Spring Change For 2015 Z51
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 36
From: RI
St. Jude Donor '14-'15, '17, '19
Spring Change For 2015 Z51
I purchased the Z51 package b/c I wanted the mag ride control and it was only available with the Z51 in 2015. My wife thinks the ride is rough and my aching old bones do too. Could I change the springs to base springs and soften the ride up or will that screw up the entire package?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 36
From: RI
St. Jude Donor '14-'15, '17, '19
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,673
Likes: 199
Does it feel better in touring mode?
There is no doubt that the track and sport mode are stiff. Springs alone might not be the solution. Most of aftermarket springs and coilovers are built for track performance. Check with AFE as they might be able to assist you.
There is no doubt that the track and sport mode are stiff. Springs alone might not be the solution. Most of aftermarket springs and coilovers are built for track performance. Check with AFE as they might be able to assist you.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 36
From: RI
St. Jude Donor '14-'15, '17, '19
It's livable in tour mode. I was thinking perhaps I could swap out the springs of a non Z51 car for mine if they are interchangeable.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
The coilovers can be very stiff (road course) or softer than stock (drag strip) or in between (street). The sways are also adjustable. So.....yes, I am knocking the base suspension; it's for cruisers and waxers.
I do believe the base springs are softer than Z51, btw.No, I don't go to the track every weekend, but I do live in the hill country with some great twisties.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
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
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 585
Likes: 65
From: Sierra Nevada Foothills CA
I also started with the base model. Not being happy with the softness of the suspension I added the Z51 shocks and the Z51 Mag Ride sway bars (31mm rear bar).
The car handles much better while I still find the ride very good over good surfaces and acceptable over rough pavement.
I do think (but no facts on this) that the base springs are softer, soft enough to make my car bottom at the driver's rear corner when I hit some dips over my local secondary roads. The bottoming is to the rear of the wheel liner, not to the top. Stiffer springs would likely prevent that.
The car handles much better while I still find the ride very good over good surfaces and acceptable over rough pavement.
I do think (but no facts on this) that the base springs are softer, soft enough to make my car bottom at the driver's rear corner when I hit some dips over my local secondary roads. The bottoming is to the rear of the wheel liner, not to the top. Stiffer springs would likely prevent that.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
interestingly, on my car the front of the rear passenger wheel liner (bulge in the liner around the evap canister) is where i get contact under extreme compression.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 585
Likes: 65
From: Sierra Nevada Foothills CA
I suspect there are some installation variations and tolerances that make the difference car-to-car.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
That is interesting. On my car there is plenty of room in front of the rear wheels. The bottoming is against the bulge at the rear of the tire that is created by the small inside storage compartment at the driver side. My liner is almost worn through at this point. As I looked at a possible solution, I do not see any, short of cutting away the wall of that storage compartment.
I suspect there are some installation variations and tolerances that make the difference car-to-car.
I suspect there are some installation variations and tolerances that make the difference car-to-car.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 585
Likes: 65
From: Sierra Nevada Foothills CA
Mine is lowered all the way on stock bolts. The total lowering amounted to 0.5" but, the touching occurs, what appears, between 1 - 3" of suspension travel. I also suspect that bushings in the long rear A-arms have enough "give" to allow for a horizontal deflection upon hitting a sudden dip in the road. If I put a vertical straigth ruler against the back of the rear tire it tells me that if the rear wheel compressed in a totally vertical manner, no contact would be made. The rear wheel must actually deflect backwards 1/4-1/2" for the contact.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
Mine is lowered all the way on stock bolts. The total lowering amounted to 0.5" but, the touching occurs, what appears, between 1 - 3" of suspension travel. I also suspect that bushings in the long rear A-arms have enough "give" to allow for a horizontal deflection upon hitting a sudden dip in the road. If I put a vertical straigth ruler against the back of the rear tire it tells me that if the rear wheel compressed in a totally vertical manner, no contact would be made. The rear wheel must actually deflect backwards 1/4-1/2" for the contact.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 499
From: Northern Virginia
Typical of this forum. People insult the OP, answer questions he didn't ask, and fail to answer the one he did, then go completely off topic.
To the OP, there was a thread on here recently from someone who planned to change his base (I think) springs to the Z06 ones. Search for "springs" or "sprint rate" and see if you can find it. I'm pretty sure all the springs are interchangeable in fit, but if that member has done the swap he should be able to verify that. Maybe he'd even sell you his base springs cheap.
To the OP, there was a thread on here recently from someone who planned to change his base (I think) springs to the Z06 ones. Search for "springs" or "sprint rate" and see if you can find it. I'm pretty sure all the springs are interchangeable in fit, but if that member has done the swap he should be able to verify that. Maybe he'd even sell you his base springs cheap.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 36
From: RI
St. Jude Donor '14-'15, '17, '19
Typical of this forum. People insult the OP, answer questions he didn't ask, and fail to answer the one he did, then go completely off topic.
To the OP, there was a thread on here recently from someone who planned to change his base (I think) springs to the Z06 ones. Search for "springs" or "sprint rate" and see if you can find it. I'm pretty sure all the springs are interchangeable in fit, but if that member has done the swap he should be able to verify that. Maybe he'd even sell you his base springs cheap.
To the OP, there was a thread on here recently from someone who planned to change his base (I think) springs to the Z06 ones. Search for "springs" or "sprint rate" and see if you can find it. I'm pretty sure all the springs are interchangeable in fit, but if that member has done the swap he should be able to verify that. Maybe he'd even sell you his base springs cheap.
You are 100% correct. When I was a teenager a straight axle Corvette was great. My 66 GTO had 427 ElCamio front springs and drag bags. If the headers were not open they had washers between the dump tubes and the caps to make my presence known. With 4:33s 75 MPH on the highway was a event. Not that I am 70 life changes and I am looking for a little more comfort. Still row my own and have the exhaust fuse pulled so I don't get the 1700 RPM hitch. Quieter than my C6 with duel mode but OK. I hate it when someone from a fair weather state with great roads criticizes the suspension choices of people from RI or MA that have the worst roads in the country. Off topic but when I bought my new C6 from a dealer in Georgia and drove it home to RI I thought the suspension was too soft till I hit DC. By the time I hit NJ & NY it rode like I put 15 extra pounds of pressure in the tires. Traveling though CT to RI I knew the suspension was firm enough for our roads and my age. Have a good holiday. Mike
Last edited by B-STOCK; Sep 5, 2015 at 02:02 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 10,961
Likes: 2,643
From: Texas Hill Country
Typical of this forum. People insult the OP, answer questions he didn't ask, and fail to answer the one he did, then go completely off topic.
To the OP, there was a thread on here recently from someone who planned to change his base (I think) springs to the Z06 ones. Search for "springs" or "sprint rate" and see if you can find it. I'm pretty sure all the springs are interchangeable in fit, but if that member has done the swap he should be able to verify that. Maybe he'd even sell you his base springs cheap.
To the OP, there was a thread on here recently from someone who planned to change his base (I think) springs to the Z06 ones. Search for "springs" or "sprint rate" and see if you can find it. I'm pretty sure all the springs are interchangeable in fit, but if that member has done the swap he should be able to verify that. Maybe he'd even sell you his base springs cheap.
1 vote for the same rate
2 votes for softer
270 votes for "I have no idea" based on thread views
and even a few recommendations on how to improve the situation
what else do you want? i am sure that if the info were available in a search this thread would not exist.
Dazed Confused & Verklemp
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 109
From: Naples, FL & Clear Lake, IA
I purchased the Z51 package b/c I wanted the mag ride control and it was only available with the Z51 in 2015. My wife thinks the ride is rough and my aching old bones do too. Could I change the springs to base springs and soften the ride up or will that screw up the entire package?
My son has a 15 M7 Vert (base) with the Zf1 package ( 19"-20" tires, the same as Z51). I have a 15 Z51 A8 Coupe with MRC. I have driven both as has he. The ride is very similar when you compare my Z51MRC in "T" or "E" and his car. In fact, he thinks my car rides slightly softer in those settings.
So... even if this can be done, I'm not sure you would find a worthwhile difference.
For comparison, I have a TT Ford Flex withe Megan Coilovers. The softest setting ( of 31 choices) is more harsh on sharp ridges/bumps than our Vette. Harshest setting is much harder than the MRC. Surprisingly, when I have my 18" Michelin Pilot Super Sports mounted on that vehicle, it rides better than with the stock Goodyear 20". My wife hates the Flex, not because of the ride, but because of the loud exhaust system I have installed!
So.. you might consider getting rid of your run-flats which have VERY stiff sidewalls, and going with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport non-run flats in the stock Z51 sizes.
Or... trade in your wife...
