Help with F55
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 80
From: Hollister CA
Help with F55
Hi All. 2009 base with F55. 60k miles but new to me.
I'm not feeling any difference between Tour and Sport mode. I read an older thread that said sometimes the dealer forgot to remove the shipping spacers from the shocks, which could cause just such a problem.
My question is, where on the shocks do I look for the spacers? Hidden by the dust boot? At the very top? I know they originally had yellow tags on them, but after 60k miles I doubt they would still be there (or still be yellow and visible)
If not the spacers, any idea what else may be going on? A fuse perhaps? (one can hope)
Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
I'm not feeling any difference between Tour and Sport mode. I read an older thread that said sometimes the dealer forgot to remove the shipping spacers from the shocks, which could cause just such a problem.
My question is, where on the shocks do I look for the spacers? Hidden by the dust boot? At the very top? I know they originally had yellow tags on them, but after 60k miles I doubt they would still be there (or still be yellow and visible)
If not the spacers, any idea what else may be going on? A fuse perhaps? (one can hope)
Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Hi All. 2009 base with F55. 60k miles but new to me.
I'm not feeling any difference between Tour and Sport mode. I read an older thread that said sometimes the dealer forgot to remove the shipping spacers from the shocks, which could cause just such a problem.
My question is, where on the shocks do I look for the spacers? Hidden by the dust boot? At the very top? I know they originally had yellow tags on them, but after 60k miles I doubt they would still be there (or still be yellow and visible)
If not the spacers, any idea what else may be going on? A fuse perhaps? (one can hope)
Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
I'm not feeling any difference between Tour and Sport mode. I read an older thread that said sometimes the dealer forgot to remove the shipping spacers from the shocks, which could cause just such a problem.
My question is, where on the shocks do I look for the spacers? Hidden by the dust boot? At the very top? I know they originally had yellow tags on them, but after 60k miles I doubt they would still be there (or still be yellow and visible)
If not the spacers, any idea what else may be going on? A fuse perhaps? (one can hope)
Any help or ideas would be appreciated.
Try this. Find a fairly smooth road or large empty lot and at 20 MPH quickly/violently turn the wheel left and right several times in quick succession. Not lock to lock, but without changing your grip. Then repeat in the other mode. If you don't feel a difference, you might have a problem. However, if there is an electrical problem it would have created the DIC message "Service Ride Control".
It's also possible a previous owner removed the system, so check to verify an electrical connector is on the top of each shock.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 80
From: Hollister CA
Chances are that what you're doing (the driving conditions) when you switch between modes would produce the same result either way.
Try this. Find a fairly smooth road or large empty lot and at 20 MPH quickly/violently turn the wheel left and right several times in quick succession. Not lock to lock, but without changing your grip. Then repeat in the other mode. If you don't feel a difference, you might have a problem. However, if there is an electrical problem it would have created the DIC message "Service Ride Control".
It's also possible a previous owner removed the system, so check to verify an electrical connector is on the top of each shock.
Try this. Find a fairly smooth road or large empty lot and at 20 MPH quickly/violently turn the wheel left and right several times in quick succession. Not lock to lock, but without changing your grip. Then repeat in the other mode. If you don't feel a difference, you might have a problem. However, if there is an electrical problem it would have created the DIC message "Service Ride Control".
It's also possible a previous owner removed the system, so check to verify an electrical connector is on the top of each shock.
Now from what I've read, the difference should also be quite pronounced on rough roads (and we've got some prime examples around here). It rides pretty rough on those roads, regardless of switch setting, which is the exact symptom quoted when the shipping spacers are left in.
I verified that there are electrical connections on the top of each shock.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville FL
It was hard for me to tell the difference at first. Once you drive it a lot you will be able to tell a difference. Tour mode "floats" more over bumps. Sport mode tightens up and you feel the bump more. It's not as drastic as everyone has in there head it will be. But going around corners fast you'll be able to tell from body roll and grip.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I hadn't heard of the HOX method before, but it sounds/seems more reasonable under a controlled area/situation than trying to duplicate exact speed on a road of bumps.
You COULD do it if you were willing to go out at 6am on Sunday, or something like that. Then, you could drive over that bumpy road at say, 20 mph in sport, turn around and go back to where you started, turn again and come back the same way as the first time in touring. That would be a good method if you can pull it off with no traffic around.
From what I've read on here tho, most C6 F55 cars do not feel all that different in either mode. Could be wrong tho.....
You COULD do it if you were willing to go out at 6am on Sunday, or something like that. Then, you could drive over that bumpy road at say, 20 mph in sport, turn around and go back to where you started, turn again and come back the same way as the first time in touring. That would be a good method if you can pull it off with no traffic around.
From what I've read on here tho, most C6 F55 cars do not feel all that different in either mode. Could be wrong tho.....
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 266
From: San Jose California
Just remember that F55 is not like having standard adjustable shocks - passive elements that are simply "harder or softer" even if the car is parked. With F55 you are changing how the car *reacts* in real-time to bumps, curves, braking, etc., so you won't feel a difference until you do things that let you measure the difference in car's *reaction* to the same circumstances.
Z//
Z//
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
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
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 80
From: Hollister CA
In any event, I did find the procedure for removing them so I suppose it won't hurt to check. To anyone else who may be wondering, the spacers were located beneath the corrugated shock cover. The procedure is to remove the wheel, letting the suspension drop down, and then compressing the cover upwards to expose the spacer.
I'll give that a shot this weekend.
Last edited by bobeast; May 8, 2014 at 06:54 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,644
Likes: 7,716
From: NJ
it would ride like hell and look like a 4x4 if the spacers were in. you would KNOW this... Get the car up in the air, they're probably fine. having said that, when i purchased my '08 F55 car with 93k on it all 4 were leaking BADLY. Two were completely broken (stuck when pressed in once i removed them) it was the driver's rear and passenger front.
Installed BRAND new ones and wow. what a difference. Just be prepared because they are expensive lol.. I still think they're worth every penny after riding in numerous C6's without them. not even a remote comparison.. good luck
Installed BRAND new ones and wow. what a difference. Just be prepared because they are expensive lol.. I still think they're worth every penny after riding in numerous C6's without them. not even a remote comparison.. good luck