Too much chassis flex?- suggestions?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,079
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From: DFW, Tejas!
Too much chassis flex?- suggestions?
So I guess I should have gotten the Z06. The chassis on my car is flexing too much and I want to stiffen it up so I don't weaken it/cause damage (doors not closing right, etc). I'm running street tires, but apparently that's too much.
I say this because I see stress (flex) marks in the roof panel. I can see the lines though it from it twisting. Car is in the shop for a week because I'm a dumbass and bottomed it out, breaking the radiator support. I figured this was a good time to fix things that weren't broken.
Intuitively, it seems like shocks would help, but that wouldn't actually stiffen the chassis. Would it help reduce the flex though?
08 Base Z51 coupe. 35k miles.
I say this because I see stress (flex) marks in the roof panel. I can see the lines though it from it twisting. Car is in the shop for a week because I'm a dumbass and bottomed it out, breaking the radiator support. I figured this was a good time to fix things that weren't broken.
Intuitively, it seems like shocks would help, but that wouldn't actually stiffen the chassis. Would it help reduce the flex though?
08 Base Z51 coupe. 35k miles.
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 209
Likes: 1
From: houston TX
So I guess I should have gotten the Z06. The chassis on my car is flexing too much and I want to stiffen it up so I don't weaken it/cause damage (doors not closing right, etc). I'm running street tires, but apparently that's too much.
I say this because I see stress (flex) marks in the roof panel. I can see the lines though it from it twisting. Car is in the shop for a week because I'm a dumbass and bottomed it out, breaking the radiator support. I figured this was a good time to fix things that weren't broken.
Intuitively, it seems like shocks would help, but that wouldn't actually stiffen the chassis. Would it help reduce the flex though?
08 Base Z51 coupe. 35k miles.
I say this because I see stress (flex) marks in the roof panel. I can see the lines though it from it twisting. Car is in the shop for a week because I'm a dumbass and bottomed it out, breaking the radiator support. I figured this was a good time to fix things that weren't broken.
Intuitively, it seems like shocks would help, but that wouldn't actually stiffen the chassis. Would it help reduce the flex though?
08 Base Z51 coupe. 35k miles.
...how the f are you flexing the chassis? you running like 1200hp on drag radials or something? There is the tunnel brace along with a a few other ladder type braces that you can shove under your car for added stiffness. A roll cage helps as well.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 575
Likes: 26
From: Sunny Southern California
There are a few things you can mod to help stiffen the chassis and "plant" your car to the ground.
Performance shocks (DRM Bilstiens)
Performance sway bars (Hotckis sport)
Stiffer tunnel plate (LG motorsports)
Performance shocks (DRM Bilstiens)
Performance sway bars (Hotckis sport)
Stiffer tunnel plate (LG motorsports)
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 1,922
From: DFW, Tejas!
I think it happened on the track (road course). Car is bone stock aside from brake pads and V12 tires. The highest I ever saw on the old G-meter was 1.12 (though, it could be higher. I definitely wasn't keeping track of it).
Didn't Pfadt make some shocks at a reasonable price? Their website isn't working for C6 right now.
I thought it was strange too. It did cure my squeaky targo top though
Didn't Pfadt make some shocks at a reasonable price? Their website isn't working for C6 right now.
I thought it was strange too. It did cure my squeaky targo top though
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 495
From: Southern California
Your steel frame Z51 is actually the strongest. The ZO6 and ZR1 have fixed roofs to make up for the the aluminum frame that is lighter but not as strong as the steel frame. Do you have the standard roof or the acrylic tinted roof? The acrylic roofs develop cracks due to age and sun exposure. Any targa chassis gives away a little stiffness but when the C6 was released Chevy made a big deal, with justification, about its exceptionally robust chassis. We had a 2004 Thunderbird, a nice car but not anywhere close to the C6 chassis stiffness. Back in the day a friend was working on a C2 vert. and when it was on jacks it flexed so much that the doors wouldn't close even if you forced them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,599
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From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
I highly doubt that you are flexing the frame with a stock LS3. If you really think you are then try some of the suggestions listed above.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
Jack up a C6 from one puck location (front or rear) and that entire side of the car comes off the ground. Does your car do that? If not, maybe something is broken down there. If it does, that is a pretty stiff chassis.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Southern Utah
Exactly. If you jack the car up by one jacking point, the entire side of the car will come off the ground and the doors will open and close just like they do with all four wheels on the ground. It's a very stiff chassis, torsionally.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: DFW, Tejas!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 5,463
Likes: 1,138
From: Chino CA
The acrylic roof will craze (crack) if you use Windex or other glass cleaners on it. I think it may be the ammonia in the glass cleaner. Not really sure but I know not to use them. Mine is clean but I have seen several that look like a lot of small cracks on the roof panel. Is that a possibility on your car?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,079
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From: DFW, Tejas!
The acrylic roof will craze (crack) if you use Windex or other glass cleaners on it. I think it may be the ammonia in the glass cleaner. Not really sure but I know not to use them. Mine is clean but I have seen several that look like a lot of small cracks on the roof panel. Is that a possibility on your car?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,528
Likes: 495
From: Southern California
I can't prove it but I am inclined to believe that the cracks are due to aging of the top combined with the stress of the track day. The roof is a structural element when properly secured and I think it is safe to conclude that the acrylic roof is not as strong as the standard roof. That's my answer but it doesn't solve your problem. Sorry.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 1,922
From: DFW, Tejas!
That makes sense. The acrylic is getting more brittle over the years.
The roof is definitely structural. It may be placebo effect, but I've driven hard on the streets and definitely felt looser with the roof off.
The roof is definitely structural. It may be placebo effect, but I've driven hard on the streets and definitely felt looser with the roof off.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
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From: Springfield MO
I think it happened on the track (road course). Car is bone stock aside from brake pads and V12 tires. The highest I ever saw on the old G-meter was 1.12 (though, it could be higher. I definitely wasn't keeping track of it).
Didn't Pfadt make some shocks at a reasonable price? Their website isn't working for C6 right now.
I thought it was strange too. It did cure my squeaky targo top though
Didn't Pfadt make some shocks at a reasonable price? Their website isn't working for C6 right now.
I thought it was strange too. It did cure my squeaky targo top though
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,062
Likes: 9,825
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
If the chassis on your car is flexing maybe it was in an accident and not repaired correctly. The Chassis in all C5s/C6s (including convertibles) is very stiff and not easlly flexed. You can easily jack the car under the left front cradle jacking position and lift 3 wheels off the ground and still be able to open all doors, the hood and the hatch with ease. I have done this several times on my 97, 03Z06 and 08Z06.
Bill
Bill