This may sound crazy and I dont know how else to explain it other than driving confidence.... Lol

I feel as if my C6 (1LT, base suspension and stock steering) feels a little weak/soft while cornering.... That said, I feel like if I really push the car faster and harder into a turn it really hooks up and goes w/o a problem. BUT if im only pushing the car 50 - 80% it feels off somehow.

The steering wheel is light and turns easily, but sometimes feels like it has a bit of understeer... The car also feels like it gets very soft over some bumps and seems to float around a bit after hitting a bump. Throw in a 60-70mph curve with a slight bump or dip in the road the car just feels loose. With these couple things I just dont have the same confidence driving it as I do my DD...

My DD is a 2011 BMW 335i xDrive.... I have much more confidence running in the same turns with this car. It feels much tighter and firmly planted going through them? Ill probably get flamed for this, lol, but I want the vette to feel much more firm and predictable than how it is right now for me.

I dont know if this is BC I drive the DD everyday and Im more familiar with it, maybe my vette tires are shot, or I need some upgraded shocks/sway bars, etc. and this is just the feel of a base suspension??

Thanks for the comments/suggestions in advance.

 

Hi,

There are two things that you would need to verify on the car:

1. The wheel alignment. Most common cause for bad handling is inappropriate wheel alignment.

2. Type of tires that are installed on the cars. Not all tires are created equal.



ps: More of a general question rather than a tech section question, IMO

 

Thanks for the input CroOrange... I figured there were some technical aspects why it wasnt handling at top level to me...

Ill definitely get an alignment done... I havent had one done since I owned the car and thats over 4 years ago. Should I do the pfadt street specs?

Also, the tires are Goodyear Eagles (runflats) in stock sizes. The front tires are different tread design than the rears, so are probably a different model of the Eagles... and they havent been changed since Ive owned the car...

 

Depends on your driving style.

I drive spiritedly but nothing hardcore on the street and for me, what works best is:

Camber: -0,5°
Toe: 0

You should have the same tires front and rear, my preferred are Michelin, non run flats as the run flats are harder.

For ease mind, you can stick to runflats.

i have a pump and an emergency puncture repair kit.

 

When I replace Im going with either some Bridgestone RE-11 or Hankook Ventus v12... Something sticky as I dont drive the car that often, but when I do I drive fairly hard, and I need something sticky out back as well as Im just shy of 500rwhp.
Im not worried about runflats as Ill have the same setup as you (pump and puncture kit).

Im thinking maybe its time to pony up and get the tires and alignment... Ill see about having them doing it to your specs

 

Tires and alignment will go far. If you are feeling froggy, an upgrade to Z51 sway bars will help to. You can get them from GM for under $250.

 

A Z51 suspension upgrade and a set of Bilstein shocks won't hurt either.

 

I can vouch for the RE-11s, they are a fantastic tire for the street, I also run them on the track and for Auto-X. The tire has very excellent predictable grip and I have 500+ whp. The car hooks good with a lot of throttle in second when driving on concrete.

 

Z51 bars will make a huge difference.

 

I did Coil-overs and ZR1 sways because I had the same feeling. Felt the stock suspension was too soft and didn't offer enough feedback.

Love my setup, handles like it's on rail's and in Performance traction mode, the over steer is very predictable and the same every time. Couldn't ask for a better setup for my driving.

 

Which coil-overs did you go with?
That will probably be my next mod.

 

There is a set of Z51s for sale right now. Member codyc24 has them for sale. Here's a link to his thread. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...sway-bars.html Just need Z51 Bushings. Great upgrade for base vettes.

 

How are you pushing 500 rwhp---if it's by added weight up front that could change things with handling?

An alignment is not forever, or just when you buy new tires. Going down the street after you get one, hit a curb or a pothole, have a non-torqued or loosely-tightened nut, and your alignment can go out just enough to make your car handle a bit off.

And the one thing you don't mention is, how often do you check your tire pressures--not just look at the DIC?

An alignment, yes. A more regular check of tire pressures, yes, too. Stiffer sways, same tires all around, different shocks, yes to all. But the first two may get you something you will like. And the change of tires to same type/model will certainly benefit, even if it's a cumulative, just-a-little-bit.

 

CDaniel525 I have a base C6 also and had the same issues when I started doing HPDE's. I put on a sway bar shock package and it firmed up the ride and took out most of the understeer. Take a look at my photos on my profile and you'll see the size difference of the sway bars. I would recommend a set of Z51 or Z06 springs also they're stiffer. I still have my stock base springs and have a lot of front end nose dive under hard cornering and braking.

A car always feels better when you have the suspension giving you feed back in turns, braking and accelerating. It's telling you what it's doing versus a unloaded/floating suspension saying I'm doing nothing right now.

Hope this helps.

 

15 year member and you've never read what to do to a base model to wake up the handling?

 

The majority of my 15 years was with a c3... and Ive read plenty on how to upgrade them.. Muy concern was making sure there was nothing wrong with the car and/or whether this was the normal feeling/handling of a base suspension.


AORoads... 500hp coming from cam, headers, intake, tune... nothing that would add weight really.

Suds... The one thing im worried about the RE11s is Ive seen some people say they dont last very long? Whats your experience there?? If I could get 12k miles Id be happy as thatd take me probably 3 years.

 

I strongly recommend the z51 bars. On my c5 I went from stock to z06, a very similar move to the move on c6 base to z51, as the difference was tremendous. I am quite sure you will be very happy based on my experience and your interests.