Suspension?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi Texas
Suspension?
Hello, i finally installed the bilstein sport shocks and the upgraded 32 in front and 26 in rear sway bars. These mods have improved handling. But the vette still doesnt handle like i want it to. I am going to try to explain the way it rides and the way i would like it to ride. When i am driving down the street the car seems bouncy. I want the body to be stiff. I hope i have explained this well, its kinda hard to explain but thats the best i can do. What do you recommend i do? Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: Suspension? (yellowc4LH)
Going down the street your not really going to feel frame flex, so I wouldnt look there. I would get stiffer springs if thats what your concern is. A softer spring will bounce more compared to a stiff spring. (For expample, some import people cut their springs instead of doing a real lowering system, you can always spot them because when they hit a bump they bounce up and down for awhile, it does that because the spring rate gets lowered)
The C4 is quite a stiff frame, and I dont really see how the camber brace does much on this car, with that big beam right there anyways... but I am no engineer.. so who knows...
Anyways, my advice would be springs... And its possible one of yours is broken, which would cause a bouncing as well (all relative to what BOUNCE is to you I suppose..)
Matt
The C4 is quite a stiff frame, and I dont really see how the camber brace does much on this car, with that big beam right there anyways... but I am no engineer.. so who knows...
Anyways, my advice would be springs... And its possible one of yours is broken, which would cause a bouncing as well (all relative to what BOUNCE is to you I suppose..)
Matt
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: PA NJ
Re: Suspension? (VetteRacer282)
Actually, cutting a coil spring will increase the spring rate.
Heating a coil spring decreases the spring rate.
The reson why these ricers or any vehicle with springs "bounce" around when they hit bumps (excluding those that heat their coil springs) is their shocks damping is not relative to the rate of their stiffer spring.
When you buy an aftermarket spring (coil or monoleaf for the vette) manufacturers will recommend shocks that will work in conjunction with the increased rate of their particular spring.
I would say, check your shocks 1st, may need stiffer ones.
:flag
Heating a coil spring decreases the spring rate.
The reson why these ricers or any vehicle with springs "bounce" around when they hit bumps (excluding those that heat their coil springs) is their shocks damping is not relative to the rate of their stiffer spring.
When you buy an aftermarket spring (coil or monoleaf for the vette) manufacturers will recommend shocks that will work in conjunction with the increased rate of their particular spring.
I would say, check your shocks 1st, may need stiffer ones.
:flag
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland Ohio
Re: Suspension? (yellowc4LH)
The bilstein sports are firmer than other shocks - that might be what you are picking up. I have sports with 32/24 solid sway bars and base springs on 18' Kumho's and I love the improvement (ride 'n handling) over stock.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Re: Suspension? (MyFatNutz)
Its late for me (got off work hour ago)
But seems to me that (loosly worded) if you have a 100#/in spring thats say 10" long then it'd handle 1000# right? If you cut it to 7" that would mean it could handle 700#... That to me is a decrease..
Right or wrong?
Matt
But seems to me that (loosly worded) if you have a 100#/in spring thats say 10" long then it'd handle 1000# right? If you cut it to 7" that would mean it could handle 700#... That to me is a decrease..
Right or wrong?
Matt
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: lakeland fl
Re: Suspension? (MyFatNutz)
Umm, those idiots are mostly bouncing off their stops- their shocks are superfluvious with <1" of suspension travel- see "hardtails" in the Harley section.......
You've added bigger bars and stiff shocks, you've noted stiffness to the point of a choppy ride, and you want more? "Good handling" is maximizing tire contact while providing maximum directional agility- if you simply make the suspension stiffer, unless you drive exclusively on a track with a perfect surface, you'll hurt your real-world "handling" by over-stiffening the suspension.
Your car doesn't handle well? Compared to what? If there really is a problem, perhaps replacing worn bushings, steering rack, ball joints, wheel bearings, and/or tie rod ends will correct the real issue.
You've added bigger bars and stiff shocks, you've noted stiffness to the point of a choppy ride, and you want more? "Good handling" is maximizing tire contact while providing maximum directional agility- if you simply make the suspension stiffer, unless you drive exclusively on a track with a perfect surface, you'll hurt your real-world "handling" by over-stiffening the suspension.
Your car doesn't handle well? Compared to what? If there really is a problem, perhaps replacing worn bushings, steering rack, ball joints, wheel bearings, and/or tie rod ends will correct the real issue.
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: PA NJ
Re: Suspension? (johncazin)
VetteRacer282, here is an article i just found regarding spring tech (page redirects to the article in a few seconds):
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/89858/
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/89858/
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 4,623
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Re: Suspension? (yellowc4LH)
You need to tell us what suspension option you have or the spring rates. My sense of it is that you may have too much rebound control for a soft spring. My guess is that you are getting a real choppy bounce as opposed to a wallowing soft spring and shock type bounce. The suspension is very capable for 90% of the Corvette owners, regardless of the option. Unless you plan on tracking the car, save your money buying parts, and go have a blast at a driver's school. Not to flame, but the car likely has much more capability than you do.
