I have a '96 Auto with 117k on it.

The only thing I don't like about the car is that it doesn't seem to "hold a track" on the road, so to speak. I mean, it seems like I have to adjust the steering wheel more than I should. I've never driven another c4 besides mine, so it could be totally normal.

What all would be involved in a suspension "refresh"? Where do I start if I want to find out what kind of shape my suspension is in now?

Thanks in advance guys!

 

Sounds like alignment (caster). Also could be air pressure too low or tire wear pattern.

At 117K miles you probably have some parts with excessive wear. A good front end shop can help you out. These cars have a very simple front suspension.

 

back in or front end moving around?

 

Check wheel bearings for play.

 

I'm sure some new bushings might be in order with that many miles.

Sometimes it can just be the road you are on. The wider front tires on these cars seem to pick up road imperfections very nicely which makes for constant correcting. Try to find a smoother highway and see if it is any better.

I would have the front end checked out though if you haven't already.

 

Step 1 - find a trustworthy alignment shop. If you were in or around Atlanta I could point you to a couple.
Let them inspect and diagnose if you have any real issues or if its something simple (alignment, tire pressue, tread pattern) or something more expensive.

If you have another car to drive and the patience you can rebuild your suspension and then go back to the trusted shop for an alignment.

My 92 was loose as a goose until I did a rebuild and replaced all 4 wheel hubs. Now its tight as a drum, still no negative camber up front but thats the way it is.

 

The desert plays havoc with the rubber bushings. I got my 87 with 160k from the Phoenix area. All the rubber bushings were in bad shape. After replacing them and getting an alignment the car rides like it on rails.

 

Back when new a C4 was a very capible car and 150 a simple task been there done that though never in the 91 I have now at 67 k and the years it is due for a lot when done would not think twice as long as it is a good as it was when delivered new. Yours like all the others the suspension parts are timed out by miles age or both.

 

Hi,

I think my OEM bushings are in good shape, but the tires are too wide and pick up any imperfection. I think the maximum suspension travel is also very limited compared to something like a Toyota Corolla. I think drive faster in a 2001 Toyota Corolla or 2000 Opel Astra in some of the less maintained roads.

My car recently passed TUV state inspection, which is very through and they did not find any play with the suspension parts or any faults with the brakes or shocks, only found an oily dust cap on a tie rod. I have new FX3 shocks in the front and judging by driving, rear shocks are fine.

Going to poly (Prothane) bushings can only make the suspension ride harder. I have them but have put it off to install them. I may get the original rubber style bushings for street use and never install the poly bushings.

Going from stock to Energy polyurethane suspension kit on my 89 Honda Civic (similar double wishbone suspension system) made the car more skittish on less than perfect paving. These days, I only enjoy driving the Honda when it is rather hot and the poly bushings are more compliant. That said, the Honda tracks like a blood hound even with Monroe Sensatrac struts so there is increased accuracy of the polyurethane bushings.



It seems to me that you need a perfect road for Corvette because of the suspension design and tire width.

I am now always in Touring mode of my FX3 suspension. Frankly, windhshield is delaminating and I noticed a crack in the rightmost upper corner which may have been caused by using the Sport mode on less than perfect pavement. I had also tried to check for noises or squeaks from the Targa top on a stone paved (old European style) street and there was none, but maybe my windshield paid the ultimate price as my chassis was stretched.

 

I had an alignment done got the settings off the I forget where though was directed to the site by someone on this forum. I am a member of a couple but have to say this is the only one I bother with as the help is generally real help instead of an opinion.. Anyway I used caster 7 degrees camber -0.5 all the way around 1/32 toe in in front and 1/8 in rear.. What a difference is all I can say! I still picks up a groove every now and then but not like it used to. I also bought some inexpensive in price tires from the tire rack and assume I can mention them by name as a listed vendor if not if a moderator would remove the reference and not the whole message that would be appreciated. They are Kuhmo exsta if I have the letters right..LOL the all season ultra high performance and they made an equally big difference for under 500 bucks. Not a race tire but pull all the g forces I am interested in and have never felt them anything but hooked up, no race day tire though. Whatever you do think long and hard before putting poly in especially in the rear dog bones.. They have to swing in two different arcs and if a stiff bushing it will bind.

 

I did not check alignment specs, I thought that was what the computer was for.-) Joking aside, do you have the stock alignment specs. The shop which did the alignment only left a card saying it was done at certain miles, but not a print out.

I was thinking a few of the bushings should better be left rubber for the same reason. Maybe, I will get this done next summer.

Same here, Kumho. However, mine are MX (all are Ecsta) and summer only. There is no such thing as all season tire in this size.-) Maybe you have ASX. All I could find locally was the older 712 or newer MX when these were replaced last Fall. I like the MX, it is hard to break them loose. I tried a little lower inflation like 30psi, but does not really make a difference. Now, I have them at 38psi (3psi over 35psi recommendation).

The roads I travel have lots of imperfections, not just potholes. There are a few good roads around me, but they do not lead to places I need to go...

 

I did a full Energy suspension Poly bushing install years ago, lower my car at same time and had it aligned using performance alignement settings from (what seems to be a now defunct website as a starting point) Car no longer wandered and handles like its on rails at triple digit speeds. My car's ride is not unduly harsh, actually I drove a friend's Cobra the other day and did not like how hard the stock Cobra rode....

Even after years of daily driving my polybushings do not squeek(they never squeeked and I have not relubed them since installation), so don't fear good polybushings on a C4.


Mike