Finally got off my butt and decided to do something about the floating, bobbing, weaving, and general lack of precision in my 93 FE1 “soft-ride” equipped coupe. I originally purchased the car with 52k miles on it and never liked the floating sensation that suspension gives so I replaced the shocks with standard Bilsteins at about 56k miles thinking the originals were worn out. Much to my displeasure this did nothing – at 60k miles the stock shocks were still too soft for my taste. I ordered the following today.

Vette Brakes and Products

Front and Rear Xtreme valved Bilstein shocks
32mm front sway bar with poly bushings
26mm rear sway bar with poly bushings

I already did the rear suspension with poly bushings so I am really looking forward to getting these upgrades on the car and installing the front poly bushings finally. It my assumption it will be night and day with the larger sways and firm shocks. Some might ask about this decision vs. going full coil over but since my car is a weekend warrior/garage queen that will never see the track the added expense was not worth it to me.

Hopefully the parts will arrive soon and I will have the car out for a test drive. I always felt the car was lacking in the handling department when compared with other performance cars, namely my M3’s and sold 01 Z06 so hopefully this will tighten the car up and make it more fun to take out on the back roads.

I will post the results in the next couple of weeks hopefully

 

Right on man, just did the same w/ my FE1 '96 LT4. The only difference is I went w/ the QA1 shocks. HUGE difference w/ the sway bars and shocks! Mine's lowered and feels like a completely different car w/ the upgrades. totally "float free" and planted as hell! You will be pleased!

Jeff

 

Hey Ruby Sixspeed,
I did basically the same thing to my Ruby. FE1 suspension, now-100,000 miles. Z07 sway bars /poly, TPIS shocks. (Also, Grand Sport calipers, 13" rotors, Hawk HPS pads, SS brake lines, high temp fluid, and camber brace. Car runs good on track day, holds the line, brakes work well, car runs flat. All in all a nice setup.

My 92 is a Z07. Rides rougher, but still a great ride.

 

The Hal's are a great shock but I really didn't need adjustability on this car. At best I go out on Saturday mornings and tear around the back roads so this will be sufficient - Hopefully!

I am really looking forward to getting the vette to handle like a vette!!!

 

The main advantage to coil-overs is that you can adjust the corner to corner weight distribution of your car for better balance. On a street car there is no advantage. Even most of the more competitive C5 race cars still use the factory style leaf spring with great success.

I have coil-overs on my C4 and I do adjust them for weight, but that part aside, the handling itself is not better - simply the flexibility and adjustability of the system.

Don't let those who paid for them convince you that you'll need them to get a 'vette to handle, it's absolutely not true.