F55/how do you know
12-16-2018, 08:37 PM
#1
F55/how do you know
Have read a bunch of threads on the F55 shocks life. My 06’ has 56k on it, well taken care of, not a garage queen by any means and has the original shocks, factory struts.
On the street, if I dive into a corner, sometimes hear/feel a “rubbing” up front. Tracked her today for the first time (first time and I suck, ok with that) and felt like my
wifes Toyota Venza can hold a line/corner better without feeling like it’s going to slide/topple.
My question is what type of feedback do you get when your F55 mag shocks are on the way out?
On the street, if I dive into a corner, sometimes hear/feel a “rubbing” up front. Tracked her today for the first time (first time and I suck, ok with that) and felt like my
wifes Toyota Venza can hold a line/corner better without feeling like it’s going to slide/topple.
My question is what type of feedback do you get when your F55 mag shocks are on the way out?
12-16-2018, 09:04 PM
#2
Team Owner
First, they aren't struts.
Second, how much do you know or understand about the shocks? (no offense, legit question)
The shocks are engineered to last the life of the car. There are early failures but they are relatively rare. If you aren't getting any complaints from the computer about "shocks inop" or similar, they are likely fine. You could inspect the shocks for signs of significant oil leakage, also rare. A "light film" of oil does not mean they are bad.
Third, understand that the F55 shocks were paired "only" with the softest springs the Corvette offered, known as "soft ride" and the smallest sway bars. So if you are expecting strong track handling, you won't get it. If you want to spice up the handling without hurting the ride you could add Z51 sway bars, a popular mod over the years. If you want to spice up the handling a lot more, you could add a Z51 front spring also. Interestingly, the F55 "soft ride" rear spring is a little firmer than the Z51 rear spring so you don't need to swap that one.
If you would like to get educated on how the F55 shocks were developed and what they are supposed to offer, check out this article from 2003 by member Hib Halverson explaining the system development for the C5 (gen 1 of the F55 system, the C6 is gen 2, C7 is gen 3).
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...h-car-444.html
Second, how much do you know or understand about the shocks? (no offense, legit question)
The shocks are engineered to last the life of the car. There are early failures but they are relatively rare. If you aren't getting any complaints from the computer about "shocks inop" or similar, they are likely fine. You could inspect the shocks for signs of significant oil leakage, also rare. A "light film" of oil does not mean they are bad.
Third, understand that the F55 shocks were paired "only" with the softest springs the Corvette offered, known as "soft ride" and the smallest sway bars. So if you are expecting strong track handling, you won't get it. If you want to spice up the handling without hurting the ride you could add Z51 sway bars, a popular mod over the years. If you want to spice up the handling a lot more, you could add a Z51 front spring also. Interestingly, the F55 "soft ride" rear spring is a little firmer than the Z51 rear spring so you don't need to swap that one.
If you would like to get educated on how the F55 shocks were developed and what they are supposed to offer, check out this article from 2003 by member Hib Halverson explaining the system development for the C5 (gen 1 of the F55 system, the C6 is gen 2, C7 is gen 3).
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...h-car-444.html
12-16-2018, 09:26 PM
#3
Rick!
Thanks for the reply. I know nothing about how shocks are engineered and I don’t care! If I cared, I’d be an engineer! You definitely seem very well versed in engineering, hope I didn’t offend you.
All I know Is my Vette feels like it doesn’t track as well as it should and I’m asking for a little info from others who’ve experienced something similar.
Ive read all the articles on “light coating of oil” etc on these shocks and they’re fine, etc., etc., etc.
Thanks for the reply. I know nothing about how shocks are engineered and I don’t care! If I cared, I’d be an engineer! You definitely seem very well versed in engineering, hope I didn’t offend you.
All I know Is my Vette feels like it doesn’t track as well as it should and I’m asking for a little info from others who’ve experienced something similar.
Ive read all the articles on “light coating of oil” etc on these shocks and they’re fine, etc., etc., etc.
12-16-2018, 09:51 PM
#4
Drifting
Really? A legitimate forum member, with over 20,000 posts, provided you a very specific and reasonable response. Your reaction, quite frankly, sucks. Your description of handling is purely subjectively in nature and offers no real understanding of how your car is performing. F55 is very capable and reliable.
Last edited by BLEKVET; 12-16-2018 at 09:54 PM.
12-16-2018, 10:04 PM
#5
[QUOTE=BLEKVET;1598513348]
Why would I care about what YOU think? Does having 20,000 posts make you helpful?
Ricks response was arrogant and condescending.
Beat it unless you have tracked an OLDER F55 suspension and experienced what I have.
Really? A legitimate forum member, with over 20,000 posts, provided you a very specific and reasonable response. Your reaction, quite frankly, sucks. Your description of handling is purely subjectively in nature and offers no real understanding of how your car is performing. F55 is very capable and reliable.
[/QUOTEWhy would I care about what YOU think? Does having 20,000 posts make you helpful?
Ricks response was arrogant and condescending.
Beat it unless you have tracked an OLDER F55 suspension and experienced what I have.
12-16-2018, 10:08 PM
#6
Drifting
Owned and tracked, extensively, a 2010 GS with F55. I even swapped the LS3 for an LS7. Dude, you are just being a dick.
12-16-2018, 10:24 PM
#7
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carsnpars (09-04-2019)
12-16-2018, 10:31 PM
#9
Drifting
I sincerely hope you find resolution to your issue. I want nothing more than car parts delivered to my door and fellow Vette owners happy in their garages with perfection. I hope you find resolution to your issue. All the best to you.
12-16-2018, 10:42 PM
#10
ok, sorry guys I got a little emotional.
love my C6 on the street, rides like a dream.
Rick, thanks for the technical info on the shocks and sway bars. Simply been told I’ll notice a difference with Z06 shocks and sway bars.
love my C6 on the street, rides like a dream.
Rick, thanks for the technical info on the shocks and sway bars. Simply been told I’ll notice a difference with Z06 shocks and sway bars.
12-17-2018, 08:07 AM
#11
Drifting
Swap the front sway bar and spring with Z parts. Change the F55 shocks to Bilstein or Koni. You will need a patch cable/plug to trick the computer in thinking the F55’s are still there (google it, should come up). If you are serious about tracking, spend the money on a complete GT2 package from LG Motorsports. It includes bars, spindles, end links, and coil overs. They also have a bar and coil over package.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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LS WON (09-04-2019)
09-03-2019, 11:01 PM
#13
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"My question is what type of feedback do you get when your F55 mag shocks are on the way out?"
"Tracked her today for the first time (first time and I suck", "my Vette feels like it doesn’t track as well as it should", "feeling like it’s going to slide/topple"
The answer to your question is the first feedback is the DIC message "SHOCKS INOPERABLE". It'd be followed by other DIC messages. You won't be able to "feel" any difference until there is a failure.
To your other statements, I offer that one time on the track doesn't make you experienced enough to "feel" anything, except incompetence. In it's present form and condition, the car is far more capable than you believe or understand. Let an instructor drive it and you ride along to get a better "feel" of what is possible. Forget the car for a moment and concentrate on you. The best money you'll ever spend for performance is at a driving school like Bondurant or Ron Fellows at Spring Mountain.
"Tracked her today for the first time (first time and I suck", "my Vette feels like it doesn’t track as well as it should", "feeling like it’s going to slide/topple"
The answer to your question is the first feedback is the DIC message "SHOCKS INOPERABLE". It'd be followed by other DIC messages. You won't be able to "feel" any difference until there is a failure.
To your other statements, I offer that one time on the track doesn't make you experienced enough to "feel" anything, except incompetence. In it's present form and condition, the car is far more capable than you believe or understand. Let an instructor drive it and you ride along to get a better "feel" of what is possible. Forget the car for a moment and concentrate on you. The best money you'll ever spend for performance is at a driving school like Bondurant or Ron Fellows at Spring Mountain.
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AV8TRMC (09-04-2019)
09-04-2019, 08:34 PM
#15
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