Corvette suspension and steering
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
Corvette suspension and steering
So I just bought an 85 corvette and it's just a for fun side project that I like to work on. I'm working on restoring/ modding it and I'm having problems figuring out the suspension and steering. I'm usually pretty good at being able to figure things out with the little help of Google and YouTube but something about the suspension and steering I'm not able to figure out what I should do.
My plan with the corvette is to make it a fun cruiser/ street racer. I don't plan on taking it to a track. My biggest problem with the suspension is that I live in Michigan and the roads are terrible and filled with bumps and potholes and you can feel every one of them. And I was wondering if there is a way to get a smoother ride on rough roads without sacrificing the handling. Do I get coilovers, a better sway bar, change out bushings, lower the car, lift it and stuff like that. What would you recommend I do and do you have any part suggestions that won't break the bank. And if u can slightly dumb it down and explain what and y I should get a part that would be great
My plan with the corvette is to make it a fun cruiser/ street racer. I don't plan on taking it to a track. My biggest problem with the suspension is that I live in Michigan and the roads are terrible and filled with bumps and potholes and you can feel every one of them. And I was wondering if there is a way to get a smoother ride on rough roads without sacrificing the handling. Do I get coilovers, a better sway bar, change out bushings, lower the car, lift it and stuff like that. What would you recommend I do and do you have any part suggestions that won't break the bank. And if u can slightly dumb it down and explain what and y I should get a part that would be great
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 399
From: Tacoma WA
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Do you have the Z51 handling package? If yes, then those are some of the stiffest springs ever put on the C4. My ZO7 was what evolved from that suspension to provide handling and some semblance of a less harsh ride. It still was harsh on rough roads but boy did it corner. Sold it so the wife would consider longer rides.
Your only option may be a change to coil overs. Someone with more experience with the earlier cars may be able give you some specific advice.
Your only option may be a change to coil overs. Someone with more experience with the earlier cars may be able give you some specific advice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,118
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
^^^ I agree, except coilovers is not required and not realistically possible on 84-87 C4s. Here's what I recommend:
- You can use any C4 rear leaf spring on your C4, so look at later base model C4 rear springs (should be code RR) and swap it in place of your stock one (like from a 95 or 96 C4). Even if your 85 is not a Z51, these springs are a lot softer. Since you nearly sit on top of the rear axle line, the rear stiffness has way more effect on ride comfort than the front. The rear spring is also super-easy to remove and replace, so this is the obvious first thing to do. You may want to substitute a slightly stiffer rear swaybar to maintain your handling balance, and again you can use any rear bar from any C4. If your car is a base model, then it should be a 20mm rear bar, and you could step up to a 22mm bar. Again, it's a very easy job.
- Up front, you can only interchange 84-87 leaf springs. If your car is a base 85, then there aren't any front springs that are much softer. If it is a Z51, then you could swap in a base model front spring from an 86-87 C4 (I don't have a good code for this one, sorry).
- Finally, you can get shocks that have less overall rebound and a more digressive rate curve, and which are adjustable for rebound rate. Shocks generally make an even bigger difference in ride quality than springs. The bad news is that the two shocks that will improve your ride the most are not super cheap, but they are high quality. I recommend either the Koni yellows or the Ridetech HQs. Both are adjustable, the Ridetechs are much easier to adjust in the rear. OTOH, you can sometimes find good used Konis on the Classified forum here for a lot less money.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
^^^ I agree, except coilovers is not required and not realistically possible on 84-87 C4s. Here's what I recommend:
- You can use any C4 rear leaf spring on your C4, so look at later base model C4 rear springs (should be code RR) and swap it in place of your stock one (like from a 95 or 96 C4). Even if your 85 is not a Z51, these springs are a lot softer. Since you nearly sit on top of the rear axle line, the rear stiffness has way more effect on ride comfort than the front. The rear spring is also super-easy to remove and replace, so this is the obvious first thing to do. You may want to substitute a slightly stiffer rear swaybar to maintain your handling balance, and again you can use any rear bar from any C4. If your car is a base model, then it should be a 20mm rear bar, and you could step up to a 22mm bar. Again, it's a very easy job.
- Up front, you can only interchange 84-87 leaf springs. If your car is a base 85, then there aren't any front springs that are much softer. If it is a Z51, then you could swap in a base model front spring from an 86-87 C4 (I don't have a good code for this one, sorry).
- Finally, you can get shocks that have less overall rebound and a more digressive rate curve, and which are adjustable for rebound rate. Shocks generally make an even bigger difference in ride quality than springs. The bad news is that the two shocks that will improve your ride the most are not super cheap, but they are high quality. I recommend either the Koni yellows or the Ridetech HQs. Both are adjustable, the Ridetechs are much easier to adjust in the rear. OTOH, you can sometimes find good used Konis on the Classified forum here for a lot less money.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 387
Likes: 148
From: Langton, Ontario, Canada
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I had the same problem with my 85 Z51, almost. During the safety check when I bought it (I'm from near Windsor, Ontario), it was discovered that the rear spring was delaminating. I went to AES Corvette Parts, in Detroit, near the airport. I bought a rear spring from a 94 Corvette, I just looked on their site and they have a 94 spring for $281.00. It's a straight bolt-in and the 94 spring has a lower spring rate than the 85 Z51. In fact, I believe that any other C4 rear spring, with the exception of the 84 and 85 Z51 have lower spring rates. While you're doing that job, have a good look at the sway bar bushings and links. They're also an easy change and available at most part stores. I also put in some new KYB shocks in the back, as the Monroes that were there were leaking. The ride is now very enjoyable, and I've had that car up to northern Ontario with no problems. Good luck!
Last edited by LiveWire1; Dec 8, 2021 at 04:24 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
I had the same problem with my 85 Z51, almost. During the safety check when I bought it (I'm from near Windsor, Ontario), it was discovered that the rear spring was delaminating. I went to AES Corvette Parts, in Detroit, near the airport. I bought a rear spring from a 94 Corvette, I believe I paid $140 for it in 2020. It's a straight bolt-in and the 94 spring has a lower spring rate than the 85 Z51. In fact, I believe that any other C4 rear spring, with the exception of the 84 and 85 Z51 have lower spring rates. While you're doing that job, have a good look at the sway bar bushings and links. They're also an easy change. I put in some new KYB shocks in the back, as the Monroes that were there were leaking. The ride is now very enjoyable, and I've had that car up to northern Ontario with no problems. Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,118
Likes: 1,994
From: St. Charles MO
I don't see any at the moment. When I wrote that, I forgot that the shocks for the early C4s are also different. All the used postings I've seen recently are for the later models. If you're going to buy them new, then I'd probably just get the Ridetechs since they are similar in cost.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Park Ridge New Jersey
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 509
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From: Livonia Michigan
So I just bought an 85 corvette and it's just a for fun side project that I like to work on. I'm working on restoring/ modding it and I'm having problems figuring out the suspension and steering. I'm usually pretty good at being able to figure things out with the little help of Google and YouTube but something about the suspension and steering I'm not able to figure out what I should do.
My plan with the corvette is to make it a fun cruiser/ street racer. I don't plan on taking it to a track. My biggest problem with the suspension is that I live in Michigan and the roads are terrible and filled with bumps and potholes and you can feel every one of them. And I was wondering if there is a way to get a smoother ride on rough roads without sacrificing the handling. Do I get coilovers, a better sway bar, change out bushings, lower the car, lift it and stuff like that. What would you recommend I do and do you have any part suggestions that won't break the bank. And if u can slightly dumb it down and explain what and y I should get a part that would be great
My plan with the corvette is to make it a fun cruiser/ street racer. I don't plan on taking it to a track. My biggest problem with the suspension is that I live in Michigan and the roads are terrible and filled with bumps and potholes and you can feel every one of them. And I was wondering if there is a way to get a smoother ride on rough roads without sacrificing the handling. Do I get coilovers, a better sway bar, change out bushings, lower the car, lift it and stuff like that. What would you recommend I do and do you have any part suggestions that won't break the bank. And if u can slightly dumb it down and explain what and y I should get a part that would be great
Keep rubber bushings, stay away from Stiff shocks and use tires with wide sidewalls.
I only drive on roads that I know wont require a kidney belt. PM me if you need any help
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Soft ride
First,
your tires will do two things, ride great or corner great.
i suggest a tire that has a rounded sidewall, not the square shoulder.
tires that claim to be better on gas mileage are usually the same width casing, but a little narrower tread.
Bridgestone potenzas are a really great riding tire, but not known for excelling at the autocross.
so for rough roads, they are great.
Second, 1986 base corvette springs are the absolute softest of all the early cars👍🏼.
Third, the rear strut rods are solid aluminum.
they have no cushioning.
Summit racing sells a rear adjustable strut rod that has rubber cushioned ends, and after putting them on, I couldn’t believe how much better the car rides.
Fourth, your shocks.
everybody wants stiffer shocks.
i have a set of used Bilsteins for the front for $80 plus shipping.
they are the soft ride kings.
Fifth, your control arm bushings gotta be as soft as rocks.
put new rubber in them and new ball joints, top and bottom.
then new sway bar bushings.
you will be amazed st how much better your car will ride.
your tires will do two things, ride great or corner great.
i suggest a tire that has a rounded sidewall, not the square shoulder.
tires that claim to be better on gas mileage are usually the same width casing, but a little narrower tread.
Bridgestone potenzas are a really great riding tire, but not known for excelling at the autocross.
so for rough roads, they are great.
Second, 1986 base corvette springs are the absolute softest of all the early cars👍🏼.
Third, the rear strut rods are solid aluminum.
they have no cushioning.
Summit racing sells a rear adjustable strut rod that has rubber cushioned ends, and after putting them on, I couldn’t believe how much better the car rides.
Fourth, your shocks.
everybody wants stiffer shocks.
i have a set of used Bilsteins for the front for $80 plus shipping.
they are the soft ride kings.
Fifth, your control arm bushings gotta be as soft as rocks.
put new rubber in them and new ball joints, top and bottom.
then new sway bar bushings.
you will be amazed st how much better your car will ride.