Visual differences in OE springs?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville Florida
Visual differences in OE springs?
I replaced the front spring on my '99 FRC (along with every other bit of the suspension to Z06 parts with '04 shocks and VB&P bushings), and I'm wondering if I might have gotten sold a base-model spring instead of a Z51/Z06 spring. The car exhibits significant oversteer in all states of cornering (entry, steady-state, off-throttle, track out, transitions, etc). It actually turns good lap times, considering, but the amount of oversteer is a pain to drive around.
Without a visible sticker to identify a part number on the spring, does anyone know if there are any other physical differences between the Z51/Z06 front springs and the base model?
Thanks for any help.
Without a visible sticker to identify a part number on the spring, does anyone know if there are any other physical differences between the Z51/Z06 front springs and the base model?
Thanks for any help.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I replaced the front spring on my '99 FRC (along with every other bit of the suspension to Z06 parts with '04 shocks and VB&P bushings), and I'm wondering if I might have gotten sold a base-model spring instead of a Z51/Z06 spring. The car exhibits significant oversteer in all states of cornering (entry, steady-state, off-throttle, track out, transitions, etc). It actually turns good lap times, considering, but the amount of oversteer is a pain to drive around.
Without a visible sticker to identify a part number on the spring, does anyone know if there are any other physical differences between the Z51/Z06 front springs and the base model?
Thanks for any help.
Without a visible sticker to identify a part number on the spring, does anyone know if there are any other physical differences between the Z51/Z06 front springs and the base model?
Thanks for any help.
Btw, the changeover is waaay easier too. I found a couple 6" C-clamps helped a lot during the process. Just use some wood or other durable material to protect the spring when using the C-clamps.
HTH
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville Florida
Thanks, but unfortunately my front spring was cracked, and I had to swap it out with another (used spring off of a 2001 Z51 car, supposedly). I've already got a Z06 rear spring (and sway bars, and '04 shocks).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 0
From: Goose Creek SC
I replaced the front spring on my '99 FRC (along with every other bit of the suspension to Z06 parts with '04 shocks and VB&P bushings), and I'm wondering if I might have gotten sold a base-model spring instead of a Z51/Z06 spring. The car exhibits significant oversteer in all states of cornering (entry, steady-state, off-throttle, track out, transitions, etc). It actually turns good lap times, considering, but the amount of oversteer is a pain to drive around.
Without a visible sticker to identify a part number on the spring, does anyone know if there are any other physical differences between the Z51/Z06 front springs and the base model?
Thanks for any help.
Without a visible sticker to identify a part number on the spring, does anyone know if there are any other physical differences between the Z51/Z06 front springs and the base model?
Thanks for any help.
Stiffening the front or softening the rear can cause understeer.
You apparently stiffened the rear while keeping the front the same...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville Florida
Thanks, but I'm quite aware of that. I'm relatively sure that stock C5 Z06s are not intended to have the sort of handling imbalance my car exhibits. I'm just trying to figure out if I have the proper front spring on there, so I can move on to troubleshooting other areas...
Last edited by GrantB; Sep 21, 2008 at 04:20 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Thanks, but I'm quite aware of that. I'm relatively sure that stock C5 Z06s are not intended to have the sort of handling imbalance my car exhibits. I'm just trying to figure out if I have the proper front spring on there, so I can move on to troubleshooting other areas...
If all else fails, you may have to resort to putting a caliper on the spring and measure the thickness in two or three different places and compare to a known Z06 car. Using the "Mk1 eyeball" can sometimes be difficult.
HTH
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 364
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville Florida
Both springs were the same thickness (0.74"). Onto the next troubleshooting item...
Last edited by GrantB; Sep 30, 2008 at 04:54 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
On the other hand, if you can take a measurement or two on a known FE1 (base) spring and there is a big difference, then that might help as well in determining what you have.
HTH
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
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From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
I replaced the front spring on my '99 FRC (along with every other bit of the suspension to Z06 parts with '04 shocks and VB&P bushings), and I'm wondering if I might have gotten sold a base-model spring instead of a Z51/Z06 spring. The car exhibits significant oversteer in all states of cornering (entry, steady-state, off-throttle, track out, transitions, etc). It actually turns good lap times, considering, but the amount of oversteer is a pain to drive around.
Without a visible sticker to identify a part number on the spring, does anyone know if there are any other physical differences between the Z51/Z06 front springs and the base model?
Thanks for any help.
Without a visible sticker to identify a part number on the spring, does anyone know if there are any other physical differences between the Z51/Z06 front springs and the base model?
Thanks for any help.
Z51/Z06 front - sway bar
T1 front -top spring
Z51/Z06 front - bottom spring
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
If all else fails, you may have to resort to putting a caliper on the spring and measure the thickness in two or three different places and compare to a known Z06 car. Using the "Mk1 eyeball" can sometimes be difficult.
with the caliper idea.
A base spring compared to a Z spring is very noticably different when lying side by side.
The base spring is noticeably thinner but the real difference is in the "arch" of the two front springs. The base spring has one heck of an arch to it where the Z spring is much, much flatter. Because of the big arch on a base spring they are more of a pain in the butt to install/uninstall too.
On a side note: You should see the arch on a base C4 front spring. When out of the car it almost forms a circle!
with the caliper idea.A base spring compared to a Z spring is very noticably different when lying side by side.
The base spring is noticeably thinner but the real difference is in the "arch" of the two front springs. The base spring has one heck of an arch to it where the Z spring is much, much flatter. Because of the big arch on a base spring they are more of a pain in the butt to install/uninstall too.
On a side note: You should see the arch on a base C4 front spring. When out of the car it almost forms a circle!