Extremely bumpy ride...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 829
Likes: 3
From: Maryland
Extremely bumpy ride...
Every little bump I come across on the road shakes my car...
What can I do to reduce this?
Better tires? (if so, which ones??) ... or do I have to go so far and get better shocks?
I feel like my car is going to break apart. But when I go over the same bumps in a 2008 Camry, it's like they don't even exist on the road. Is this one of the disadvantages of a low ride??? (no my car isn't lowered)
What can I do to reduce this?
Better tires? (if so, which ones??) ... or do I have to go so far and get better shocks?
I feel like my car is going to break apart. But when I go over the same bumps in a 2008 Camry, it's like they don't even exist on the road. Is this one of the disadvantages of a low ride??? (no my car isn't lowered)
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 473
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma
There are things you can do to kind of improve it but this ride quality is just something you sacrifice for the performance. My new GS actually rides very very good compared to my ls1's. Nothing amazing but plenty good for me, pretty comfortable actually.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
The tires are part of it. By most accounts here other tire brands, even in runflat form, are a little softer riding. If you have a Z51, many have reported that switching to Bilstein Sport shocks makes a difference. Going to Koni FSD's, at twice the price of Bilsteins, are even better. 
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,493
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Every little bump I come across on the road shakes my car...
What can I do to reduce this?
Better tires? (if so, which ones??) ... or do I have to go so far and get better shocks? toetap:
I feel like my car is going to break apart. But when I go over the same bumps in a 2008 Camry, it's like they don't even exist on the road. Is this one of the disadvantages of a low ride??? (no my car isn't lowered)
What can I do to reduce this?
Better tires? (if so, which ones??) ... or do I have to go so far and get better shocks? toetap:
I feel like my car is going to break apart. But when I go over the same bumps in a 2008 Camry, it's like they don't even exist on the road. Is this one of the disadvantages of a low ride??? (no my car isn't lowered)
How are your roads?
Tire type, RF or not?
Tire pressure?
My Z51 is fine where I live in Havasu, AZ, but I would never have it if I lived in Flagstaff where the roads are all concrete and broken up from ice and snow.
See if you like the ride better with say 26 pounds in the tires. In fact use a known correct gauge to check the actual numbers vs the DIC.
Next would be taking a drive in a similar C6 with non-RF tires and see what you think.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Every little bump I come across on the road shakes my car...
What can I do to reduce this?
Better tires? (if so, which ones??) ... or do I have to go so far and get better shocks?
I feel like my car is going to break apart. But when I go over the same bumps in a 2008 Camry, it's like they don't even exist on the road. Is this one of the disadvantages of a low ride??? (no my car isn't lowered)
What can I do to reduce this?
Better tires? (if so, which ones??) ... or do I have to go so far and get better shocks?
I feel like my car is going to break apart. But when I go over the same bumps in a 2008 Camry, it's like they don't even exist on the road. Is this one of the disadvantages of a low ride??? (no my car isn't lowered)
Last edited by goatts; Jul 19, 2010 at 01:09 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,235
Likes: 119
From: Short Hills, NJ
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 829
Likes: 3
From: Maryland
Base, Z51 or F55 suspension?
How are your roads?
Tire type, RF or not?
Tire pressure?
My Z51 is fine where I live in Havasu, AZ, but I would never have it if I lived in Flagstaff where the roads are all concrete and broken up from ice and snow.
See if you like the ride better with say 26 pounds in the tires. In fact use a known correct gauge to check the actual numbers vs the DIC.
Next would be taking a drive in a similar C6 with non-RF tires and see what you think.
How are your roads?
Tire type, RF or not?
Tire pressure?
My Z51 is fine where I live in Havasu, AZ, but I would never have it if I lived in Flagstaff where the roads are all concrete and broken up from ice and snow.
See if you like the ride better with say 26 pounds in the tires. In fact use a known correct gauge to check the actual numbers vs the DIC.
Next would be taking a drive in a similar C6 with non-RF tires and see what you think.
That's what I was going to ask as well.
Tire pressures can make a big difference.
Also, how many miles on the car (shocks going bad maybe?)?
My tire pressure varies on the temperature... it's in the 30-34 range.
I have the stock run flat tires
My car has around 58000 miles (2007 Base Coupe)
I have no mods on my car that deal with performance or handling.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,493
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
I used to run 26# when my C5 and C6 tires got older and harder.
If that helps the next step might be non-runflats, if you could live with that.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Retired & lovin' it!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,472
Likes: 546
From: Jackson NJ
Welcome to the world of run flat tires. The very stiff side walls are the main cause of the harsh ride you describe. You posted that you have 58K miles, but how long have you owned it? If you're a new owner & this is your first C6, you're probably just not used to the stiffness of the suspension. Another point with 58K miles is that it might be time for new shocks. My '05 is a weekend driver that I've owned since new & I've only got 25K miles on it. At around 15K miles, I got fed up with the harsh ride from the GY Supercars (Z51 tires) & went to Nitto Invo's. Difference in ride performance is amazing & yes, they're non-runflats, but I carry a plug kit & small air compressor. Just some things to think about....
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I think Dave has hit on many of the topics. But the first to me is, did you ck the tire pressures by hand gauge, or is this DIC reading?
58K miles, are they all on this set of tires (doubtful but possible)?, in which case it may be time to change them--they may be stone-hard?
finally, have you or someone crawled underneath to look at the shocks? they could be leaking. ordinarily I wouldn't expect shocks to go out at that mileage, but it's not impossible.
you might also want to test ride a friend's similarly-equipped Corvette.
58K miles, are they all on this set of tires (doubtful but possible)?, in which case it may be time to change them--they may be stone-hard?
finally, have you or someone crawled underneath to look at the shocks? they could be leaking. ordinarily I wouldn't expect shocks to go out at that mileage, but it's not impossible.
you might also want to test ride a friend's similarly-equipped Corvette.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
The OP is comparing his ride to that of a Camry. You can't do that. Apples and oranges. Changing to non runflats is not going to make his car ride like a Camry, nothing is. Changing tire pressure will make his tires wear unevenly.
Upgrading shocks to Bilstein or Koni may help a little.
Upgrading shocks to Bilstein or Koni may help a little.
Last edited by goatts; Jul 19, 2010 at 05:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 829
Likes: 3
From: Maryland
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 29
From: STL MO
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
I would agree that you should check the tires cold and put them around 28lbs and see if there is an imporovement, if not start thinking about replacing the tires with practically anything as they will be better than the badyear runcraps.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,277
Likes: 550
From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Seems to me if the ride is "extremely bumpy" then something is wrong. I have a stock 06 vert with GY runflats and the ride is fine. I often drive my wife's Toyota, and switching back and forth with the Vette doesn't make me think the Vette rides rough. And this is in Pennsylvania, with the worst roads in the country.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: naptown md
rough ride
Every little bump I come across on the road shakes my car...
What can I do to reduce this?
Better tires? (if so, which ones??) ... or do I have to go so far and get better shocks?
I feel like my car is going to break apart. But when I go over the same bumps in a 2008 Camry, it's like they don't even exist on the road. Is this one of the disadvantages of a low ride??? (no my car isn't lowered)
What can I do to reduce this?
Better tires? (if so, which ones??) ... or do I have to go so far and get better shocks?
I feel like my car is going to break apart. But when I go over the same bumps in a 2008 Camry, it's like they don't even exist on the road. Is this one of the disadvantages of a low ride??? (no my car isn't lowered)
