f-55 is it working
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 323
Likes: 1
From: Black Diamond Washington
f-55 is it working
I was reading on another forum about a guy who took his 05 F-55 in because he couldn't tell if it was working. After much fighting with the dealer he got them to ring out the wiring and they found a missing wire from the switch to the computer. Does anyone know of a sure fire way to know and test that the system is working? He said to push down on the car at a finder then switch to the other setting and you should feel the difference. Does the car have to be running? Does it need to be moving for the sensors to work. Does the push on the car thing really tell if it's working? Would someone else try it and see if you feel the difference I did not.
I keep it in tour most of the time but if something is not working right I'd like to get it fixed the system was not cheep
I keep it in tour most of the time but if something is not working right I'd like to get it fixed the system was not cheep
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Peachtree City GA
I will go out to the parking lot at lunch and try it on mine, if it quits raining, and post results. I know mine is definitely working. I can feel the difference when driving. My '06 has @5000 miles and I've always been able to feel the difference (some say it takes a few k miles). I do not expect to be able to feel the difference by pushing down on the fender by hand because, from what I've read the shocks are "read" by the computer very rapidly (1000 times/second) and I'd be surprised if pushing down by hand will be quick enough or, if it does react differently, that I'd be able to feel the difference. But hey, I haven't tried it yet and I've been wrong before. Another thing I read is that the major difference is in rebound. On "Tour" it is programmed more for body motion control, like not rebounding the rear off the ground over a dip. In "Sport" it's supposedly programmed to favor more individual wheel control, such as over rough/irregular surfaces. Not that both don't do both, but they are supposedly biased those ways.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 3
From: Penn Valley California
I can definitely tell when I switch to "sport" mode even driving on the freeway,because the difference in tire noise entering the cabin is very pronounced.Going to "tour" is almost Lexus quiet.On the back roads there is also a noticeable difference in performance going to "sport".If you don't notice any pronounced difference you probably want to get it checked out.As an aside,the differences betweeen modes also seems more apparent after switching to the Z-51 swaybars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
From: Malibu California
I have essentially a broken back. Let's just say I can really tell the difference -- no question. However the seat-of-the-pants feel is subtle. The suspension reacts "when needed," not simply stiff or soft all the time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 996
Likes: 13
From: Dallas TX
My airdam will rub on the valley in my driveway on "sport", but not in "tour". The setting has a pretty large affect on the way the car takes large swooping crowns and valleys in the road. Not so much for high frequency bumps like lane separating reflectors, and minor road imperfections.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Denton TX
Originally Posted by BlackMark
I can definitely tell when I switch to "sport" mode even driving on the freeway,because the difference in tire noise entering the cabin is very pronounced.Going to "tour" is almost Lexus quiet.On the back roads there is also a noticeable difference in performance going to "sport".If you don't notice any pronounced difference you probably want to get it checked out.As an aside,the differences betweeen modes also seems more apparent after switching to the Z-51 swaybars.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Originally Posted by DSOM Z51
There have been quite a few people to remark that they cannot tell the difference between sport an touring mode with the F55. Perhaps this is a reason why.
I can definitely tell the difference b/w the two and it is most pronounced on rough roads which we have alot of here. My tuner had my car overnight and drove it home. He said he had not driven the F55 before but was extremely impressed with it. With the kooks header package, FAST intake, and a cam, the ride is just icing on the cake.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,064
Likes: 6
From: Pinellas Park Florida
Originally Posted by DSOM Z51
There have been quite a few people to remark that they cannot tell the difference between sport an touring mode with the F55. Perhaps this is a reason why.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by AutoCutter
As I understood it, Chevy increased the "difference" between the two modes with the 06' because of all the complaints they received from 05' owners who could not feel the difference between "Touring" and "Sport." If I remember correctly, wasn't there also an issue with a yellow transport bushings that were supposed to be removed during the PID, but were not.
But the fact remains that there have been several people who have reported not being able to tell the difference between the touring and sport modes with the C6 equipped with F55.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 145
From: Northcentral, Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
Yes, there is a way the dealer can confirm they are working. They can plug into the main computer processor and take damping rate readings while the car is driven on the road. When you switch from one mode to the other, damping rates will immediately change. I had this done shortly after I bought my 2005 F55 equipped C6.
When I first bought it, I couldn't feel a significant difference. Part of the reason is because the system is always working to give you the best ride in either mode. There is almost no perceptible seat of the pants difference on smooth roads. Rough roads will demonstrate a noticeable difference. A switch from tour to sport changes the computer algorithm, and the more aggressively you drive on rough surfaces, the more you will notice a difference. At 100 mph or more on an uneven surface the shocks feel like the fluid transforms to peanut butter. I'm not encouraging you to do this, but I can tell you that this is when you really have no doubt about how well this system works!
When I first bought it, I couldn't feel a significant difference. Part of the reason is because the system is always working to give you the best ride in either mode. There is almost no perceptible seat of the pants difference on smooth roads. Rough roads will demonstrate a noticeable difference. A switch from tour to sport changes the computer algorithm, and the more aggressively you drive on rough surfaces, the more you will notice a difference. At 100 mph or more on an uneven surface the shocks feel like the fluid transforms to peanut butter. I'm not encouraging you to do this, but I can tell you that this is when you really have no doubt about how well this system works!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,580
Likes: 1
From: Greensburg PA
Check out the materials on the tour/sport suspension from C6 FAQs
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=927981
Seems it only really becomes noticed when in hard driving or rough road conditions. I thought the same thing but I'm going to "beat the sh*t" out of it the see the difference.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=927981
Seems it only really becomes noticed when in hard driving or rough road conditions. I thought the same thing but I'm going to "beat the sh*t" out of it the see the difference.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by DSOM Z51
There have been quite a few people to remark that they cannot tell the difference between sport an touring mode with the F55. Perhaps this is a reason why.
Can't even comment "nice try". You are very transparent.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
From: Long Island New York
Originally Posted by LS WON
Take your car on a bad road and you will feel the difference. Potholes, dips etc.
....just driving around, I don't really feel any difference.Once you're on a rough road or you start to lean into it a little then the difference becomes much more apparent.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,064
Likes: 6
From: Pinellas Park Florida
Originally Posted by Jimailer
Thanks for all the help. Guess I'll just have to force myself to drive it until I feel the difference