C6 Handling on Bumpy Roads
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The C6 Z51 is a very capable machine on smooth tracks and roads, but the handling on bumpy roads is not the most reassuring. A few bumps or grooves in the road seem to completely upset the balance and make the car bounce all over the place.
Is there any remedy to this issue on the aftermarket? Or, is this just due to the transverse leaf spring setup on Corvettes?
I've owned a few cars known for their handling (Elise, S2000, M3) and they've all inspired confidence when driven at 8/10th's or above.
Is the Corvette just as capable with suspension tuning?
Is there any remedy to this issue on the aftermarket? Or, is this just due to the transverse leaf spring setup on Corvettes?
I've owned a few cars known for their handling (Elise, S2000, M3) and they've all inspired confidence when driven at 8/10th's or above.
Is the Corvette just as capable with suspension tuning?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
The Z51 option was for auto-x and road tracks, not the average streets and back roads. Changing shocks will help somewhat, but swapping to base springs will make an even bigger difference. It'd be possible to convert to the F55 suspension option, but certainly at a great cost. It'd be easier to swap cars. You still wouldn't have excellent control on high speed corners with road ripples, but it's far better than anything else GM has to offer. GM didn't put it as standard on the ZR1 or the Z07 option to give it a Cadillac ride.
The Z51 front spring is noticeably stiffer than base, so going to the base spring up front should soften the ride a bit.
Remember that springs and sways are designed to work as a package, mix-and-match is not always a good idea.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
....teals got it right. It really boils down to the ol concept of you can't have your cake (smooth ride)....and eat it (race car handling) to. And someone help me with this Corvette having going air born at high speeds built into the design....WTF is that all about ? And it seems interesting that the Corvette in the video that looses it was doing fine until it got into the "WAKE" of the big rig, or was I missing something. Couldn't this happen to even the best of the best designs when it comes to high speeds ??....Inquiring minds want to know....
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 443
From: Boca Raton Florida
I guess people do not understand that everyting is a comprimese, you cannot have (your cake and eat it too) a car that that is designed to do over 1 G on smooth road also ride comfortably in bumpy roads. To the best of my knowledge, non of those EU models OP are claiming he had are over 1 G cars. Any Corvette in capable hands will leave them in a dust on a race track. I certainly havent bought mine to go fast on bumpy roads. Otherwise I would have a SUV. (or a rally car)
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