want to improve handling...tips??
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 17
From: Walnut Creek, CA
want to improve handling...tips??
Not looking for anything extreme!
My 99 c5 coupe currently has the most base suspension setup. Not z51 or anything special. The only mod is that I lowered it a bit on the stock bolts. An inch all around, maybe...
Anyway, what are a few very simple things I can do so that the car will feel a bit more stable through higher speed turns? Stuff like shocks, swaybars, or new tires (still on the stock runflats
)
Thanks!
My 99 c5 coupe currently has the most base suspension setup. Not z51 or anything special. The only mod is that I lowered it a bit on the stock bolts. An inch all around, maybe...
Anyway, what are a few very simple things I can do so that the car will feel a bit more stable through higher speed turns? Stuff like shocks, swaybars, or new tires (still on the stock runflats
)Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,799
Likes: 1
From: Dayton Ohio
Originally Posted by GeorgeZNJ
Z06 or Hotchkis sway bars, 04 Z06 shocks, easy to do, pretty good start and a good bang for the buck.
I highly recommend the Z06 sway bars, as it made a vast improvement on my f45 car. You'll also need metal end links to replace the flimsy plastic ones on your car. If you want shocks, another common name to look into is Blistein. You'll love the upgrade!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 46
From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
Originally Posted by GeorgeZNJ
Z06 or Hotchkis sway bars, 04 Z06 shocks, easy to do, pretty good start and a good bang for the buck.
this is what you are looking for. tires also help with these mods.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 71,447
Likes: 6
From: Miami bound
CI 4-5-6-7 Veteran
Biggest bang for the buck is tires.
Tyre improvements are the quickest way to improve the performance of any car. Generally, the time gain is equal to or greater then all the other factors put together. Put simply, all the many man hours that hundreds of workers put in a team like BAR, coupled with all the many more hours of work by engineers at Honda, amount to the same improvement per season as whatever mysterious changes have been applied to the four black, round things the car is standing on. For, no matter how much power a car produces, it can only go as fast as its wheels can go around. That depends entirely on how much grip a car can get out of its tyres on the tarmac."
- Craig Wilson, Race Engineer for Jenson Button, BAR-Honda F1 2003
(May 2004 - Interestingly enough, BAR (which had been a middle-pack team at best since its inception, despite being one of the most heavily funded teams on the F1 grid) has in 2004 experienced a major leap forward in their race and qualifying pace. The biggest technical change since 2003 and earlier? They switched tire brands from Bridgestone to Michelin.)
http://www.wincom.net/trog/street_tire_faq/
- Craig Wilson, Race Engineer for Jenson Button, BAR-Honda F1 2003
(May 2004 - Interestingly enough, BAR (which had been a middle-pack team at best since its inception, despite being one of the most heavily funded teams on the F1 grid) has in 2004 experienced a major leap forward in their race and qualifying pace. The biggest technical change since 2003 and earlier? They switched tire brands from Bridgestone to Michelin.)
http://www.wincom.net/trog/street_tire_faq/
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 71,447
Likes: 6
From: Miami bound
CI 4-5-6-7 Veteran
Firestone WideOvals are good bang for the buck, but for the latest test results:
http://www.caranddriver.com/article....ticle_id=10252
http://www.caranddriver.com/article....ticle_id=10252
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 380
Likes: 9
From: Jacksonville FL
I went with ZO6 sway bars and metal end-links, 2004 ZO6 shocks ('04s have revised valving over earlier years), and non-run flat Michelin PS2 tires. HUGE improvement in handling, but not too rough for normal driving on the street (pot-holes and all).
Good luck.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 17
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Originally Posted by ayeroff
I went with ZO6 sway bars and metal end-links, 2004 ZO6 shocks ('04s have revised valving over earlier years), and non-run flat Michelin PS2 tires. HUGE improvement in handling, but not too rough for normal driving on the street (pot-holes and all).
Good luck.
Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Tampa fl
I also have a 99 and I am in the process of upgrading the base suspension. So far I have done 3 of the things on your list.
1. Z06 sway bars-nice improvement
2. Tires- Goodyear F1-D3's are awesome tires PERIOD.
3. Tunnel Plate- this mod was a huge surprise in how well it worked to tighten up the chassis of the car and make the car feel more "solid" and in turn handle better. Elite Engineering steel plate.
Next I will be doing a set of C6 Z06 shocks.
1. Z06 sway bars-nice improvement
2. Tires- Goodyear F1-D3's are awesome tires PERIOD.
3. Tunnel Plate- this mod was a huge surprise in how well it worked to tighten up the chassis of the car and make the car feel more "solid" and in turn handle better. Elite Engineering steel plate.
Next I will be doing a set of C6 Z06 shocks.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 17
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Originally Posted by Kappa
If your going to do all that stuff you might as well get a good performance alignment too. That makes a big difference in response and handling.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 36,453
Likes: 2
From: Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position.... DFW, TX
St. Jude Donor '05
My car went from a base C5 street car to a track-street hybrid with SIGNIFICANT improvements in handling.
Best bang for the buck was springs. The FE1 springs are WEAK. Doing swaybars or shocks will not correct the significant dive you have on braking with the stock setup.
Keep in mind that the GM engineers have spent HUNDREDS of hours designing suspensions. Simply adding new pieces is a bad idea as it will not always improve things. My suggestion:
'04 Z06 entirely. Springs, sways, shocks, tires. It's a solid, reliable, and proven performer.
As mentioned before, tires will make a big difference. Avoid the temptation to go cheap here.
Best bang for the buck was springs. The FE1 springs are WEAK. Doing swaybars or shocks will not correct the significant dive you have on braking with the stock setup.
Keep in mind that the GM engineers have spent HUNDREDS of hours designing suspensions. Simply adding new pieces is a bad idea as it will not always improve things. My suggestion:
'04 Z06 entirely. Springs, sways, shocks, tires. It's a solid, reliable, and proven performer.
As mentioned before, tires will make a big difference. Avoid the temptation to go cheap here.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,803
Likes: 17
From: Walnut Creek, CA
Originally Posted by Umrswimr
My car went from a base C5 street car to a track-street hybrid with SIGNIFICANT improvements in handling.
Best bang for the buck was springs. The FE1 springs are WEAK. Doing swaybars or shocks will not correct the significant dive you have on braking with the stock setup.
Keep in mind that the GM engineers have spent HUNDREDS of hours designing suspensions. Simply adding new pieces is a bad idea as it will not always improve things. My suggestion:
'04 Z06 entirely. Springs, sways, shocks, tires. It's a solid, reliable, and proven performer.
As mentioned before, tires will make a big difference. Avoid the temptation to go cheap here.
Best bang for the buck was springs. The FE1 springs are WEAK. Doing swaybars or shocks will not correct the significant dive you have on braking with the stock setup.
Keep in mind that the GM engineers have spent HUNDREDS of hours designing suspensions. Simply adding new pieces is a bad idea as it will not always improve things. My suggestion:
'04 Z06 entirely. Springs, sways, shocks, tires. It's a solid, reliable, and proven performer.
As mentioned before, tires will make a big difference. Avoid the temptation to go cheap here.
haha...OK! z06 parts definitely sound like what i'm looking for!
So, WHERE DO I ORDER THEM!?
