Hi all,

I got my Pfadt coilovers finally installed today on my 2003 Z06 and wanted to write up a quick first impression/review. As with many other posts on this forum, this review is completely subjective and not scientific in any way, shape or form. Just a gut feel/reaction on my part. (Fyi, a corvette performance shop did the install.)

First, some background and setup info:

1. My car was already lowered on stock bolts...about an inch. Otherwise, the suspension was completely stock. I decided to have it lowered a bit more with the coilover install, about another inch in the back and almost an inch in the front. This was purely for looks only. No performance or handling gains by lowering it more (at least that I know of).

2. The shop suggested installing adjustable sway bar end links, since the stock links may bind a bit with the lower stance. I kept my original sway bars front and rear. Leaf springs were removed, as they were no longer needed.

3. The shop set up the coilovers with an initial setting of "6" on all four corners. The Pfadts come with adjustments of 1 (softest) to 16 (stiffest) on their coils.

Next, my impressions:

1. With a setting of "6", the car didn't feel any stiffer or softer than the stock setup. It rode extremely nice and smooth...much smoother than I thought it would.

2. Going over bumps is a less dramatic event. Others have described the feeling as more "compliant" after they have gotten coilovers installed. I have to agree with this assessment. The car literally feels like it has 4 legs and that each of them are compensating for bumps independently so the motion seems smoother and less jarring. I may play with the coils to see how it feels when they are at a stiffer setting. But a setting of "6" seems great for street driving.

3. It was raining on my way back from the shop, so I couldn't get too aggressive on the 70 mile trip back home, so I can not comment on cornering performance and how much better (or worse) it is with the coils. I also can not comment on how much less (or more) the car squats when accelerating and dives when decelerating due to the rain and conditions.

4. To anyone getting coilovers or any other suspension mods installed on their car: in addition to getting an alignment done, your car will feel and drive SO much straighter and feel more "balanced" if you get the car corner-balanced. I thought my car drove pretty straight and felt good on the road prior to going to the shop today, but on the drive home I realized I barely had to touch the wheel. It felt like it knew where the road was heading and just pointed itself in the right direction like it was on rails. It needed little to no input from me. I know that might sound cheesy and over the top, but it's the best I can explain it. It felt completely balanced left to right, front to back. In fact, the shop said that my car was one of the most balanced they could achieve, even compared to their race cars. I guess I got lucky! But in general, if you want your car to truly perform after getting coilovers, have some professionals do their magic and get it balanced (with the appropriate ballast) for you. It will make a world of difference.

5. Finally, if anyone lives in or around Wisconsin and is considering coilovers and wants a shop to do the install and setup, send me an email (gerrajek@gmail.com) or PM me and I'll give you the name of the shop who did mine and a contact to work with. They are not a forum vendor so I don't want to break a rule and advertise them. All I can say is that I'm extremely pleased with the results so far.

Here is a really crappy cell phone picture of the car after I got home from the shop tonight:

 

Thanks for your input on this. I trust personal opinions on this matter more-so than I do scientific ones from someone who has never driven a Z with coilovers.

 

Good write-up. Thanks.

 

I really like these on my car. Also had it bal front to rear and side to side.

 

I plan on upgrading to Pfadt coilovers as soon as my F55 shocks wear out. The MSR option is great. There's a definite (soft/firm) feel and functional difference between the two settings. However, I have been in a C5 with Pfadt's and the ride really doesn't compare. The Pfadt's just gave the ride a more solid feel. Less body roll and a lot less float. Besides, there about half of the cost of replacing the stock units. You also get the weight reduction benefit of removing the leaf springs.

 

Had my first drive in good weather with the Pfadts this morning on the way to work. Let's just say the "fun" onramp to get on the highway was ALOT more fun. The ride quality is great when cruising but the car stays nice and flat in the turns. I couldn't be happier, and I'm sure the big stupid grin on my face will become bigger and bigger the more I drive the Z with the coils now on!

 

Congrats.

 

Ordered mine today..

 

So we still have no clue whether the change is due to better shocks, or from relocating the springs?

 

Who cares ...

 

In the grand scheme of things, does it honestly matter "what" makes the coilovers better than the stock suspension? I can only talk about how the car drove with the stock suspension and now how it drives with the coilovers. I'm not an expert...just a corvette junkie. Simply put, it drives and feels BETTER. I had a racing shop do the install and coilovers is all they run. Their cars win many races and events, so I kinda put some faith in what they were saying. All that matters to me is that it feels like a better car overall so it was worth the upgrade.

 

I think so. If I could get similar improvements by putting on better shocks, and leaving the factory springs alone, that would be cool.

 

I totally agree. There are many options that can give you a better ride than the stock setup. Coils were my only choice not only because of the better ride, but because of all the adjustability and being able to lower the car w/out compromising performance. Just yesterday I decided to try out a different damping setting (stiffer) and it only took me a few minutes and a 3mm allen wrench. Not many setups give you that flexibility. But to each their own. I guess in the end, the only way to know which setup is the "best" or the most cost effective would be to buy and install every possible option and take your car to a track and extensively test each one. If I had the money and the means, I'd do it! (It would definitely be fun!)

 

This has been a very interesting thread. My thanks go to 'Must Have Z' for his fairness in providing good information, and also to 'Warp Factor' for a good dose of healthy no BS skepticism.
Objective inquiry (not idiotic name calling) is how we get from 'here to there'.
I have an 02 Vert running Fe1 springs, Koni FSD shocks and C6 Z51 bars.
Just added the shocks last year, which gave much improved wheel control. They sure as heck weren't cheap... even with a contact in the business, (we bet ripped off big time in Canada for all things automotive).
Z51 bars were a huge improvement!
Flat cornering and better effective [one wheel bump] spring rate.
Perhaps I'd be better off with Z51 or Zo6 springs... who knows?
Have always felt it best (rightly or wrongly?) to not run excessive spring.
Overall, the car is pretty darned good now, but it can still be upset by mid corner bumpy stuff. Much, much better though.
Good golly Miss Molly(!), now you got me thinking about coilovers!!!

 

Your setup sounds awesome! I have no experience with anything but the stock Z06 suspension and the Pfadts, so I can't offer any opinions on whether you'd gain anything by going to the Pfadts (performance-wise). Obviously you'd gain some adjustment flexibility and lowering options. But beyond that, it's only for you to find out. If you have any questions on the Pfadts, shoot me a PM and I'll be happy to answer them. Thanks!

 

Ive been pining for a set of Coil-over..but after reading this I might just try changing the shocks first.. pick a set up used and see how that feels.. Im pretty sure that Im not getting much outta my ZO6 shocks being lowered on stock bolts... the T1's are STIFF... I literally ride on three wheels at times coming into my drive way

 

Thank you, Must_Have_Z for the writeup and your first impressions of the Pfadt coilovers. Glad we could help and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you have.

 

Do you notice one corner of the car being higher or lower now after the corner balancing?

 

"Simply put, it drives and feels BETTER."

Without discussing my age I was at a Corvette event many decades ago. This event had the pleasure of Zora Duntov (spelling?) being present at our Auto X event.

He was being drilled by many owners, just like being on this forum & asking which suspension/calibration is best. I sat in the background & listened as I was a grasshopper then & still. After a while when he was fed up with the grinding about suspension he would finally ask, do like the way the feels, rides, handles etc. The grinder responded Yes!

So I'm in agreement ...who cares...it works ......& it feels very good!

 

Yes, the driver rear fender is about 1/4" lower than the passenger rear fender. I discovered this after getting home from the shop and asked them about it. It was intended. The shop first set the ride height to what I wanted. They then did the corner balancing, which requires making tweaks to the damping and height to get the car as balanced as possible left to right and front to back. The shop that did mine sets up race cars...their primary concern is performance...looks are second. They told me they would gladly set the ride height exactly equal in the back if that is what is most important to me (and this would upset the corner balance). I said absolutely not and to leave it as is! No one would notice 1/4" anyway... It drives beautifully...straight as an arrow...great through the turns. I discussed this in another thread: if you're going to shell out the bucks for a coilover system, go all the way and get them set up by professionals so you get the best bang for your buck. That's what I did and I couldn't be happier!

Here's some better pics: