Bouncing Front End on a 1996

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Aug 7, 2001 | 07:10 PM

89'Bowtie

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 1,209

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From: Toronto Ontario

St. Jude Donor '13

Bouncing Front End on a 1996

I have a bouncing 96 Vette - really bouncing.

When the vehicle goes over a bump the whole car does a shimmy. You can see the front go side to side. All steering and suspension components have been looked at and seem to be okay.

Some days the car shimmies and some days it does not. It seems as though it does not do it colder tempuratures. When the day heats up, the problem seems to arise.

Any feedback is much needed right now. The car does not have selective ride control.

:confused:

89'Bowtie

Aug 7, 2001 | 07:25 PM

Shawn93PoloConv

Racer

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 452

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From: The Dark Side of the Moon

Re: Bouncing Front End on a 1996 (89'Bowtie)

Original shocks? How many miles on the car?

Aug 7, 2001 | 07:26 PM

MarkBychowski

Melting Slicks

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 2,816

Likes: 2

From: Austin, TX

Re: Bouncing Front End on a 1996 (89'Bowtie)

I'd double-check everything to make sure you don't have any loose tie-rod ends, wheel bearings, or ball-joints. Assuming those are all OK, itsounds like it could be the shocks or possibly a bad alignment. I wouldn't think bad shocks would be causing any side-to-side movement, unless perhaps only one shock is bad? How many miles are on the car? Any suspension mods? How's the ride on smooth roads or swells in the road?

Aug 7, 2001 | 07:33 PM

89'Bowtie

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 1,209

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From: Toronto Ontario

St. Jude Donor '13

Re: Bouncing Front End on a 1996 (89'Bowtie)

The car has 50k miles. The shocks are the origninal Bilstiens.

I have had the car in the air, all suspension checks out okay. The car has no susp. mods. On smooth roads the car handles fine, no complaint. The problem seems to be intermitant. One day on any road, all is fine. The next day on the same road=what horrible ride! Bouncing everywhere. Alot of the the bouncing is coming through the steering wheel to and is not very enjoable to drive.

89'

[Modified by 89'Bowtie, 5:36 PM 8/7/2001]

Aug 7, 2001 | 10:46 PM

89'Bowtie

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 1,209

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From: Toronto Ontario

St. Jude Donor '13

Re: Bouncing Front End on a 1996 (89'Bowtie)

Any one else? :(

Aug 8, 2001 | 10:03 AM

stecz

Advanced

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 97

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From: Austin, TX

Re: Bouncing Front End on a 1996 (89'Bowtie)

When I got my '96 (base suspension, 30k miles), it drove like a caddy, the front end would bounce forever. It also felt like the chassis was really flexy (with the top off), enough that I thought I had been ripped off, the car was damaged badly in an accident or something. I replaced the factory shocks with Koni's, not only did the car ride better (because it didn't bounce), but now the chassis, although still flexy with the top off, at least doesn't feel like it's going to twist in half. I never would have thought that shocks would make a difference for that, but they did.

Aug 8, 2001 | 10:56 AM

waccabuc

Cruising

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 10

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From: waccabuc ny

Re: Bouncing Front End on a 1996 (89'Bowtie)

I have a 1996 Corvette Limited Edition Model with 27000 miles, 6 speed LT4 engine, fe1 suspension. My problem, which I believe I have narrowed down is that on very hot days above 80 degrees. The cars suspension becomes very stiff, particularly in the front and the car bounces around like a yo-yo. The problem does not happen all the time, it seems to happen just on hot days, it also seems to go away once over 35 miles an hour on the highway. The car is definitely no fun to ride this way especially on hot days when I want to drive it.

There are a few people out there with this heat sensitive problem. From what I have been able to find out from researching this ordeal is that the shocks or one shock is the main problem. I am going to do my shocks next week, I will let you know what happens. But the question is what shocks do I replace them with, original Bilstein or Koni?
Thanks,
Tony

Cheftwcc@bestweb.net

:smash:

Aug 8, 2001 | 01:00 PM

jpee

Race Director

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 13,298

Likes: 14

From: Somers NY

Re: Bouncing Front End on a 1996 (waccabuc)

I have a 96 Coupe, stock (base suspension) With the top ON, it rides fine in any weather @ any speed etc... however as soon as I remove the top :jester it drives like a clown.. my 89 honda will out handle it..

Its SOOOOOoooo bad w/the top off, I have never taken it off since 1998.. Now I also have set it up for drag racing, and made some changes, however the shake occurs with the stock wheels & tires, & shocks...

Now I'm running 3.5" Weld wheels in the front with 165/60x15 tires (yes SKINNY) & also have removed the front sway bar ..

Now as for driving, if I drive 60-70 mph on the GSP I have NO handling problems, as long as I dont try to drive like a 16 yr old in a ricer..

(If I wanted cornering ability I'd have gone to a larger sway bar, and bushings, and better tires).. But for what I want its perfect..as long as I leave the TOP ON !!