87 Convertible Suspension...help?
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: calgary alberta
87 Convertible Suspension...help?
I HAVE A 87 CONVERTIBLE FOR THE PAST 2 SUMMERS....THE PREVIOUS OWNER PUT ON 17 INCH RIMS. IT HAS LOW PROFILE 40 SERIES TIRES ON IT. IT HAS 120,000 KM MILEAGE. BEFORE I BOUGHT IT I HAD A MECHANICAL CHECK DONE ON THE CAR AND THE CHECK REVEALED "SOME LEAKAGE" TO THE SHOCK ABSORBERS.
NOW IM NOT ONE TO BEEF UP THE CAR FOR SLALOM ETC. I LIKE A CAR FOR HOW IT PERFORMS AND MOSTLY HOW IT TURNS HEADS AS I GO DOWN THE ROAD.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT IM NOT PARTICULARLY HAPPY ON HOW THE CAR "FLOATS" WHEN IT HITS A DIP IN THE ROAD. DEPENDING ON HOW FAST IM GOING, IT WILL BOTTOM OUT SOMETIMES.
I HAVE LOOKED AT THE SHOCKS AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE. THE SHOCKS APPEAR TO BE STOCK GM PARTS.
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT VETTE SUSPENSION....I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
1. CAN A GM MECHANIC TELL IF THE LEAF SPRINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SPRINGS GENERALLY HOLD UP VERY WELL OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR. IF SPRINGS NEED REPLACING, IT IS BIG BUCKS, NO?
2. IF I CHANGE THE SHOCKS, SHOULD I STAY WITH STOCK GM PARTS OR GO WITH AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT? IF I GO WITH AN AFTER MARKET PRODUCT, WHAT WOULD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BE?
3. IF I CHANGE THE SHOCKS ALONE ALL AROUND.....WOULD IT MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE?
4. IF I STIFFEN UP THE SUSPENSION, WILL IT CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE EXTERIOR...IE. STRESS MARKS OR CRACKS IN THE FIBERGLASS BODY?
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EXPERT ADVICE ON THIS SUBJECT. THANKS.
NOW IM NOT ONE TO BEEF UP THE CAR FOR SLALOM ETC. I LIKE A CAR FOR HOW IT PERFORMS AND MOSTLY HOW IT TURNS HEADS AS I GO DOWN THE ROAD.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT IM NOT PARTICULARLY HAPPY ON HOW THE CAR "FLOATS" WHEN IT HITS A DIP IN THE ROAD. DEPENDING ON HOW FAST IM GOING, IT WILL BOTTOM OUT SOMETIMES.
I HAVE LOOKED AT THE SHOCKS AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE. THE SHOCKS APPEAR TO BE STOCK GM PARTS.
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT VETTE SUSPENSION....I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
1. CAN A GM MECHANIC TELL IF THE LEAF SPRINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SPRINGS GENERALLY HOLD UP VERY WELL OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR. IF SPRINGS NEED REPLACING, IT IS BIG BUCKS, NO?
2. IF I CHANGE THE SHOCKS, SHOULD I STAY WITH STOCK GM PARTS OR GO WITH AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT? IF I GO WITH AN AFTER MARKET PRODUCT, WHAT WOULD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BE?
3. IF I CHANGE THE SHOCKS ALONE ALL AROUND.....WOULD IT MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE?
4. IF I STIFFEN UP THE SUSPENSION, WILL IT CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE EXTERIOR...IE. STRESS MARKS OR CRACKS IN THE FIBERGLASS BODY?
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EXPERT ADVICE ON THIS SUBJECT. THANKS.
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Originally Posted by 87convertible
I HAVE A 87 CONVERTIBLE FOR THE PAST 2 SUMMERS....THE PREVIOUS OWNER PUT ON 17 INCH RIMS. IT HAS LOW PROFILE 40 SERIES TIRES ON IT. IT HAS 120,000 KM MILEAGE. BEFORE I BOUGHT IT I HAD A MECHANICAL CHECK DONE ON THE CAR AND THE CHECK REVEALED "SOME LEAKAGE" TO THE SHOCK ABSORBERS.
NOW IM NOT ONE TO BEEF UP THE CAR FOR SLALOM ETC. I LIKE A CAR FOR HOW IT PERFORMS AND MOSTLY HOW IT TURNS HEADS AS I GO DOWN THE ROAD.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT IM NOT PARTICULARLY HAPPY ON HOW THE CAR "FLOATS" WHEN IT HITS A DIP IN THE ROAD. DEPENDING ON HOW FAST IM GOING, IT WILL BOTTOM OUT SOMETIMES.
I HAVE LOOKED AT THE SHOCKS AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE. THE SHOCKS APPEAR TO BE STOCK GM PARTS.
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT VETTE SUSPENSION....I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
1. CAN A GM MECHANIC TELL IF THE LEAF SPRINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SPRINGS GENERALLY HOLD UP VERY WELL OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR. IF SPRINGS NEED REPLACING, IT IS BIG BUCKS, NO?
2. IF I CHANGE THE SHOCKS, SHOULD I STAY WITH STOCK GM PARTS OR GO WITH AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT? IF I GO WITH AN AFTER MARKET PRODUCT, WHAT WOULD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BE?
3. IF I CHANGE THE SHOCKS ALONE ALL AROUND.....WOULD IT MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE?
4. IF I STIFFEN UP THE SUSPENSION, WILL IT CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE EXTERIOR...IE. STRESS MARKS OR CRACKS IN THE FIBERGLASS BODY?
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EXPERT ADVICE ON THIS SUBJECT. THANKS.
NOW IM NOT ONE TO BEEF UP THE CAR FOR SLALOM ETC. I LIKE A CAR FOR HOW IT PERFORMS AND MOSTLY HOW IT TURNS HEADS AS I GO DOWN THE ROAD.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT IM NOT PARTICULARLY HAPPY ON HOW THE CAR "FLOATS" WHEN IT HITS A DIP IN THE ROAD. DEPENDING ON HOW FAST IM GOING, IT WILL BOTTOM OUT SOMETIMES.
I HAVE LOOKED AT THE SHOCKS AND IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE EXCESSIVE LEAKAGE. THE SHOCKS APPEAR TO BE STOCK GM PARTS.
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW MORE ABOUT VETTE SUSPENSION....I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.
1. CAN A GM MECHANIC TELL IF THE LEAF SPRINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SPRINGS GENERALLY HOLD UP VERY WELL OVER THE LIFE OF THE CAR. IF SPRINGS NEED REPLACING, IT IS BIG BUCKS, NO?
2. IF I CHANGE THE SHOCKS, SHOULD I STAY WITH STOCK GM PARTS OR GO WITH AN AFTERMARKET PRODUCT? IF I GO WITH AN AFTER MARKET PRODUCT, WHAT WOULD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BE?
3. IF I CHANGE THE SHOCKS ALONE ALL AROUND.....WOULD IT MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE?
4. IF I STIFFEN UP THE SUSPENSION, WILL IT CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE EXTERIOR...IE. STRESS MARKS OR CRACKS IN THE FIBERGLASS BODY?
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EXPERT ADVICE ON THIS SUBJECT. THANKS.
Any leakage is too much leakage!!!
Shocks hold up well for about 50,000 miles max! Less if car is driven hard like Auto X! Shock wear can become evident even before leaks occur. You will feel a difference in handling!
Like I said, any leakage is too much leakage!
I like the Billstein Z51 shocks on my 88vert (Z52), but I have changed my sway bars to solid 30mm frint and 24mm rear
The springs on these things rarely wear out.
seeya
