97 ride quality
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Saint Joseph MN
97 ride quality
My 97 rides like crap. Rode in a few others and they are 100% better. It was lowered so I raised it back up some of the way and although it's better it's still not as good as it should be. Someone told me the 97's were bad for ride quality. Any ideas?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
I have a 98 vert and the ride quality was great. I swapped out the sway bars for Z06 and added Bilstiens. At the same time I went with 18's all around with 265x35 and 295x35. I definitely lost a little ride (soft) quality but the difference in handling was well worth it. If you are running runflats - get rid of them. Also, check you spring bushings. These are the ones that surround the lowering bolts. I had one go bad on the rear and it definitely gave a harsher ride until I replaced them.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 40,995
Likes: 9,759
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The ride quality of the 97s was no different than the newer C5s. If you bought the car used it may have been modified with different stabilizer bars, springs, shocks or a combination of these items.
Bill
Bill
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 94
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From: Waverly Ohio
yea stay away from those 97s... 
!
My 97 rides as good with 71,000 on the odometer as a 2004 does! I agree with the thread above check out the suspension and see what has been done or has not been done to it.
I find it amazing how 97s catch flak and most folks ******* the 97s don't know much about a C5 to begin with
!
Dave
!My 97 rides as good with 71,000 on the odometer as a 2004 does! I agree with the thread above check out the suspension and see what has been done or has not been done to it.
I find it amazing how 97s catch flak and most folks ******* the 97s don't know much about a C5 to begin with
!Dave
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 36
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From: Saint Joseph MN
I have FI EMT's on it. I have heard that the runflats are junk but the other cars I rode in a 98 pace car edition, and a 50th anniversary edition both with runflats. Everything looks stock under there. Got a good look when I raised the ride height.
Last edited by TSteff; May 13, 2005 at 08:14 AM.
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 204
Likes: 5
From: Grapevine Tx
It might depend on what you're expecting from your car. My 98 rode like crap too, or should I say a Cadilac or something, Nothing that some stiffer suspension didn't fix. It now performs like an aggressive car should.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 36
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From: Saint Joseph MN
Yes it is my first vette, and that has nothing to do with it. I am not **** about the ride and am not looking for a cadillac ride, but after riding in 2 other corvettes, they arent even comparable. Please read what I am trying to get help with. I'm not trying to turn it into a cadillac just make it ride the way it should, as like I said I am comparing it to other bone stock corvettes I have been it. Thanks to those with suggestions about possible fixes rather than what car I should buy. Trust me when I say this thing rides like complete crap. When I get into a corner and hit a bump it upsets the car pretty bad. I know some of that is normal but not as bad as this one is.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,508
Likes: 236
From: Coconut Creek FL
My 97 rides like a dream! It now has a hair over 60K miles on it...all stock parts and run flats to boot! She has the Z51 option and I wouldn't have it any other way! crisp, responsive and along with the G92 axel....a lot of fun! maybe the lowering you did pooped out the shocks...I read that the stock shocks don't take kindly to lowering...
Other then the run flats producing some road noise- the ride is excellent!
Also- does yours have the Z51 option? did the others? the base suspension will feel much softer...I had a base suspension in my 94 vert...and it was night and day different between this Z51 and that base suspension...and I went into the 94 base from an 84 Z51!!! that was bone jarring! If you are looking to tighten it up- the Hotchkiss (not certain about spelling) or Z06 sway bars and shocks will bring some stiffness to it...although I posed this question about the bar sizing between the Z51 and Z06 and it was not that significant...so if you have the Z51 option...try changing those shocks...I'll be willing to bet it will make a worlds of difference!
Other then the run flats producing some road noise- the ride is excellent!
Also- does yours have the Z51 option? did the others? the base suspension will feel much softer...I had a base suspension in my 94 vert...and it was night and day different between this Z51 and that base suspension...and I went into the 94 base from an 84 Z51!!! that was bone jarring! If you are looking to tighten it up- the Hotchkiss (not certain about spelling) or Z06 sway bars and shocks will bring some stiffness to it...although I posed this question about the bar sizing between the Z51 and Z06 and it was not that significant...so if you have the Z51 option...try changing those shocks...I'll be willing to bet it will make a worlds of difference!
Last edited by byte_me; May 13, 2005 at 09:04 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
My advice, take it to a mechanic. My '99 was doing the same thing. When I bought it, the car was very smooth and then it started getting bad. If I were to take a corner with a bump, I felt as if I were going to loose the rear end. If I were to take off agressively and hit a bump, same deal. I went to my mechanic and he reccomended to buy new shocks. Problem Solved 
Oh Yea, I have the F45 (3-way adjustible ride control suspension) all settings worked properly, It was just ALOT more harsh in every setting then it should have been.
Good Luck
Oh Yea, I have the F45 (3-way adjustible ride control suspension) all settings worked properly, It was just ALOT more harsh in every setting then it should have been.
Good Luck
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Originally Posted by 97 BBB C5
yea stay away from those 97s... !
My 97 rides as good with 71,000 on the odometer as a 2004 does! I agree with the thread above check out the suspension and see what has been done or has not been done to it.
I find it amazing how 97s catch flak and most folks ******* the 97s don't know much about a C5 to begin with !
Dave
!My 97 rides as good with 71,000 on the odometer as a 2004 does! I agree with the thread above check out the suspension and see what has been done or has not been done to it.
I find it amazing how 97s catch flak and most folks ******* the 97s don't know much about a C5 to begin with
!Dave
I'm not sure why there are rude comments on this thread, usually this forum is full of people who are willing to help and not flame.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Saint Joseph MN
It is the base model suspension. I am going to throw a new set of shocks at it or a used set off a low mile car. I keep hearing people suggest 04 Z06 shocks, any difference between those and the shocks off of an 02? Thanks for all the help.