96 CE with FX3 suspension?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 250
Likes: 5
From: Winchester VA
96 CE with FX3 suspension?
I am looking at buying a 1996 CE and the seller is advertising it with the FX3 suspension. My understanding is that the 95 Corvette was the last year for the FX3 and in 96 it was replaced with the F45 Selective Real Time Damping (especially being a CE model).
Can anyone clarify this issue?
Thanks
K.C.
Can anyone clarify this issue?
Thanks
K.C.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
From what I can find, you are correct.
But it wasn't only available on the CE models. F45 was an available option on all 96 Corvettes.
The seller might not know the difference though, and sees an adjustable suspension so assumes FX3. Just a thought.
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1990/vet96.htm
On all Corvettes, 1996 marked the introduction of the optional Selective Real Time Damping system that employed sensors at each wheel to measure movement.
RPO F45 Electronic Selective Real Time Damping $1695
But it wasn't only available on the CE models. F45 was an available option on all 96 Corvettes.
The seller might not know the difference though, and sees an adjustable suspension so assumes FX3. Just a thought.
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1990/vet96.htm
On all Corvettes, 1996 marked the introduction of the optional Selective Real Time Damping system that employed sensors at each wheel to measure movement.
RPO F45 Electronic Selective Real Time Damping $1695
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 250
Likes: 5
From: Winchester VA
From what I can find, you are correct.
But it wasn't only available on the CE models. F45 was an available option on all 96 Corvettes.
The seller might not know the difference though, and sees an adjustable suspension so assumes FX3. Just a thought.
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1990/vet96.htm
On all Corvettes, 1996 marked the introduction of the optional Selective Real Time Damping system that employed sensors at each wheel to measure movement.
RPO F45 Electronic Selective Real Time Damping $1695
But it wasn't only available on the CE models. F45 was an available option on all 96 Corvettes.
The seller might not know the difference though, and sees an adjustable suspension so assumes FX3. Just a thought.
http://www.100megsfree4.com/corvette/1990/vet96.htm
On all Corvettes, 1996 marked the introduction of the optional Selective Real Time Damping system that employed sensors at each wheel to measure movement.
RPO F45 Electronic Selective Real Time Damping $1695
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Check the RPO codes on the build sheet, Behind RT side seat in the compartment. I bnelieve your are corecct 1995 was the last year for
FX3.
RPO F45:Selective Real Time Damping.
"RPO F45 Selective Real Time Damping, was priced the same ($1,695) as 1995's FX3 Selective Ride option, but was substantially different. Using data from wheel travel sensors and the Powertrain Control Module, a controller calculated the damping mode that would provide opumum control via special shock absorbers. It could alter each shock individually (unlike the earlier system which changed all shocks simultaneously) every 10 to 15 milliseconds or about every foot of roadway travelilng at 60 mph."
Hope this helps.
FX3.
RPO F45:Selective Real Time Damping.
"RPO F45 Selective Real Time Damping, was priced the same ($1,695) as 1995's FX3 Selective Ride option, but was substantially different. Using data from wheel travel sensors and the Powertrain Control Module, a controller calculated the damping mode that would provide opumum control via special shock absorbers. It could alter each shock individually (unlike the earlier system which changed all shocks simultaneously) every 10 to 15 milliseconds or about every foot of roadway travelilng at 60 mph."
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 250
Likes: 5
From: Winchester VA
Check the RPO codes on the build sheet, Behind RT side seat in the compartment. I bnelieve your are corecct 1995 was the last year for
FX3.
RPO F45:Selective Real Time Damping.
"RPO F45 Selective Real Time Damping, was priced the same ($1,695) as 1995's FX3 Selective Ride option, but was substantially different. Using data from wheel travel sensors and the Powertrain Control Module, a controller calculated the damping mode that would provide opumum control via special shock absorbers. It could alter each shock individually (unlike the earlier system which changed all shocks simultaneously) every 10 to 15 milliseconds or about every foot of roadway travelilng at 60 mph."
Hope this helps.
FX3.
RPO F45:Selective Real Time Damping.
"RPO F45 Selective Real Time Damping, was priced the same ($1,695) as 1995's FX3 Selective Ride option, but was substantially different. Using data from wheel travel sensors and the Powertrain Control Module, a controller calculated the damping mode that would provide opumum control via special shock absorbers. It could alter each shock individually (unlike the earlier system which changed all shocks simultaneously) every 10 to 15 milliseconds or about every foot of roadway travelilng at 60 mph."
Hope this helps.
The F45 is pretty impressive technology. My only concern is that it appears to be based on computer chips, sensors, controllers and it seems like it is only a matter of time before they need to replace part of this system and hopefully they are not obsolete.
Do you know if you can really tell the difference with the F45 vs FX 3 vs just regular shocks?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,002
Likes: 5
From: No Opti Here Tn
St. Jude Donor '06
The RPO codes should be under the center console lid and wuld be very easy to tell either it says FX3 or F45
This reminds me of the 89 ZR1 vert, auto thread of a while back
This reminds me of the 89 ZR1 vert, auto thread of a while back
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
My only concern is that it appears to be based on computer chips, sensors, controllers and it seems like it is only a matter of time before they need to replace part of this system and hopefully they are not obsolete.
Do you know if you can really tell the difference with the F45 vs FX 3 vs just regular shocks?
Do you know if you can really tell the difference with the F45 vs FX 3 vs just regular shocks?
If the current owner states that the PO rotated the front/rear tires, I would suspect that he doesn't know much about C4's.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 250
Likes: 5
From: Winchester VA
Good point.......I guess I have become gun-shy with all my Microsoft crashes over the years and from an engineering perspective I get nervous with 'first-year' technology, but at this point, a LOT of corvette owners have proven the system and I am not reading anything negative about it.....and I am beginning to feel that this guy has so many other cars and responsibilities that he may not have the time to know much about his '96 Vette. (i.e. FX 3 vs F45, tire sizes and location, etc.).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,276
Likes: 3
From: Why are there squished peanut butter cups in my underware?
For the MY`96, the RPO sticker will be located in the storage compartment behind the passenger seat.
If it has the F45 shocks, then it will have base FE1 suspension with 8.5" 255s on front, and 9.5" 285s on rear. In this case, a F/R rotation is not acceptable.
Check all four tires currently on it. It may quite possibly have the two 8.5" wheels with 275 or 285 tires on them. There is a factory sticker in the driver's door jam, that will state the original tire size of 255 & 285.
Last edited by Z-07 freak; Jan 29, 2009 at 06:37 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,030
Likes: 10
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Something is not right here. I'm thinking 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Edit: Sorry, should have read Z-07 freak's post closer. He beat me to the correct location of the RPO sticker.
He also listed why it could be possible to rotate the tires front to back.
Last edited by RollaMo-LT4; Jan 29, 2009 at 03:55 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,276
Likes: 3
From: Why are there squished peanut butter cups in my underware?
