Ways to fix a rough ride...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
Ways to fix a rough ride...
My car has 65,000 miles and has been lowered on the stock bolts for two years now. The ride has slowly gotten worse and worse to where now I feel every little crease in the pavement. I know with it being lowered, the ride quality will suffer, and I'm not expecting a smooth ride. However, I do want to make it a little better. I would like to replace everything at once so can you guys please help me out and list anything and everything that I could replace to help the ride without raising it back up. I just love the lowered look. It has brand new tires. I know it could probably use new shocks and bushings, anything else? What replacements would have the biggest impact to improve the ride? Thanks ahead of time guys! 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 6
From: Los Angeles
Stock shocks + lowered = crappy ride. You are bottoming out the shock which is creating the jarring ride. I replaced my stock shocks at 66k miles and they were DONE.
Replace your shocks, and since you are lowered you'll want Bilstein Sports. They have a shorter valve body than the HDs, C6Z06 shocks etc and better accomidate up to 1" of lowering. I run Sports myself, they are excellent.
I purchased polyurethane bushings for the shocks, but they were VERY hard... almost like plastic. I just used the rubber bushings that came with the Sports.
Replace your shocks, and since you are lowered you'll want Bilstein Sports. They have a shorter valve body than the HDs, C6Z06 shocks etc and better accomidate up to 1" of lowering. I run Sports myself, they are excellent.
I purchased polyurethane bushings for the shocks, but they were VERY hard... almost like plastic. I just used the rubber bushings that came with the Sports.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Sounds like your car is bottoming out. Raise it back up. Shocks hitting the bump stomps do to it being too low.
also what tires are you running and how old ( not millage on the tires ) but in years?
Old tires more then 2 years old turn hard and just don't give very much. Even with few miles on.
Shocks are good for 100K Plus miles, so not likely the shocks
Good Luck
also what tires are you running and how old ( not millage on the tires ) but in years?
Old tires more then 2 years old turn hard and just don't give very much. Even with few miles on.
Shocks are good for 100K Plus miles, so not likely the shocks
Good Luck
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Rutherfordton NC
Front Leaf Spring maybe?
When I purchased my used vett (just a few weeks ago) I noticed the front end was low. Asked dealer to raise before I purchased. They found the front leaf sping (fiberglass that runs the width of the car, doesn't really look like a leaf spring but that's what the guy called it) was cracked, they had to replace before they could raise the front end. I have noticed a better ride than when I originally tried out the car 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 6
From: Los Angeles
I completely disagree. At 65k my shocks were severly worn and the car was not handling like it should. I'm sure you can drive on them for 100k, but it won't handle like it did at 10k. Saying the shocks are good for 100k is the same as the spark plugs. Yes they will work, but not near their best capacity.
A lowered C5 will magnify the shortcomings of older stock shocks.
A lowered C5 will magnify the shortcomings of older stock shocks.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Shocks or the rubber mounts between the a-arms? I bet it was the rubber mounts - Change the mounts do a duron and there is huge difference.
Not every shop has them but a shock dyno will tell you if your shocks are shot or not.
Not every shop has them but a shock dyno will tell you if your shocks are shot or not.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,866
Likes: 249
From: Hillsboro OR
Look into Pfadt coilovers. These replace the stock shocks and transverse leaf springs. Dial in the stiffness and height that you want. Changing the height adjustment does not effect shock travel.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Best cure for your problem and throw in a set of poly bushings while you're at it.
Last edited by ajg1915; May 24, 2008 at 05:29 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Spend the money and get coil overs and sell your stock springs. Best bang for the buck mod. Great ride and you can lower or raise car with ease to suit your needs.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Only place I know of is DRM and they are really a nice set-up but I would only use them on a dedicated track car as they lower the car too much for the street.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Peter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Harliq bumpy ride.
My ride is getting very uncomfortable on my stock 08 C6. Tires which were replaced have about 5000miles.
feels like I bottom out on every pot hole I can’t miss.
shock are orig car has not had any modification. Around 97k miles.
best place to go in Houston Tx to get an honest answer and not taken to the bank.
also can tire pressure sensors re reset or do the have to be replaced.
I like to know what I am talking about when I goto a place being female they don’t always think you know anything about cars.
cheers Harliq.
feels like I bottom out on every pot hole I can’t miss.
shock are orig car has not had any modification. Around 97k miles.
best place to go in Houston Tx to get an honest answer and not taken to the bank.
also can tire pressure sensors re reset or do the have to be replaced.
I like to know what I am talking about when I goto a place being female they don’t always think you know anything about cars.
cheers Harliq.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
My ride is getting very uncomfortable on my stock 08 C6. Tires which were replaced have about 5000miles.
feels like I bottom out on every pot hole I can’t miss.
shock are orig car has not had any modification. Around 97k miles.
best place to go in Houston Tx to get an honest answer and not taken to the bank.
also can tire pressure sensors re reset or do the have to be replaced.
I like to know what I am talking about when I goto a place being female they don’t always think you know anything about cars.
cheers Harliq.
feels like I bottom out on every pot hole I can’t miss.
shock are orig car has not had any modification. Around 97k miles.
best place to go in Houston Tx to get an honest answer and not taken to the bank.
also can tire pressure sensors re reset or do the have to be replaced.
I like to know what I am talking about when I goto a place being female they don’t always think you know anything about cars.
cheers Harliq.
My guess is that your shocks are worn out. Also, not sure if you have lowered your car any which can make the ride harsher.
