shocks and front coil springs, and some new sway bar and bushings.
Only question is seems like every vender sells about the same setup so what's the difference between these and which one would be worth getting?
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...t&SubGroup=603
http://www.vbandp.com/detail.aspx?ID=479
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...7&dept_id=1795
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...6&dept_id=1786
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...spension%20kit
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=12159
ALSO with this kit it still wont cover a lot of the worn parts i'll be needing right? so i'll still need a bushings and tie rod end kit i'm guessing...
Only question is seems like every vender sells about the same setup so what's the difference between these and which one would be worth getting?
http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...t&SubGroup=603
http://www.vbandp.com/detail.aspx?ID=479
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...7&dept_id=1795
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...6&dept_id=1786
http://www.corvetteamerica.com/cf/di...spension%20kit
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=12159
ALSO with this kit it still wont cover a lot of the worn parts i'll be needing right? so i'll still need a bushings and tie rod end kit i'm guessing...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
Anybody?
Rubber vs Poly bushings? Worth the extra $100?
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...4&dept_id=243#
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...43&dept_id=243
Do any of these parts overlap with the expensive kits? Should I do both at the same time or can I just upgrade the bushings for now then the shocks/sway/springs later?
Same for the rear...I'm guessing a lot of these parts are overlapped if i got the expensive $1000 suspension kits?
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...20&dept_id=243
Rubber vs Poly bushings? Worth the extra $100?
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...4&dept_id=243#
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...43&dept_id=243
Do any of these parts overlap with the expensive kits? Should I do both at the same time or can I just upgrade the bushings for now then the shocks/sway/springs later?
Same for the rear...I'm guessing a lot of these parts are overlapped if i got the expensive $1000 suspension kits?
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...20&dept_id=243
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
Punisher Vette,
Before spending money on parts here are a few good reads that will explain alot about the suspensions on these older Vettes. I found the advice quite good and helped me setup my suspension on my 76.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/guldstrand/
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/vip.pdf
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/CorvetteHandling.pdf
If you want to do autocross maybe the rack & pinion is worth the money, but a good rebuild (including the steering box) can produce excellent results. One of the biggest things with the stock steering system is once you have installed all new joints, make sure the steering box is adjusted correctly (don't assume even a "new" box is done correctly - I got bit by this).
See attached link for steering system information.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?page_id=4
Hope this helps.
Before spending money on parts here are a few good reads that will explain alot about the suspensions on these older Vettes. I found the advice quite good and helped me setup my suspension on my 76.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/guldstrand/
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/vip.pdf
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/CorvetteHandling.pdf
If you want to do autocross maybe the rack & pinion is worth the money, but a good rebuild (including the steering box) can produce excellent results. One of the biggest things with the stock steering system is once you have installed all new joints, make sure the steering box is adjusted correctly (don't assume even a "new" box is done correctly - I got bit by this).
See attached link for steering system information.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?page_id=4
Hope this helps.
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Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I have always used Poly, it gives crisper handling without making the thing ride much rougher. I have also never had a poly bushing fail.
I would do it all at once, makes no sense to take it apart twice, unless $ is a serious issue.
There is not going to be much overlap if you use the $279 kit, it has the poly bushings in it.
One thing to insist on is MOOG ball joints and Tie Rod ends, pass if thats not whats in the kits. Seriously, the other stuff sux and WILL fail in short order. TRW is good stuff too.
Thats for the normal rebuild,
Then you have in the #6 post the upgrade kits, these are the major components, I like the VBP and Van Steel kits. They are all pretty much the same and look to be within $150 or so of each other. If your not building a serious race car you will probably be good with ieither of them, look thru the components listed and shop for $$.
VBP and Vansteel have good reps, Ecklers used to but not so much anymore, but still a good company. Wilcox also has a good rep, I have not dealt much with CA.
Hope that helps
I would do it all at once, makes no sense to take it apart twice, unless $ is a serious issue.
There is not going to be much overlap if you use the $279 kit, it has the poly bushings in it.
One thing to insist on is MOOG ball joints and Tie Rod ends, pass if thats not whats in the kits. Seriously, the other stuff sux and WILL fail in short order. TRW is good stuff too.
Thats for the normal rebuild,
Then you have in the #6 post the upgrade kits, these are the major components, I like the VBP and Van Steel kits. They are all pretty much the same and look to be within $150 or so of each other. If your not building a serious race car you will probably be good with ieither of them, look thru the components listed and shop for $$.
VBP and Vansteel have good reps, Ecklers used to but not so much anymore, but still a good company. Wilcox also has a good rep, I have not dealt much with CA.
Hope that helps
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
Are smart struts worth the extra $100?
Seems like one of the articles Jason linked to talked about how having too hard a suspension can lead to bouncing, leading to poor traction. Seems like the smart struts are supposed to help with keeping the tires on the ground more...
Seems like one of the articles Jason linked to talked about how having too hard a suspension can lead to bouncing, leading to poor traction. Seems like the smart struts are supposed to help with keeping the tires on the ground more...
