High speed front end floating feeling
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Tomball Texas
High speed front end floating feeling
Guys,
I have done a few searches, however can't find anything specific to the C5. At around 110 the front end of my car feels very light, kind of like a floating feeling. I have had the alignment checked and wheel balance - they check out. Has anyone had this issue, and what did you do to resolve?
I have done a few searches, however can't find anything specific to the C5. At around 110 the front end of my car feels very light, kind of like a floating feeling. I have had the alignment checked and wheel balance - they check out. Has anyone had this issue, and what did you do to resolve?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
First make sure that you have at least 1/4 to 1/2" rake between the hold down points on the frame. If that doesn't make the car feel any better you can always go to an extractor hood. Since the C5 is a bottom feeder, front spoilers don't work well without extensively modifying the air intake.
Extractor hood by ACP
Extractor hood by ACP
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Guys,
I have done a few searches, however can't find anything specific to the C5. At around 110 the front end of my car feels very light, kind of like a floating feeling. I have had the alignment checked and wheel balance - they check out. Has anyone had this issue, and what did you do to resolve?
I have done a few searches, however can't find anything specific to the C5. At around 110 the front end of my car feels very light, kind of like a floating feeling. I have had the alignment checked and wheel balance - they check out. Has anyone had this issue, and what did you do to resolve?
a street alignment? or a something better?
most likely your can does not have enough rake to it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Tomball Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 7
From: Sandy Ego Ca.
Measure the car's height (at the body)from the ground just behind the front wheel .. then measure the height just in fromnt of the rear wheel... I forget what the delta should be... an inch comes to mind
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,897
Likes: 273
From: Hillsboro OR
Damping in shocks maybe diminishing. If you have the original "twig like" stock sway bars, that could be the source. Mine stopped floating when I installed the Z06 sways and poly bushings. HTH.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
measure from just in front of the front jacking puck hole frame to the ground. then just behind the rear jacking puck hole to the ground
should be 1/2" difference +/-
measure each side
The street alignment is not very good for anything over highway speeds
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
Mine felt the same until I installed new shocks. 4 new Bilsteins solved it for me. The car now feels like it's glued to the road and handles like it's riding on rails.
My shocks only had 30k miles on them and no sign of leakage. I just think they were too wallowy and Buick-like to begin with.
My shocks only had 30k miles on them and no sign of leakage. I just think they were too wallowy and Buick-like to begin with.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 46
From: Taylorsville North Carolina
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/auto...-at-140-a.html
Here is a link to a discussion in the RR section about the same thing. This video was taken a month later after a proper alignment by David Farmer:
Here is a link to a discussion in the RR section about the same thing. This video was taken a month later after a proper alignment by David Farmer:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Tomball Texas
Will one of you post the part #'s / cheapest place to get the Bilstein's? Also, I guess to get the "performance" alignment I need to go to a speed shop, do I just ask for performance alignment?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 46
From: Taylorsville North Carolina
From what I got from David, was you need to find a place that is familiar doing vettes. There was none around here I felt comfortable using. You might ask in the area section for suggestions.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
Also, this $0.79 worth of hardware store items may make it a little easier to measure the rake as AUE suggested.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
An alignment and new shocks may help a little, but the air packing under the hood is what wants to raise the front end at triple digit speeds. As posted above, the answer is a vented hood. I put a VIS "Extractor" on my vert and there is no front end float at any of the speeds it has been to.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
An alignment and new shocks may help a little, but the air packing under the hood is what wants to raise the front end at triple digit speeds. As posted above, the answer is a vented hood. I put a VIS "Extractor" on my vert and there is no front end float at any of the speeds it has been to.
If you have a v-ram, my condolences. Get a better CAI, duct tape off the screens for far better aerodynamics and higher speeds.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
I installed Z06 screens and opened up the foglight surrounds on my C5 coupe and I have seen absolutely no difference at triple digit speeds. Actually the difference I did notice was when I dumped the run flats for hankooks and installed new Bilsteins. It actually became more stable at high speeds with absolutely no front end lightness or lift. So, I,m not sure I agree with the theory of covering up the bumper screens. Then again, I am not a racer and have not yet gone for a top speed record......
