FE2 vs FE4
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 1,593
Some rudimentary research indicates that the FE2 is simply the base suspension with MSRC shocks....compared with FE4, the spring rates are lower, and the FE4 has a larger rear anti-roll bar.... don't know if the shock valving is different, but I suspect the FE2 will ride similarly to the base, but provide better control in transient (e.g. braking, and cornering) situations....
Personally, if you are not tracking the car, the Z-51 package is probably overkill.... the base car is more than capable in street driving, but the MSRC shocks are superior to passive shocks, and if your budget allows, are a non-brainier IMHO.
Personally, if you are not tracking the car, the Z-51 package is probably overkill.... the base car is more than capable in street driving, but the MSRC shocks are superior to passive shocks, and if your budget allows, are a non-brainier IMHO.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,768
Likes: 10,201
From: Garden Valley CA
In the C7 the FE2 was FE1 suspension with MSRC shocks and this is likely the way the C8 will be. However, the C7 wasn't a coil-over configuration. GM may decide it is better to have the same spring-shock configuration as the FE4 for the C8. It will be interesting to see.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 364
Likes: 226
From: Bay Area, CA
Some context for the question: I'm 1100 with a likely allocation in December or January.
My current order is FE2 with front lift.
My thinking is lowering springs and aftermarket bars. Taking advantage of the front lift to lift a lowered car.
I occasionally drive like a complete jackass on the street, and am more than capable of going 9/10ths of my track speed on certain freeway on-ramps, though I avoid doing this on backroads because you never know what's on the road.
Every car I've ever driven with electronic suspension adjustment was always driven in sport mode and never touring.
Is there anything about the FE2 that would make me regret not going for FE4? Can any deficiencies in the FE2 setup be solved with stock mag ride shocks and aftermarket suspension parts?
This is what is on my mind...
My current order is FE2 with front lift.
My thinking is lowering springs and aftermarket bars. Taking advantage of the front lift to lift a lowered car.
I occasionally drive like a complete jackass on the street, and am more than capable of going 9/10ths of my track speed on certain freeway on-ramps, though I avoid doing this on backroads because you never know what's on the road.
Every car I've ever driven with electronic suspension adjustment was always driven in sport mode and never touring.
Is there anything about the FE2 that would make me regret not going for FE4? Can any deficiencies in the FE2 setup be solved with stock mag ride shocks and aftermarket suspension parts?
This is what is on my mind...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 364
Likes: 226
From: Bay Area, CA
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 13,180
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Race Director
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On the C7, the FE4 came with softer springs than the Z51 without MSRC. I haven't seen any published specs on spring rates for the C8, either FE1, FE2, FE3 or FE4. But I wouldn't be surprised if FE4 has softer springs than FE3, and uses the adjustable shocks to stiffen things up when desired.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 177
Likes: 58
This list was confirmed by Corvetter Engineer. Hope this help little...
Softest to stiffest
FE1-> Any Mode -> Softest
FE2-> Tour Mode
FE4-> Tour Mode
FE2-> Sports Mode
FE3-> Any Mode
FE2-> Track Mode
FE4-> Sports Mode
FE4-> Track Mode - Stiffest
And they went on to say...
"We just got confirmation that the list you created is accurate. Our engineering team did note that the FE2 Tour would be a little bit more comfortable than the FE1 suspension type."
Softest to stiffest
FE1-> Any Mode -> Softest
FE2-> Tour Mode
FE4-> Tour Mode
FE2-> Sports Mode
FE3-> Any Mode
FE2-> Track Mode
FE4-> Sports Mode
FE4-> Track Mode - Stiffest
And they went on to say...
"We just got confirmation that the list you created is accurate. Our engineering team did note that the FE2 Tour would be a little bit more comfortable than the FE1 suspension type."
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 364
Likes: 226
From: Bay Area, CA
Thanks! That was incredibly helpful. Sounds like FE2 is a solid street option. If I don't like the bars, I can always change those!
This list was confirmed by Corvetter Engineer. Hope this help little...
Softest to stiffest
FE1-> Any Mode -> Softest
FE2-> Tour Mode
FE4-> Tour Mode
FE2-> Sports Mode
FE3-> Any Mode
FE2-> Track Mode
FE4-> Sports Mode
FE4-> Track Mode - Stiffest
And they went on to say...
"We just got confirmation that the list you created is accurate. Our engineering team did note that the FE2 Tour would be a little bit more comfortable than the FE1 suspension type."
Softest to stiffest
FE1-> Any Mode -> Softest
FE2-> Tour Mode
FE4-> Tour Mode
FE2-> Sports Mode
FE3-> Any Mode
FE2-> Track Mode
FE4-> Sports Mode
FE4-> Track Mode - Stiffest
And they went on to say...
"We just got confirmation that the list you created is accurate. Our engineering team did note that the FE2 Tour would be a little bit more comfortable than the FE1 suspension type."
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 858
Likes: 450
From: Linden VA
This list was confirmed by Corvetter Engineer. Hope this help little...
Softest to stiffest
FE1-> Any Mode -> Softest
FE2-> Tour Mode
FE4-> Tour Mode
FE2-> Sports Mode
FE3-> Any Mode
FE2-> Track Mode
FE4-> Sports Mode
FE4-> Track Mode - Stiffest
And they went on to say...
"We just got confirmation that the list you created is accurate. Our engineering team did note that the FE2 Tour would be a little bit more comfortable than the FE1 suspension type."
Softest to stiffest
FE1-> Any Mode -> Softest
FE2-> Tour Mode
FE4-> Tour Mode
FE2-> Sports Mode
FE3-> Any Mode
FE2-> Track Mode
FE4-> Sports Mode
FE4-> Track Mode - Stiffest
And they went on to say...
"We just got confirmation that the list you created is accurate. Our engineering team did note that the FE2 Tour would be a little bit more comfortable than the FE1 suspension type."
I took a Tahoe LT with premium air shocks on a test ride on a dirt road at 45 mph and bounced my poor wife’s head off the ceiling at one point. I went back on the same road with a Tahoe LTZ with mag ride gen 3 (not 4 like the vette) and a she could have held a near-full coffee cup without spilling on the same dirt road.
Anyone who says an FE1 is softer than FE2 has never experienced the magic of mag ride. It’s not just the shock tower reacting 1000 times a second. It’s the translation to the vehicle-body movement or lack-there-of.
Last edited by f152tall; Nov 29, 2020 at 08:56 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 12,768
Likes: 10,201
From: Garden Valley CA
I had a DSC sport controller on my FE4 C7. I could make the shocks dead soft (which, by the way, is what you get if the system fails). Wallowy, porpoiseing, and bottoming out is not comfortable.