Suspension opinion
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 496
From: Hudson, NH
Suspension opinion
I have changed a few things on my 2012 base C6 coupe. It is a non Z51 6 speed. I have added Z51 shocks,ZR1 sway bars and 265-35-18 and 305-30-19 RE11 tires. How will this change things?
Thanks for your opinions.
Thanks for your opinions.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,436
Likes: 4
From: Everett Wa
Because of the spring rate you will still have excessive brake dive. This will tend to induce oversteer entering the corners. Also because of spring rate you will have to much wieght shift to the rear on exit inducing undesteer.
Shocks and sways will not fix the issue of the springs being to light. Been there, done that with just F55 shocks, base springs and Z51 sways.
Shocks and sways will not fix the issue of the springs being to light. Been there, done that with just F55 shocks, base springs and Z51 sways.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 46
From: va
yep lots of brake dive with the really soft front spring
The front to rear spring balance on the base model is more oversteer oriented (than that of the z51 or zr1) - it is matched to an understeer oriented sway setup from the factory
going to a zr1 sway is good for the front, but the rear zr1 bar is too much and will cause more loss of a traction on the rear
you can mess with alignment settings to reduce this but Id recommend just going to a z06 or preferably a z51 rear bar and upgrade the front spring to z06 or z51 (the rear spring is roughly the same rate as the z51)
if you want to save money you can buy the parts used for cheap from corvette recycling. if you go with new, then parts taxi will have the lowest prices.
The front to rear spring balance on the base model is more oversteer oriented (than that of the z51 or zr1) - it is matched to an understeer oriented sway setup from the factory
going to a zr1 sway is good for the front, but the rear zr1 bar is too much and will cause more loss of a traction on the rear
you can mess with alignment settings to reduce this but Id recommend just going to a z06 or preferably a z51 rear bar and upgrade the front spring to z06 or z51 (the rear spring is roughly the same rate as the z51)
if you want to save money you can buy the parts used for cheap from corvette recycling. if you go with new, then parts taxi will have the lowest prices.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 496
From: Hudson, NH
Suspension
Very helpful and thank you for your input. Are you suggesting that Z51 front springs would do the job. I already own the other pieces of the puzzle including the ZR1 sways. I'd be willing to forego the rear ZR1 sway bar for a Z51 if is the right thing to do as well.
Thanks
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 46
From: va
Yep z51 front is 524 lb and Z06 is 531 so either would be good (I run the Z06 one and it works very well).
The base rear is 657lb, and the z51 rear is 645 lb so no reason to change.
The Zr1 front bar is great - its about the same stiffness as some aftermarket ones that folks use to go racing - the rear bar is just really stiff.
Id go z51 (or if you really want more bar then the z06) for the rear bar.
EDIT: heres a chart of the various spring rates for these cars
heres a chart of the sway bar rates:
The base rear is 657lb, and the z51 rear is 645 lb so no reason to change.
The Zr1 front bar is great - its about the same stiffness as some aftermarket ones that folks use to go racing - the rear bar is just really stiff.
Id go z51 (or if you really want more bar then the z06) for the rear bar.
EDIT: heres a chart of the various spring rates for these cars
heres a chart of the sway bar rates:
Last edited by el es tu; Mar 13, 2013 at 02:12 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 14
From: Pinellas Park Fl
St. Jude Donor '08-'09 & '12, '14
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 496
From: Hudson, NH
Z51 spring
Thanks to all for your help. I've purchased a z51 front spring on eBay. Sorry I would have purchased yours(glen) if I got here first. You all were great.
Thanks
Now I need a z51 rear sway bar
Thanks
Now I need a z51 rear sway bar
Last edited by Corvette03051; Mar 13, 2013 at 08:57 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years
Joe Kucinski
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski