[Z06] How does T1 compare to Fe4?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,914
Likes: 4
From: Westford MA
How does T1 compare to Fe4?
I don't know if this has been discussed already. I couldn't find much on it in the archives. Does anyone know much about how the T1 and FE4 suspensions compare? Which is stiffer? Which will likely handle better? I'm just trying to figure out if the T1 would be a performance upgrade over the FE4, or if the FE4 is just a newer, more carefully designed and better overall system.
Scott
Scott
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 1
From: the West is the best
Re: How does T1 compare to Fe4? (LymanSS)
you have raised a good issue. I know that on the '01 ZO6 the front sway bar was in fact different than the previous Z51, but the rear was identical. I have switched to the T1 for my rear sway bar. In '02 I understand that the front sway bar is thicker and stiffer than the '01. I have not seen any comparisions of the '02 front sway bar to the T1 front sway bar yet. I also understand that the rear shocks on the Z06 are different than the '01, but for me , I had already swapped to HALs. :chevy
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Florence KY
Re: How does T1 compare to Fe4? (LymanSS)
I was running in an open track event at Texas World Speedway about 4 months ago and a guy pulled a fully prepped '01 Z06 out of a semi and was laying down some serious lap times. This was a no muffler, no interior, fully prepped race car. I asked him the same question and he said for a track only car there is no camparison in the performance levels. He had a full T1 conversion under the car. I have ridden in and driven both, and the T1 is very very stiff.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 252
From: Minnesota
Re: How does T1 compare to Fe4? (LymanSS)
I have recently driven a stroked '00 coupe with a full T1 suspension: shocks, springs, sway bars, etc. It rode like a friggin go kart. No lean, jarring ride. Cornered like the race car it was. My Fe4 is a pleasing daily use suspension, a tad stiffer and much less lean and nose dive than my '99 FRC Z51. Fe4 is the best of all worlds for a street driven track car. :chevy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 5,653
Likes: 1
From: Lone Tree CO
Re: How does T1 compare to Fe4? (Rippied Z06)
I have T1s on my Z06. The car does not ride all that harsh. The car corners like it is on rails but there is some irritating groans and squeaks from the rear. I may have to go back to stock. The cornering ability is great but T1s are for track use and may be a little too much for the street.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 17
Re: How does T1 compare to Fe4? (NoMercy)
NoMercy - does your car sound like the body creaks every time you enter a driveway with those bars?? Does your whole car creak and make weird cracking noises when the surface you are going over is uneven? I have that problem with my T1's - just wanted to make sure it was normal!! Feels like those T1 bars stress the hell out of the chassis because they are so stiff.....
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 1
From: the West is the best
Re: How does T1 compare to Fe4? (OliverM5)
I had a brief stint when my front sway bar was squeaking and groaning. I had lifted the rear up fairly high and when I brought it back down the godawful groaning started. Lasted a couple of weeks but eventually went away. My T1 in the rear is quiet. I believe I am going now w/T1 in the front as well. :chevy
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara CA
Re: How does T1 compare to Fe4? (LymanSS)
I have T1 front swaybar with Penske shocks (from Guy Ankeny Racing). The T1 makes it corner flat. The stock swaybar gave quite a bit of roll for my taste. The only downside to this is the odd rattles at low speed going in and out of driveways. The shocks really control the car without giving a harsher ride. Actually slightly firmer, but less jarring if that makes any sense. The combination also seems to reduce the tendency to bottom out the front frame rails under the nose when running hard on rougher pavement. This is my daily driver and I have put 3K miles on this setup on vacation and its very livable for me. And I should say for my wife as well. She hated my previous car with Konis.
Jim
Jim