My 2006 coupe with magnetic ride control was built at the end of 05. Presently have 68K miles.

My problem is that the car is making a banging noise (that seems to be coming from the rear) when riding over bumpy pavement.

The underside of the car was inspected and the exhaust system is OK. It was noted that the rear shocks are wet.

Do I likely have a bad shock?

 

you had to ask? leaking shocks might be normal? time to get rid of the mag ride

 

End links on the sway bar are a common failure and cause a noise like that. I would inspect them first.

 

Yep, I replace the end links about every 30K, and all 4 corners are only around $100.



As for OEM or Moog links, they both last around the same mileage, but the OEM are lighter, and only a few dollars more (car is already too heavy, and will dam'd if I'm going to start swapping out parts that are heaver then the OEM parts).

Note, when you change the links out, make sure that the end you are working on the car is in the air, with both tires free hanging down. Do not tighten the links bolt with one side of the car (tire) up in the air, and one side (tire) down on the ground.

Hence on the fronts, just set the e brake with chokes, and take the entire front up to replace the front links. When you do the back, choke the front tires take the back up, then change the back links.




And the end links have a torx socket in the end bolts on the older design, so use that to hold the end link bolt if its spinning as you are loosening the nuts.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...er-solved.html
To add, with the age of the car, not a bad idea to pull the sway bars as well to clean the bushing since they can get packed with debris as well (plus give you a chance to make sure that the bushing is not falling apart). When you put the bushing back on the sway bars before bolting the sway back in place, use a light hint of dielectric grease between the bar and the inside of the bushing (the grease will give the rubber a light coating so it does not dry out so quickly and fall apart isntead).


Lastly, on the F55 shocks, if you think that they are leaking and see any fluid around them, wipe the fluid off with a clean rag, and put a magnet to the wrap. The fluid in the F55 shocks has magnetic particles in it, and if the fluid is not sticking to the magnet, it not fluid from the shock!!!!!!

 

What do you mean by wet. Are they physically covered with oil?, do they have a light coating of something dark that looks like oil? ( magnetic field attracts debris) if they are wet how far down , 1/3 2/3 3/3? Before you go worst case scenario do some research. All magnetic ride sweat or leak a little, how much and how far down determines the extent. That is how GM decides if they need replacement. It is probably the end links, if it was shocks you would feel it in handling long before the they got noisy. ( if they ever would)

 

Thanks again!!!!!!

 

Sweating is different than leaking.

 

Mag ride.// nothing but one problme after another since c4/c5/c6. Time to say good buy on that system go z51. Joe

 

Keep the Mag ride. So much smoother than anything else out there.I tried DRM and they are WAY too rough for daily driving unless you have near perfect roads. Handle Amazing though. I put F55 back in after trying those. Can be had for $400 per shock brand new. I actually have extra all four not leaking at all for half that.

 

Not sure where this comes from. Mag ride works great and in general is quite trouble free. Rarely see issues with it.
As mentioned, slight sweating is not leaking and is normal.

 

Problems are always magnified here on the forum because people are likely to complain about a problem but are less likely to voice a lack of a problem. We have heard of some but very few problems with the magnetic ride system on the C6...but when there is a problem, it is likely to be fairly expensive. For the price of one mag-ride shock, you can buy a set of four Bilsteins. It's a personal decision.

 

Mag. Ride is a gm piece of junk to get people to go for it. Z51 package for the money will out do it in every corner. Empty your wallets. At 40k good luck with out a problem. Nice looking on the console. Had a 90 zr1 junk , 2001 vert, junk, 06 junk vert. Lets talk. The last option i would waste my money on. Maybe trailer queens. Looks good at car shows. Joe

 

132K on my OEM F55 DD and I'll watch your Z51 fade in the mirror on rough mountain roads. Then again, all roads in FL are flat, so you've never had a chance to know the difference.
BTW, F55 wasn't available until '04 and it's far different than F45.

 

Tell us what you rally think


Its far from junk and is actually better than any other stock shocks GM has put out. Why do you think the Zr1s, all z06s have it now as well. I Believe ZL1 Camaros use it too. Oh and then there is the fact that Ferrari uses an American shockand it happens to be..... wait for it.... GM Magnetic ride shocks. Yeah pure junk, you nailed it on the head dude.

I will say that the DRMs felt like they handled better than the Mag ride on actual mountain roads pushed to the max. The trade off in ride quality wasn't even close to being worth it however.

 

Embty your wallet. Until you done a z51 package on the track at 155mph. You will loose it. Just go slow and show off your switch. They did have ride control on the over priced car zr1. Junk also

 

Mag ride is amazing. Its one of the things GM got right.

 

Unless you are talking about adding DRMs or similar you are just wrong dude. See I actually daily drive mountain roads with my car and have had DRMs on a full Z06 suspension and also with Mag ride. Mag ride performs very well.

Wait "ZR1 junk also" why am I wasting my breath on a hater like you? Enjoy your cheap toy. If you cant afford better is must be "junk"

 

Mr. Bill made alot of money off you people. Maybee yellow looks good. I cannot speak for the c7. I guess you should not post all problems on mag. Ride if there are no problems on the tech. Forum. They are right up there. Philly joe

 

It won,t last. Glad you had luck with yours. As you know vettes are notorious with electronics. Like the debate. Great luck with your car. Would never want anthing to happen to it. My experiance and openion. Just my long time with the system. 41 vettes later.. Old guy joe

 

DO NOT HAVE THAT ONE ANYMORE Z06 AND Z51 CONV,T BOTH C6 NO MORE SELECT RIDE. STICK AND PADDLE SHIFT, JOE