Are you saying you replaced the spring and it is no better?
Corvette ride quality question...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria Virginia
Corvette ride quality question...
Hi,
My 1998 Corvette tries to kill itself over any bump on the road. Over train crossings I think it's going to shake itself a part. It has the base suspension and my buddies 2003 Z06 rides better.
Where I live some of the roads are not so great, but I've watched guys with M3's and Porsche's glide over the bumps that I slow down to 15 for - or else my dash sounds like it might fall off. I dodge sewer covers that are sunk into the street by an inch or the car hits them really hard.
The problem is I took it to the dealer for the same problem and asked them to check the shocks. They found a broken front spring, which sure enough was very broken and said my shocks look fine and were not leaking.
I'm still pretty sure it's the shocks, but I just want to make sure it couldn't possibly be anything else before I go and purchase some shocks.
Thanks,
Daniel
My 1998 Corvette tries to kill itself over any bump on the road. Over train crossings I think it's going to shake itself a part. It has the base suspension and my buddies 2003 Z06 rides better.
Where I live some of the roads are not so great, but I've watched guys with M3's and Porsche's glide over the bumps that I slow down to 15 for - or else my dash sounds like it might fall off. I dodge sewer covers that are sunk into the street by an inch or the car hits them really hard.
The problem is I took it to the dealer for the same problem and asked them to check the shocks. They found a broken front spring, which sure enough was very broken and said my shocks look fine and were not leaking.
I'm still pretty sure it's the shocks, but I just want to make sure it couldn't possibly be anything else before I go and purchase some shocks.
Thanks,
Daniel
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,401
Likes: 1,141
From: Dyer, IN
That's a tall order sight unseen. How many miles on the shocks? I would get underneath the car and inspect the suspension for anything bent, loose end links, etc.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria Virginia
A little bit better. The previous spring had a chunk of it coming off.
Unfortunately I'm unable to do that myself right now. Will probably have to just take to a shop again and see if they can figure it out.
That's a tall order sight unseen. How many miles on the shocks? I would get underneath the car and inspect the suspension for anything bent, loose end links, etc.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Switching to non-runflats will make the biggest difference, although I have no doubt that replacing your OEM shocks with Bilsteins will have a noticable effect as well.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 141
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From: Alexandria Virginia
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
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From: Charlotte, NC
All of the things you mentioned (train tracks, pot holes, man holes...) I always try to avoid in my car entirely. Remember that a BMW is a sedan and the Porsche has a lot more sound deadening material than our Corvettes do.
If you have over 70k miles, then new shocks are definately a good way to go.
If you have over 70k miles, then new shocks are definately a good way to go.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
My 97 and my 03Z were two of the tightest cars I have ever driven. The C5 chassis is one of the stiffest in the industry which usually reduces rattles considerably. If you are getting rattles in the dash somebody must have been playing around with it.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 141
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From: Alexandria Virginia
Originally Posted by FASST LN
All of the things you mentioned (train tracks, pot holes, man holes...) I always try to avoid in my car entirely. Remember that a BMW is a sedan and the Porsche has a lot more sound deadening material than our Corvettes do.
If you have over 70k miles, then new shocks are definately a good way to go.
If you have over 70k miles, then new shocks are definately a good way to go.
Originally Posted by rebelheart
Has your car been lowered by chance? Maybe you just arent used to the stiff suspension of a performance car.
My only issue is it seems my buddies Z06 rides better than mine over the same bumps.
Thanks for the help guys.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 5
From: Toronto Ontario
St. Jude Donor '08
I found the ride characteristics of my low mileage 00 Coupe too soft and was determined to improve them on a budget...I installed Bilstein Sports, used Z06 composite springs(off a low mileage 04 Z06), Z06 sway bars with metal endlinks and poly bushings...end result is the car handles 100% better than before, and I can go over railway tracks without bottoming out as you described!!! Coilovers are great but the $2k cost is more than most peolpe are prepared to spend....
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
It's a stretch but there are stories of dealers leaving tha packing blocks on the shocks which limits travel to about an inch and a half. Probably not on your car after all these years but it's worth checking out.
