Shocks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 450
From: Texarkana Texas
Maybe just a little...changing tires will probably help more, but its not a Cadillac. Its a GS...wide tires, low profile, stiff suspension, bigger sway bars, etc. If your car still has runflats on it, change them. Much quieter and better ride.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,150
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,472
Likes: 546
From: Jackson NJ
The 'hardness' or stiffness of the suspension is a function of the spring rates & sway bars. The shocks act to dampen oscillation of the suspension & thus would not affect 'hardness'. On the other hand, tire stiffness will definitely affect the road feel of the suspension. Generally, run flat tires (as are OEM on your GS) have a much stiffer side wall than non-RF tires & thus are a major contributor to a stiff or hard ride. Switching to a non-RF tire will give you the softer (and quieter) ride your're looking for.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 304
Likes: 19
From: Valley AL
Try lowering your tire pressure about 4 lbs and if that helps go down 2lbs more.Most Corvettes I think recommend 30 lbs cold its not uncommon for the tire pressure to rise 4-6 lbs when hot.If you want a softer ride set them at 28-30 lbs hot. Like someone above said the run flats have a stiff side wall and dropping the air pressure on them won't help as much but might get the ride to where you can live with it. Back in the summer I had a new set of tires put on my Lincoln Town Car and drove about 35 miles one way after leaving the tire place and it rode rough I was going to take them back the next day but when I got home I thought I would check the air pressure they all had 41 lbs. I went back a week or two later to have them fix a lawn mower tire and ask them what they set the air pressure at and they said 35 lbs. That just might be your problem unless you check them regular or every week like I do on my Vette.
Last edited by BowtieBilly1121; Dec 22, 2017 at 11:18 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,150
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I don't have the spring rates for all the C6s, but here are the spring rates for the GS:
They are the same springs as the Z51.
Attachment 48339032
They are the same springs as the Z51.
Attachment 48339032
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
To your Question: Yes shocks DO make a huge difference.
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