Can coilovers be comfortable too?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Gallatin Tennessee
Can coilovers be comfortable too?
We recently moved from Austin TX to Nashville TN and I am driving my C5 everyday approximately 70 miles a days for my commute. I love driving this car, it moves through traffic effortlessly. I just think where I want to be and it's there. The roads around here are not as smooth as they were in central TX and I'm looking for options. Before moving I had replaced the stock shocks with Bilstein Sport Shocks and lowered it on stock bolts.
So my question are coilovers the answer, different shocks or somthing I haven't thought of yet?
I am updating this post to give my opinion for anyone who may have the same question. - First I want to thank everyone for their answers to my question. I purchased the Pfadt FeatherLight Single Adjustable coilovers and a set of the Johnny O'Connell sway bars, everyone at the Pfadt company was very helpful at answering my questions and sending me information to read.
So to the technical information:
Before - Ride height 27" front, 28" rear After - Ride height 26.7 front, 27.6 rear
Damper settings - 18 front, 13 rear (Exactly in the middle between Street and Track)
Now to the opinion:
The ride is AMAZING! My car is more responsive, smoother riding and corners flatter. I feel the road surface without the jolt of the bumps, it truely smooths the imperfections. I did not lose anything, I gained a much better car.
So my question are coilovers the answer, different shocks or somthing I haven't thought of yet?
I am updating this post to give my opinion for anyone who may have the same question. - First I want to thank everyone for their answers to my question. I purchased the Pfadt FeatherLight Single Adjustable coilovers and a set of the Johnny O'Connell sway bars, everyone at the Pfadt company was very helpful at answering my questions and sending me information to read.
So to the technical information:
Before - Ride height 27" front, 28" rear After - Ride height 26.7 front, 27.6 rear
Damper settings - 18 front, 13 rear (Exactly in the middle between Street and Track)
Now to the opinion:
The ride is AMAZING! My car is more responsive, smoother riding and corners flatter. I feel the road surface without the jolt of the bumps, it truely smooths the imperfections. I did not lose anything, I gained a much better car.
Last edited by BaerDad; Sep 4, 2012 at 10:16 PM. Reason: Update post
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
I would say you can make your car more comfortable easily with Coil overs. When I first installed mine I had them set too soft for my ride height. It rode like a caddy at first till I noticed the wheel rubbing in the fender liner.
I have since tightened up my coil overs to eliminate the fender rubbing over BIG unseen bumps. It still rides better than lowered max on stock bolts.
If you don't have your car slammed to the ground like mine is, I would think you can have your coil over set to a nice soft setting and really improve your ride quality over bumpy roads.
Just my experiences with coil overs.
Toque
I have since tightened up my coil overs to eliminate the fender rubbing over BIG unseen bumps. It still rides better than lowered max on stock bolts.If you don't have your car slammed to the ground like mine is, I would think you can have your coil over set to a nice soft setting and really improve your ride quality over bumpy roads.
Just my experiences with coil overs.
Toque
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 45
From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Perhaps, but I'm thinking you will lose some of that "effortlessly through traffic" feeling if you soften the ride.
Always give and take.....
GL
Always give and take.....
GL
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
I run the LG GT2's and love them. I love how you can adjust them to your taste. I like mine a little on the soft side and was able to accomplish what I wanted. 
Let me know if you have questions on these
http://www.shop.jwmotoring.com/produ...&categoryId=64
Let me know if you have questions on these
http://www.shop.jwmotoring.com/produ...&categoryId=64
Last edited by JW Motorsports; Jul 18, 2012 at 09:55 AM.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
Likes: 438
From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
No question about it.
You can adjust to ride like a Caddy or a Track Car...
http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...tteshocks.html
Peace
Chip
You can adjust to ride like a Caddy or a Track Car...
http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...tteshocks.html
Peace
Chip
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
IMHO: Stock sway bars and adjustable coilovers set to a soft dampening setting will give you the ride you're looking for.
I run BIG Pfadt bars and run my car stiff because I like to throw it around on the country roads where I live.
I run BIG Pfadt bars and run my car stiff because I like to throw it around on the country roads where I live.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 9
You can definitely achieve a great ride quality with our FeatherLight Single Adjustable coilovers. Keep in mind that these are still performance parts designed specifically for increased performance, but ride quality at the lower end of the damper adjustment range can be excellent even over rougher road surfaces. We spent a lot of time on drivability testing before we released our FeatherLight Singles and are very impressed with the ride quality we were able to achieve, while still being able to tune them for aggressive track use as well.
Keep in mind that one of the best qualities of coilovers is being able to tune your ride quality independantly of ride height. With the factory leaf springs as you lower the car you eliminate suspension travel, which makes it much more likely to ride off of the bump stops in every day driving. With Coilovers we can build a lot of travel into the shocks which keeps the entire system very usable even at very low ride heights. The only limiting factor to how you can drop your Corvette with our FeatherLights is Tire to Fender contact.
Keep in mind that one of the best qualities of coilovers is being able to tune your ride quality independantly of ride height. With the factory leaf springs as you lower the car you eliminate suspension travel, which makes it much more likely to ride off of the bump stops in every day driving. With Coilovers we can build a lot of travel into the shocks which keeps the entire system very usable even at very low ride heights. The only limiting factor to how you can drop your Corvette with our FeatherLights is Tire to Fender contact.
Last edited by Pfadt Racing; Jul 18, 2012 at 12:38 PM.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Gallatin Tennessee
Thanks to everyone for the answers so far, if there are more people with experience please give me your opinion. I will have to start looking to upgrade the suspension. If there is something else I should do (any other parts) for this upgrade, please let me know. This will make the difference between keeping this vette and upgrading to a C6. I am really not ready to let this one go.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 769
Likes: 1
From: Columbia TN
Hey BaerDad. Welcome to TN. I live just south of you in Columbia. Sure hope you enjoy it around here. I've got Pfadt SA c/o and love them in my Z.
To answer your question, yes you can set them to a softer setting. I however don't because I enjoy putting my car into the corners and not having it roll.
Good luck with your decision. If you need help with the install I'd be happy to talk you through it. Just shoot me a pm if you get stuck.
To answer your question, yes you can set them to a softer setting. I however don't because I enjoy putting my car into the corners and not having it roll.
Good luck with your decision. If you need help with the install I'd be happy to talk you through it. Just shoot me a pm if you get stuck.