Suspension help needed - 1995 vette
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Round Rock TX
Suspension help needed - 1995 vette
Alignment is good; car drives straight. Wheels are balanced. Problem is that when I drive over bumps or go into curves, where there are cuts on the road, my stearing wheel shakes. Tie rods are fine. I took off the front wheel and moved side to side etc... nothing out of the norm. What could this be? Could it be the shocks? I did the bounce test and it did not help either. Please help!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
How many miles?
Have the shocks been replaced?
What kind of shocks on it?
What suspension do you have?
Here is a thought - the mechanisim that allows the wheel to tilt, is it tight. Try shaking the wheel.
Have the shocks been replaced?
What kind of shocks on it?
What suspension do you have?
Here is a thought - the mechanisim that allows the wheel to tilt, is it tight. Try shaking the wheel.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 92
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
You are describing steering shimmy. Think shopping cart front wheel. I would try reducing caster. The driving force is coming from caster. Power steering cars usually have enough damping in the power gear to avoid the shimmy. Is your steering tight?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 399
Likes: 2
From: Newtown PA
I bought my 95 C4 slightly used in Dec of 1995 from GMAC. The car had been repossessed and had 2300 miles on it. The car came with the base suspension. It did the exact same thing you are describing. I had the tires rebalanced and the suspension alignment checked but neither action made a difference. I finally decided to replace the flacidly valved Bilsteins with Koni sport adjustables (BTW- Bilsteins are typically good shocks but the GM-speced versions for the base C4 suspension are not unless you have them revalved). The Konis cured 95 percent of this problem. If you are really cooking into a turn with my C4 and the inside front wheel hits a bump, it still exhibits a very slight shake in the steering wheel. My '02 Z exhibits no such shake in the steering wheel under similar circumstances. So I think the remaining shake is due to the less than rigid body structure of the C4. After owning it for almost 15 years, I dont even notice it anymore as this behavior is part of the character of the car.
Bilsteins...you can get yours rebuilt by Bilstein for about $65.00 per. Shock I believe.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Shock preferences are subjective, like what is the best color for a car. I have the Z51 suspension on my `87 & both my wife & I thought the car rode like a brick. I chucked the Bilstiens at 38,000mi & installed Gabriel gas shocks from AutoZone at a cost of around $24.00ea. That was four years ago & the car handles fine & has a better ride IMHO. To each his/her own though 
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 399
Likes: 2
From: Newtown PA
Revalving the Bilsteins is a good option (Doug Rippie Motorsport offers this service). I went with the Koni Sport shocks because they are adjustable. I have the fronts set half way to full hard and the rears set to full soft. The car rides nicely and the front end doesn't move around so much, (the OEM Bilsteins allowed the front end of my car to wallow like an old luxo-boat). Plus, as the shocks wear with mileage, you can adjust them firmer to retain control.
