Me too.
Unbeeeleeevible.............
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast of Calif.
Pics of shock stuffers
Go to the 50th Anniversary Registry Forum. You'll find a picture there and more info about them.
http://www.50thregistry.com/technica...ks/shocks.html
Hi howieb,
I had the same experience recently with my newly adopted (Oct. 13, 07) AE, 6 spd coupe. To think, 30,000 miles and that 2 previous owners and the dealership of delivery missed them. I too figured: "well the brittle ride was a small price to pay for such a fine car". The bump stear was wicked though and scared the daylights out of me at times! Vette club buddies were telling me it was the run flats. Glad someone told me about the stuffers before I replaced tires that still had good tread on them. I've heard that in 03 the stuffers were only used on the AE edition vette and Cadillacs since those were the only cars that yr with the magnetic ride control shocks as standard equip(optional on other 03 vettes). Subsequent yrs may have all had them, but I think they stopped packing the cars with them since they were forgotten during dealer prep so often. Quite a few people sold their AE's because they just didn't like the ride, that's just sad.
Congrats on your newly owned vette. Check out the 50thregistry.com and the 50thaecorvetteforum.com, if you haven't already. They are also really nice folks with a lot of great info. All vettes are special but the 50th AE has it's unique qualities. As I learn more, I continue to be inpressed by my AE and am having a blast with it. Hope you do too.
Last edited by C5lady; Apr 8, 2008 at 02:51 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
It makes you wonder how many more members with F55 are suffering from a bad ride with those things still installed.
Can't believe the original dealers missed this on the checklist. This is one of those threads that needs bumping every now and then.
Here's an article that appeared in GM Tech Link in 2002 describing the problem:
New Vehicle Prep -- Corvette Magnetic Selective Ride Control
Magnetic Selective Ride Control (RPO F55) is available on 2003 Corvettes. When the ignition is turned off, the dampers offer very little damping. So, plastic stuffers are inserted in the dampers for shipping from the factory (Techlink, June 2002). The stuffers must be removed during new vehicle prep. Failure to do so will result in customer dissatisfaction with the vehicle’s ride quality. Refer to bulletin 02- 03-11-002 for complete details. You can recognize the presence of Ride Control three ways:
- Ride Control button on console
- Corrugated dust boots on dampers
- Yellow tabs protruding from dust boots
To remove the stuffers, lift the vehicle to allow the wheels to hang free. Reach from below, behind the tire. Compress the dust boot and pull the yellow tab to remove the stuffer.
TIP: There is a stuffer on each damper, front and rear. After removing the stuffer, be sure to pull the dust boot down to cover the upper end of the damper tube.
Can't believe the original dealers missed this on the checklist. This is one of those threads that needs bumping every now and then.Here's an article that appeared in GM Tech Link in 2002 describing the problem:
New Vehicle Prep -- Corvette Magnetic Selective Ride Control
Magnetic Selective Ride Control (RPO F55) is available on 2003 Corvettes. When the ignition is turned off, the dampers offer very little damping. So, plastic stuffers are inserted in the dampers for shipping from the factory (Techlink, June 2002). The stuffers must be removed during new vehicle prep. Failure to do so will result in customer dissatisfaction with the vehicle’s ride quality. Refer to bulletin 02- 03-11-002 for complete details. You can recognize the presence of Ride Control three ways:
- Ride Control button on console
- Corrugated dust boots on dampers
- Yellow tabs protruding from dust boots
To remove the stuffers, lift the vehicle to allow the wheels to hang free. Reach from below, behind the tire. Compress the dust boot and pull the yellow tab to remove the stuffer.
TIP: There is a stuffer on each damper, front and rear. After removing the stuffer, be sure to pull the dust boot down to cover the upper end of the damper tube.
Last edited by DeeGee; Apr 6, 2008 at 10:18 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 19,632
Likes: 523
From: Ideals are peaceful...History is violent...St.Charles, MO.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12 thru'22
This forum is awesome
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 507
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From: Macungie Pa
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 969
Likes: 39
From: Northern VA
Here is a pic of mine still in place..........
Here is the thread on my similiar experience,.........your new suspension is the best in the world..........ask Ferrari or MB.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1960296
Here is the thread on my similiar experience,.........your new suspension is the best in the world..........ask Ferrari or MB.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1960296
