Okay all you suspension gurus out there, I need a little advice. I now realize I'm approaching all the performance I can get out of my car without starting to play around with my own alignment. The idea is very intriguing, but I have a question.

Is it possible to properly corner balance a stock 2002 Z06 with just the leaf springs, or are coil-overs required to adjust ride height at each corner? If the answer is that coil-overs are not required, what is the real advantage of coil-overs? Is it just to be able to adjust compression and rebound on the shocks and play with spring rates?

Also, when you install coil-overs, do you remove the leaf spring or are the coil springs in addition to the leaf?

MadDog

 

individual corners can be adjusted for height by turning the bolts at each end of the springs. but thats all it will change. not spring rate. the springs get removed when coil overs are installed.

 

Yes absolutely even a stock C5 can be properly corner wieghted with stock transverse composite springs. There is no need to have coil-overs to corner wieght a car. Primary benefits of coil-overs is only these two things, cheaper multiple spring selection and being able to bias a car to turn primarily in one direction using spring rates. There are however some crazy fast autocross and roadrace cars that utilize transverse springs, but typically they are Vette Brakes and Products composite leaf springs with spring rates that are significantly higher than even stock Z06.

Compression and rebound are shock adjustments, not all coil-overs have adjustable shocks. There are adjustable shocks that are available for transverse springs from Koni (2812's,3013's) , Penske,JRZ,Ohlins and on and on. ( I use the Koni 2812's myself albeit not the cheapest option).

If you are going to have your car corner wieghted have it done with either a full or empy tank, drivers wieght installed (with ballast) and have the car as competed with (if you compete). Additionally in order to corner wieght a car correctly the sway bars will have to be disconnected (end link) so that the sway bars are not jacking wieght while conner balancing. You should also get adjustable heim-jointed end links before doing a corner wieght job, so that your sway bars will not end up with preload (they have some preload even from the factory). Install end links after the vehicle has been corner wieghted with ballast and adjust endlinks so that the last bolts go in with out prying or leveraging sway bar to install.

If you are close to LG Motorsports they will be able to handle all of this for you.

 

Thanks for the help, guys. I guess I'll hold off on the coil-overs for a while then.

Raftracer, is this what you are talking about?

http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1845

If so, how many do I need? It seems like you would only need it to be adjustable on one end since both ends swing together, right? This would mean I only need one in the front and one in back, correct? Also, this adjustable end link from Ecklers does not say front or back. Are they the same part in front and back? I just looked at mine and they do look like they may be the same part.

The LG crew are awesome, but it is a long drive for me in Austin and I need to learn this stuff on my own. As you can see from my signature, LG DNA is all over my car and I love them.

Thanks again for the help.

MadDog

 

Yeah, you really only need two, one front and one rear. But, since they are mostly sold as a car set , you might as well use all four for greater adjustability and flexability to level the bars out if your car sits low.If you buy these make sure that they are installed correctly with the spacers that are included so that they are as free as possible to articulate.

I am thinking Ecklers would be the last place that I would by these from. Try VBP,Van Steel (Paul), or LG Motorsports.

 

Excellent, and thanks for the advice on where to get them. I'll check with the guys at LG.

MadDog