Suspension help and comments needed...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 97
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Suspension help and comments needed...
My new to me 2012 base 3LT is a nice car, but I'm not really happy with the way it handles and drives. It has 45,000 miles on it. Driving it energetically thru the curves is fine as long as the road is nice and smooth, but if there is a small bump or dip, it can get a floaty feeling, a bump really throws it off kilter a bit. It's not as planted as I think it should be. Even a small dip on a straight away will make it float more than I think it should. On a 2 hour drive thru the mountains, at the speed limit, it wears me out. Have to stay on top of it. I haven't driven any other Vette's, so I have no reference to compare it to. As another point of reference though, and it pains me to say this, my wife's 2018 Mustang eco boost would leave it in the curves, it is stable, planted and solid with about the same mileage. Is this the nature of the beast (or base) ? What upgrades or repairs do you think would help it ? Does anyone else have experience with this type of handling and did something to improve it? Thanks in advance for any and all comments....
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
I added a set of Z51 sway bars to my 2011 base and it did wonders towards curing the floaty feeling. If you watch eBay and the forum for sale section you can find someones Z51 take-offs for around $200. They are an easy install which took about 90 minutes to do both ends.
FWIW: I referred to what you call floaty as "wallowing", so I know what you mean.
FWIW: I referred to what you call floaty as "wallowing", so I know what you mean.
Last edited by Iceaxe; Jun 13, 2019 at 06:12 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Phoenix, AZ to Quakertown, PA.
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
There's a chevy dealer on flea bay selling Z06 shocks brand new and free shipping 299.00 bucks, I just ordered a set for my 09 base 3LT.
Also getting the Z51 sway bars. From what I read and heard from club members this is the combo to start with.
We do a lot of twisties, curves and mountain cruisies I know what your feeling, hopefully I won't feel that any more.
Speed Safe.
Also getting the Z51 sway bars. From what I read and heard from club members this is the combo to start with.
We do a lot of twisties, curves and mountain cruisies I know what your feeling, hopefully I won't feel that any more.
Speed Safe.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,924
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From: Atlanta - - - - - Save the manuals
Ride and handling is very much an individual taste. Cars are designed to a specific market, performance, and taste. I'm not going to get into a discussion on whether a Corvette or Mustang is better again that's up to you. But I will say this.
Where I used to work, we had individuals with what we called "calibrated butts". We would take out the car or truck and they would say this or that was good or bad. Quite honestly I could barely tell the difference. You have to make some large changes to make a dramatic change. Different shock rates (rebound, compression (dampening) ), smaller/larger (diameter) sway bars, and different (softer/stiffer) springs (or even coil overs to eliminate "cross talk") can make a car ride handle and feel like any almost car you desire. Finally the tires which have a large effect on the elements just mentioned to various degrees. There is always a compromise somewhere in the total ride and handling performance package.
Where I used to work, we had individuals with what we called "calibrated butts". We would take out the car or truck and they would say this or that was good or bad. Quite honestly I could barely tell the difference. You have to make some large changes to make a dramatic change. Different shock rates (rebound, compression (dampening) ), smaller/larger (diameter) sway bars, and different (softer/stiffer) springs (or even coil overs to eliminate "cross talk") can make a car ride handle and feel like any almost car you desire. Finally the tires which have a large effect on the elements just mentioned to various degrees. There is always a compromise somewhere in the total ride and handling performance package.
Last edited by Dutch08; Jun 13, 2019 at 06:43 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,393
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From: Melbourne, FL
What you're describing is soft shocks (and possibly tire sidewalls). Stiffer shocks will help.
And your mustang wont leave the vette in the corners. If it does, it's the fault of the driver
And your mustang wont leave the vette in the corners. If it does, it's the fault of the driver
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 148
From: 1000 Islands Ontario
I assume you do not have MSRC so switching into Sport mode is not an option.
And I agree with another post - if you can't blow by a mustang in the corners, then something is dramatically wrong.
Just saying.
M...
And I agree with another post - if you can't blow by a mustang in the corners, then something is dramatically wrong.
Just saying.
M...
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2019
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Which Bilstein shocks are recommended? Is there a suggested source for the shocks?
I'm sure the GY run flats don't help, but they are basically new, so it will be awhile before they are replaced.
No intentions to make it a Vette vs Mustang thing...LOL That would be silly, I was just saying in their current state, things aren't good on the Vette.
Wallowing is a better word describing the feeling. Thanks!!
Thanks to all for the fast answers....we'll get the ball rolling on this.
I'm sure the GY run flats don't help, but they are basically new, so it will be awhile before they are replaced.
No intentions to make it a Vette vs Mustang thing...LOL That would be silly, I was just saying in their current state, things aren't good on the Vette.
Wallowing is a better word describing the feeling. Thanks!!
Thanks to all for the fast answers....we'll get the ball rolling on this.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 532
Likes: 249
From: Winter Springs, Florida
FWIW...I did quite a bit of research before I decided on the C6 Z51 front and rear sway bars and Doug Rippie Motorsports (DRM) custom valved Bilstein front and rear shocks for my 2005 base coupe. Night and day difference from my 45,000 mile base setup. IMHO, it is the best bang for your buck.
Last edited by Chevyrelic; Jun 13, 2019 at 07:34 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
Z51 sway bars and Bilstein shocks are my ultimate endgame. Bilstein B8 (formerly Sports) or Bilstein B6 (formerly HD) swaps have been very popular on the C6 Corvette. Bilstein used to recommend the B6's for the FE1 suspension and the B8's for the Z51 (FE3) suspension, but that is just a suggestion. Either shock works fine. How you tweak you suspension depends on your ultimate goal.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
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C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
There's a chevy dealer on flea bay selling Z06 shocks brand new and free shipping 299.00 bucks, I just ordered a set for my 09 base 3LT.
Also getting the Z51 sway bars. From what I read and heard from club members this is the combo to start with.
We do a lot of twisties, curves and mountain cruisies I know what your feeling, hopefully I won't feel that any more.
Speed Safe.
Also getting the Z51 sway bars. From what I read and heard from club members this is the combo to start with.
We do a lot of twisties, curves and mountain cruisies I know what your feeling, hopefully I won't feel that any more.
Speed Safe.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,105
Likes: 1,608
From: Edmond Oklahoma
My new to me 2012 base 3LT is a nice car, but I'm not really happy with the way it handles and drives. It has 45,000 miles on it. Driving it energetically thru the curves is fine as long as the road is nice and smooth, but if there is a small bump or dip, it can get a floaty feeling, a bump really throws it off kilter a bit. It's not as planted as I think it should be. Even a small dip on a straight away will make it float more than I think it should. On a 2 hour drive thru the mountains, at the speed limit, it wears me out. Have to stay on top of it. I haven't driven any other Vette's, so I have no reference to compare it to. As another point of reference though, and it pains me to say this, my wife's 2018 Mustang eco boost would leave it in the curves, it is stable, planted and solid with about the same mileage. Is this the nature of the beast (or base) ? What upgrades or repairs do you think would help it ? Does anyone else have experience with this type of handling and did something to improve it? Thanks in advance for any and all comments....
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Base is FE1
Z51 is FE3
Z06 is FE4
You want FE3 .
Call Gene at Cultrag, he usually runs a forum special on sways and shocks.
Z51 is FE3
Z06 is FE4
You want FE3 .
Call Gene at Cultrag, he usually runs a forum special on sways and shocks.
Last edited by wayback; Jun 14, 2019 at 09:58 AM.