Suspension Feels Floaty
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Frisco TX
Suspension Feels Floaty
I recently put brand new Bilstein HD's on my '92 and I'm still getting some float over bumps on the highway. Like if there's a hump in the road, it kinda floats up and down for a few seconds before it settles down. Does that make sense? Just doesn't feel right, but then again, I don't know how it should feel.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
My 85 vette never felt '' floaty'' even standard was very harsh,
it followed the road and you felt every bump.
but hey they were made to handle and do 1g lateral acceleration not to be a limousine....
I have since fitted adjustable Koni coil overs and i can feel every pebble, its how i like it and the vette loves to go around corners
I think you may have soft shock absorbers if the car is floaty
It should go over a bump and settle straight away, that is what shock absorbers are meant to do.
If you push down on your vette it should bounce back and no more
if it moves up and down repeatedly the shock absorbers are no good.
Or the spring is to strong for the shock absorber to control.
I have been passenger in several 90's vettes that are comfortable (compared to early c4's) but definitly no wallowing
Regards
Gerard
it followed the road and you felt every bump.
but hey they were made to handle and do 1g lateral acceleration not to be a limousine....I have since fitted adjustable Koni coil overs and i can feel every pebble, its how i like it and the vette loves to go around corners
I think you may have soft shock absorbers if the car is floaty
It should go over a bump and settle straight away, that is what shock absorbers are meant to do.
If you push down on your vette it should bounce back and no more
if it moves up and down repeatedly the shock absorbers are no good.
Or the spring is to strong for the shock absorber to control.
I have been passenger in several 90's vettes that are comfortable (compared to early c4's) but definitly no wallowing
Regards
Gerard
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Z used to do that drove me nuts.
Got some real good shocks helped a bunch but still did it.
Think a good 4 wheel alignment would have helped but never bothered.
Worn out budhings dont help either
Used to drive me nuts especially when getting agressive in canyons just didnt feel "safe".
Got some real good shocks helped a bunch but still did it.
Think a good 4 wheel alignment would have helped but never bothered.
Worn out budhings dont help either
Used to drive me nuts especially when getting agressive in canyons just didnt feel "safe".
Last edited by cv67; Aug 6, 2011 at 11:25 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,116
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
I recently put brand new Bilstein HD's on my '92 and I'm still getting some float over bumps on the highway. Like if there's a hump in the road, it kinda floats up and down for a few seconds before it settles down. Does that make sense? Just doesn't feel right, but then again, I don't know how it should feel.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Frisco TX
Z used to do that drove me nuts.
Got some real good shocks helped a bunch but still did it.
Think a good 4 wheel alignment would have helped but never bothered.
Worn out budhings dont help either
Used to drive me nuts especially when getting agressive in canyons just didnt feel "safe".
Got some real good shocks helped a bunch but still did it.
Think a good 4 wheel alignment would have helped but never bothered.
Worn out budhings dont help either
Used to drive me nuts especially when getting agressive in canyons just didnt feel "safe".
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Its wrong to have a full cycle or more after a bump.
I'd return the shocks. Request a "sport" valved shock.
QA1's, Koni something more top shelf...
I'd return the shocks. Request a "sport" valved shock.
QA1's, Koni something more top shelf...
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
I have to say that "floaty" isnt a word I have ever heard to describe a C4's ride If you just replaced the shocks I would suspect other suspension components. Raise the vehicle up and carefully move each wheel while watching the suspension parts for any slack or hesitation of movement. Check the monospring for damage. That'll keep ya busy for a little bit. Post up your results.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,017
Likes: 634
St. Jude Donor '10
I have to say that "floaty" isnt a word I have ever heard to describe a C4's ride If you just replaced the shocks I would suspect other suspension components. Raise the vehicle up and carefully move each wheel while watching the suspension parts for any slack or hesitation of movement. Check the monospring for damage. That'll keep ya busy for a little bit. Post up your results.
Good luck!
Good luck!
check your springs
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 995
Likes: 1
From: Naples Campania
I looked at the Bilstein HD on their website. They are designed for "Ride Comfort and Performance Without Compromise". With a C4, you can pretty much throw comfort and the Compromise out the window. I have described the suspension on these cars as "four rocks on top of four tires".
They are probably performing as designed.
But yeah, I would check the springs.
They are probably performing as designed.
But yeah, I would check the springs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Frisco TX
Here's a video I just shot. How does this look? I'm only a 135 lb weakling and I got it to bounce pretty good. I thought it would be tighter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAFgVMxWAaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAFgVMxWAaU
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: Frisco TX
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Listening to comparisons from the earliest couple of years probably won't help. 84's had the stiffest suspension. 85 softened up some. I think it was 88 or 89 where the picked up the butt about 1". Then, another suspension "tune" happened for the LT's with the 8.5" front tires. 93 I think.
Your 92 and my 89 are probably fairly similar since both came with 9.5" all around. Even with new HD's on mine, it can have a bit of "float"...more than new I bet. Much less than a Buick though!!!
You HAVE to consider the springs on these are about 20yrs old now. It's also possible you have some "delamination" of the front transverse spring.
Inspect the spring as instructed.
Or....when you're coming to a bump, jump up in your seat a bit. Then you won't feel what the car is doing so much!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
One add'l up/down (1/2 suspension travel) with a fairly fast settling in the middle is what's supposed to happen.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
I would have a front end shop look at the car. I'm not sure which bushings are bad, but from the sound it could be control arm bushings as well. If that is true you will have some alignment problems in addition to "floatng". They can also look at the springs. There isn't much you can tell from eyeballing springs unless you have a lot of experience. BTW, the bounce test in the front wasn't that good for brand new shocks.
