I'm debating between going standard Z06 vs going Z07 right now. Biggest deciding factor for me is how GM "tunes" the MSRC for the added aero and suspension changes with Z07. I'm wondering if I go base Z06 (which is already a beast) and want to go with better aero and suspension later, will I be able to tune the MSRC or is going with a performance suspension like MCS the only real option?

I have had multiple tunable suspensions on different cars. I like the ease of MSRC to be honest. I'm willing to give up time in favor of ease. But I also know if you significantly alter a car with MSRC, it doesn't work as well. Would like to be able to go to Z07'ish later if it is something I desire.

 

The only option for "tuning" the MagRide suspension on C7 & C8 is DSC. However the one for the C8 has been "coming soon" since the C8 came out, so not sure when/if we'll ever see it. Your best bet would be to contact DSC and see where they are at on it. You could also have the base Z06 recalibrated by a dealer with the Z07 calibration, but you'd want to update the springs as well.

 

Can the dealers really do this?? As a follow on, could they upgrade any MSRC to Z06 MSRC?

 

I know they can change the MSRC calibration, the catch will be finding a dealer who knows how to do it and is willing to do it. I believe all C8 MSRC shocks are the same, so potentially, yes, you could install the Z06 or Z07 calibration onto a C8 Z51. Again, you'd really want to match the springs to the shocks, otherwise you probably won't like the results.

 

If it is anything like C7, I thought the tune was tied to a VIN. Meaning the dealership takes the VIN on the vehicle they are upgrading and it matches it with a database of allowed tunes. I know later they had a track tune that was only compatible with specific models which was also tracked via VIN.

 

Yeah, as far as what is going to show up for a specific car, yeah, it's going to be based on the VIN. The actual MSRC controller should be able to take whatever calibration you want to put on it, I know Jim Mero (former GM engineer and test driver) has a business doing updated tunes for the C6 and GM offered updated configs for the C7. If DSC ever gets their replacement controller out, that would be the far easier path to customize.

 

I did speak to the guy at DSC regarding this. The issue as explained to me is the data is all encrypted on the can/bus. He hasn't figured a way around it as of yet.

 

Good info, not too surprising as GM has really stepped up the encryption on the C8. The C8 Z06 ECM still hasn't been cracked, and HPTuners still hasn't released tuning for the C8 TCM even though they've been saying "coming soon" for quite a while.

 

I've asked Jim on this forum. There is no way to adjust the bleed in a msrc shock by a tune. You're basically stuck with what the piston flows. That makes tuning specific regions sort of clugey. It's not so much as the raw forces as much as the shape of the curve & the area under the curve. So you do get to arbitrarily pick your bypass or knee speed. However one of the things I don't like about DSC is that they don't quantify what a % change does. So when you're using their controller to see a ratio or a % for the shocks it's useless to me because let's say I set the "high speed" duty cycle to 20% .... Of what?? I couldn't tell you how many lbs per inch per second the shock is generating.

MSRC being not gas charged is the main reason it feels so good, because you don't have to combat cavitation with gobs of gas force, which in turn lowers the cracking force, which is compounded by the fact there are no shims on the piston. If you really wanted to "tune" these shocks you'd want to put some purpose built piston with channels in it imparting specific flow control to the fluid passing through the piston.

Otherwise, tuning a shock for changes you can feel during a normal ride and even sporty or spirited driving is way too much of a change. Unless you swap springs to a much softer or stiffer rate the damping changes are minimal to accommodate a stopwatch and lap times.