C6 Tech/Performance LS2, LS3, LS7, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

F55

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 07:27 PM
  #1  
ladder13's Avatar
ladder13
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 839
From: NC
Default F55

Is this option worth the money on a base C6? Other options?
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 07:37 PM
  #2  
LS1LT1's Avatar
LS1LT1
Team Owner
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,264
Likes: 142
From: Short Hills, NJ
Default

It's a great system but some do feel that the soft setting is too soft and that hardest setting is too firm. If the Z51 package was still available I would get that WAY before getting F55 but unfortunately it's not.
Grand Sports are great but cost much more.
Getting the base suspension along with some strategically chosen aftermarket suspension pieces would likely be the best of all worlds (from both a cost and performance perspective).
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 08:20 PM
  #3  
Vetter 1's Avatar
Vetter 1
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 2
From: Nassau County, N.Y.
Default

I like it!
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 08:56 PM
  #4  
LJD51's Avatar
LJD51
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 82
From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
Default

I have the F55 with front/rear Z51 sways and the ride is now perfect for me.

When I am on the highway, I have the setting on Tour which is the same as the Sport setting without the Z51 sways. When I am on a spirited drive or some twisties, I put the setting on Sport and there is no body roll.

Not long after I put the sways on, I made a last minute decision to take an off-ramp at around 35 mph and the car turned like it was on rails and I saw that the g-meter was at .92.

I say go for it....
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 09:13 PM
  #5  
StKnoWhere's Avatar
StKnoWhere
Tech Contributor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,378
Likes: 11
From: St Louis MO
Default

Absolutely!
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 10:09 PM
  #6  
realcanuk's Avatar
realcanuk
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,821
Likes: 412
From: Montreal
St. Jude Donor '13
Default

Originally Posted by LJD51
I have the F55 with front/rear Z51 sways and the ride is now perfect for me.

When I am on the highway, I have the setting on Tour which is the same as the Sport setting without the Z51 sways. When I am on a spirited drive or some twisties, I put the setting on Sport and there is no body roll.

Not long after I put the sways on, I made a last minute decision to take an off-ramp at around 35 mph and the car turned like it was on rails and I saw that the g-meter was at .92.

I say go for it....
I have the exact same setup and I don't think it can get better. The car is on rails!!
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 10:57 PM
  #7  
akriggm's Avatar
akriggm
Racer
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 368
Likes: 8
From: Clinton Township Michigan
Default

I have the F55 on both of my C6s and wouldn't buy one w/o it. I live in MI and the roads here are terrible. I use "tour" during my commutes and just about anywhere else I drive in MI. When I get to areas w/smooth, interesting roads, I switch to "sport". I have a set of Z51 sway bars that I'm going to put on my 2009 vert one of these days, but I'm leaving my DD 2008 coupe with the standard F55 bars. If I were to buy a new GS, the F55 would be on my option list for it as well (it's standard on the ZR1). If you're in doubt, drive both the base & F55 cars on your usual roads - that should tell you if it's worth the extra $$$$.
Enjoy,
akriggm
Reply
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 11:09 PM
  #8  
Crowhater's Avatar
Crowhater
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,880
Likes: 4
From: Montgomery Texas
Default

I have the F55 package and I looked at getting the Z51 sway bars but I am worried it will kill the launch of my car. I need to be able to transfer the weight to the back when I launch or the tire just o up I smoke.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
Old Sep 4, 2011 | 11:12 PM
  #9  
joejoe440's Avatar
joejoe440
Advanced
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: North Port FL
Default

Love mine
Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 12:51 AM
  #10  
FireRoc's Avatar
FireRoc
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 28
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by LJD51
I have the F55 with front/rear Z51 sways and the ride is now perfect for me.

When I am on the highway, I have the setting on Tour which is the same as the Sport setting without the Z51 sways. When I am on a spirited drive or some twisties, I put the setting on Sport and there is no body roll.

Not long after I put the sways on, I made a last minute decision to take an off-ramp at around 35 mph and the car turned like it was on rails and I saw that the g-meter was at .92.

I say go for it....
I have the exact same setup on my 2005. When I got the car in 2008 (bought used) I liked the F55, but thought it rolled a little too much in the corners and pushed more than I liked.

With the Z51 bars body roll is gone and handling has gone neutral to very slight oversteer (perfect). I noticed that the ride got a little firmer as well, but t is still quite compliant.

Last summer I went around a bumpy corner with enough speed that I was sure the car would skate sideways over the bumps. It didn't.......wheels were going nuts but the car tracked like it was on rails......I was even able to put power down coming off the apex. Unbelievable!! Well worth the money!

I could not ask for anything better.
Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 01:15 AM
  #11  
HOXXOH's Avatar
HOXXOH
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by Crowhater
I have the F55 package and I looked at getting the Z51 sway bars but I am worried it will kill the launch of my car. I need to be able to transfer the weight to the back when I launch or the tire just o up I smoke.
F55 w/Z51 sways. 1.57 60' w/3600 Yank. Launch on tour for most transfer. Sport reacts too fast and won't let the front rise as much.

Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 01:24 AM
  #12  
73sbvert's Avatar
73sbvert
Crackin' on...
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,459
Likes: 124
From: Somewhere in Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
Default

Originally Posted by LS1LT1
It's a great system but some do feel that the soft setting is too soft and that hardest setting is too firm. If the Z51 package was still available I would get that WAY before getting F55 but unfortunately it's not.
Grand Sports are great but cost much more.
Getting the base suspension along with some strategically chosen aftermarket suspension pieces would likely be the best of all worlds (from both a cost and performance perspective).
That's the direction I'm trying to head!
I do not have the suspension switch for Tour or Sport. Although the wiring harness is there for it. Hmmmm!

Any suggestions?

Last edited by 73sbvert; Sep 5, 2011 at 01:26 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 02:30 AM
  #13  
Crowhater's Avatar
Crowhater
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,880
Likes: 4
From: Montgomery Texas
Default

So do you change both bars to Z51 or just one of them? Are the Z06 sway bars the same?
Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 09:10 AM
  #14  
Crowhater's Avatar
Crowhater
Drifting
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,880
Likes: 4
From: Montgomery Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Crowhater
So do you change both bars to Z51 or just one of them? Are the Z06 sway bars the same?
Ttt
Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 09:42 AM
  #15  
realcanuk's Avatar
realcanuk
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,821
Likes: 412
From: Montreal
St. Jude Donor '13
Default

Originally Posted by Crowhater
So do you change both bars to Z51 or just one of them? Are the Z06 sway bars the same?

If I remember right the fronts are the same and the rear Z06 is thicker. I put both Z51 bars. I read that the rear Z06 is to thick but have not tried it. With the Z51's the car is much flatter through the bends and drives great.
Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 09:43 AM
  #16  
ladder13's Avatar
ladder13
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 839
From: NC
Default

Do the F55 shocks last a long time? What if they need replacement? Does the F55 come with big brakes?
Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 09:44 AM
  #17  
davidtcpa's Avatar
davidtcpa
Go Canes!
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
St. Jude 10 Year Donor
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Default

Reply

Get notified of new replies

To F55

Old Sep 5, 2011 | 10:15 AM
  #18  
el es tu's Avatar
el es tu
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 46
From: va
Default

Originally Posted by ladder13
Do the F55 shocks last a long time? What if they need replacement? Does the F55 come with big brakes?
f55 comes with z51 size drilled rotors now

the shocks are supposed to have a long life
Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 12:14 PM
  #19  
HOXXOH's Avatar
HOXXOH
Race Director
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by Crowhater
So do you change both bars to Z51 or just one of them? Are the Z06 sway bars the same?
I changed both. The Z06 bars have larger rears.

Originally Posted by ladder13
Do the F55 shocks last a long time? What if they need replacement? Does the F55 come with big brakes?
Longevity is one of the better virtues. I'm presently at 92K and counting.
IF they ever need replaced, you just do it like any other part.
The '07 and newer F55 suspension includes the same brakes as the Z51.
Reply
Old Sep 5, 2011 | 01:03 PM
  #20  
FireRoc's Avatar
FireRoc
Burning Brakes
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 28
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by ladder13
Do the F55 shocks last a long time? What if they need replacement? Does the F55 come with big brakes?
I have approximately 112,000 miles on mine and going strong.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:51 AM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE