Bang bang bang
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Bang bang bang
Quick question: Why does my C5 violently go bang bang really hard when I hit a pothole, while my wife's 911 has a pleasant thump thump over that same pothole? I keep hearing people tell me "You trade performance for comfort" I really do undersatand that, but what is Porsche doing differently tha chevy (suspension wise). My car is 1997 with only 17k (mint condition) with new firestone Indy 500 tires (ditched the run flats cause I thought it was part of the peoblem) but still get the violently harsh bang bang.. looking for the thump thump... Any suggestions appreciated. Thx!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Thanks for the reply, suspensions all tight, bushings look like new. I've had this same type of bang bang from all my vettes. Wondering how Porsche does it without the bang (of course it's a lot more $$$ for the car). Id really like to figure this out. I love this car otherwise.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
Base coupe c5's are downright soft, certainly softer than any 911 as long as it doesn't have run flats on it. I can hit a mid sized speed bump at 20+ in my much firmer z06 without feeling a major bump. Unless you're talking about sharp edged potholes, you shouldn't be feeling anything jarring with a base c5.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
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From: Kelowna BC
1. Stop driving either car thru potholes. 
2. My Z does not bang on the rare time I hit one, just a rough bump.
3. The Porsche is a much more expensive car, and yet pretty ugly
, so that extra money should buy you something.
Seriously, I would say there is an issue with your car.
2. My Z does not bang on the rare time I hit one, just a rough bump.
3. The Porsche is a much more expensive car, and yet pretty ugly
, so that extra money should buy you something. Seriously, I would say there is an issue with your car.
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Are you sure your shocks are in top operating condition? I have driven my C5 over some rough roads and have not experienced that kind of banging you are describing.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,823
Likes: 757
From: Marysville Washington
Yeah, sounds like shot shocks to me, but the mileage makes it curious...seriously though, gotta dodge those pot holes dude. I don't know anyone that puroposfully drives over stuff in the road with any remotely nice car, much less a low sports car.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
1. Stop driving either car thru potholes.
2. My Z does not bang on the rare time I hit one, just a rough bump.
3. The Porsche is a much more expensive car, and yet pretty ugly, so that extra money should buy you something.
Seriously, I would say there is an issue with your car.
2. My Z does not bang on the rare time I hit one, just a rough bump.
3. The Porsche is a much more expensive car, and yet pretty ugly
, so that extra money should buy you something. Seriously, I would say there is an issue with your car.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Shocks are good, just put a set of kyb I borrowed from a friend.. got bilstein hd on order from Amazon. Will run the kybs, then bilsteins and report back.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
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Base coupe c5's are downright soft, certainly softer than any 911 as long as it doesn't have run flats on it. I can hit a mid sized speed bump at 20+ in my much firmer z06 without feeling a major bump. Unless you're talking about sharp edged potholes, you shouldn't be feeling anything jarring with a base c5.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
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[QUOTE=Carcreep;1594533615]911 is more of a bumpy ride, but it takes the bumps much better. As I mentioned earlier, I can hit the same potholes with both cars and the Porsche is light years ahead in comfort. They do not bang 💥 over the bumps like the Vette does. The Porsche also has thinner sidewall tires, and believe it or not, the Porsche is lower to the ground. So I'm really wondering how they got the car to take the bumps so well. Could also be that the interior is a lot tighter. My c5 is plastic city 😂
Failed to mention I just put c6 wheels on as a trial...
Failed to mention I just put c6 wheels on as a trial...
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
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Thanks for the suggestion, calipers all tight, everything attached to the wheels seems to be tight. This is a real mystery. Car is great otherwise
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
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Definitely not the shocks, but I think I'm on to something... when I listen closely, it sounds like the bang maybe due to a loose interior part? Possibly the glove box. If I drive over a roughed up surface (not a pothole) I can hear it rattle quite a bit. Maybe I'm hearing the loose part slam up and down when I hit a bump? Need to inspect further. kinda sucks that this thing is rattling after only 17k lightly driven miles.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 405
Likes: 65
From: Rural Iowa
Mine used to bottom out really bad, in the rear. The previous owner had lowered it on stock bolts. When I raised the rear about 5 turns on the adjuster bolts, the bad bottoming out stopped.
To me, it seems when you lower with the bolts, you also remove preload from the rear spring. Fully lowered the rear seems really soft, much softer than the front. When you raise the rear it seems to add spring preload and the rear end stiffens up nicely and the ride improves a bunch, at least for me.
To me, it seems when you lower with the bolts, you also remove preload from the rear spring. Fully lowered the rear seems really soft, much softer than the front. When you raise the rear it seems to add spring preload and the rear end stiffens up nicely and the ride improves a bunch, at least for me.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 83
From: . New York
I hate to even mention this......but.....have you checked the battery hold down? Long story short, on a battery replacement I had the wrong size battery in there (the Die Hard Platinum Sears computer said was right.....which....was smaller than the hold down was designed for). We checked the whole front end suspension wise until we realized that the cluck we were hearing was from the battery sliding from one side of the tray to the other. Just an idea.
I never had the bang you are speaking of on potholes (reasonable potholes) with the stock shocks and sways and it only got better with the C6 Z51 bars and Zo6 shocks later. Good luck
I never had the bang you are speaking of on potholes (reasonable potholes) with the stock shocks and sways and it only got better with the C6 Z51 bars and Zo6 shocks later. Good luck
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
I hate to even mention this......but.....have you checked the battery hold down? Long story short, on a battery replacement I had the wrong size battery in there (the Die Hard Platinum Sears computer said was right.....which....was smaller than the hold down was designed for). We checked the whole front end suspension wise until we realized that the cluck we were hearing was from the battery sliding from one side of the tray to the other. Just an idea.
I never had the bang you are speaking of on potholes (reasonable potholes) with the stock shocks and sways and it only got better with the C6 Z51 bars and Zo6 shocks later. Good luck
I never had the bang you are speaking of on potholes (reasonable potholes) with the stock shocks and sways and it only got better with the C6 Z51 bars and Zo6 shocks later. Good luck
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Definitely not the shocks, but I think I'm on to something... when I listen closely, it sounds like the bang maybe due to a loose interior part? Possibly the glove box. If I drive over a roughed up surface (not a pothole) I can hear it rattle quite a bit. Maybe I'm hearing the loose part slam up and down when I hit a bump? Need to inspect further. kinda sucks that this thing is rattling after only 17k lightly driven miles.