Ride Comfort
12-10-2012, 10:27 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Ride Comfort
I Love my 2008 Corvette with the z51 suspension however i have a question. This is my 1st corvette so i have nothing to compare it to. I stepped out of my 1998 Z28 with poly suspension and fairly new shocks and into my Vette. My Camaro seems to have a more comfortable ride as far as going over normal bumps on the road. Should the Corvette not be more comfortable? Again I have nothing to compare it too so go lightly on me lol. 
12-10-2012, 11:43 PM
#4
Tech Contributor
Yes, the Z51 package is a little stiffer ride than the normal suspension or the magnetic selective ride (F55) suspension. 
12-10-2012, 11:59 PM
#5
Race Director
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12-11-2012, 02:15 AM
#8
Racer
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I have a 2008 z51 vert. Ride seems great, drve it from long beach ca. To Vegas no problem. Even has the factory super car tires with 7k miles on them. I hear that when I need new tires and go with the recommended Michelin A/s run flats the ride will be better?
12-11-2012, 02:16 AM
#9
Race Director
IMHO the F55 suspension is the better option for street use.
The Tour/Sport select-ability provides a relatively comfortable/compliant ride when you want it, and can stiffen (though not as much as the Z51) the suspension when you want to exercise the car and the road conditions are more favorable for it.
Nice to have choices.
The Tour/Sport select-ability provides a relatively comfortable/compliant ride when you want it, and can stiffen (though not as much as the Z51) the suspension when you want to exercise the car and the road conditions are more favorable for it.
Nice to have choices.
12-11-2012, 05:23 AM
#10
Race Director
I have a 2006 convertible with Z51 and Michelins and I love the ride. I have had several people comment on how nice the ride is. And it still goes where I point it. 
12-11-2012, 05:58 AM
#11
Burning Brakes
I just purchased an 05 and don't have a clue about the suspension or anything else (is there a way to find out?). Anyway, it's smooth on a smooth road and rough on a rough road. My 2002 Chevy Silverado had a much smoother ride BUT the truck could not go from zero to the speed limit in a couple seconds. So I think I'll keep it!!!
12-11-2012, 06:14 AM
#12
Race Director
All I'm going to say is my first Corvette is a 10' GS and I could not believe how smooth the ride is on decent roads even expansion strips are ok. High speed turns that have bumps will jerk the rear like any other car. I have taken plenty of road trips in my GS and me and the fiance are very comfortable while driving and I keep the NPP fuse pulled!!
12-11-2012, 07:39 AM
#13
Various tricks help the ride . One post was .... keep the seat off the lowest height . Some changed out the run flats to normal tires and had a bit better ride . Softer shocks take away from some of the trademark handling . If you have buckets of cash the coil over shocks are the way to go .
Its more the road conditions , a vette can glide smoothly on the highway like town car , back on surface streets the same car feels like an empty shopping cart on asphalt .
Keep the tank full , dampens the ride .
Its more the road conditions , a vette can glide smoothly on the highway like town car , back on surface streets the same car feels like an empty shopping cart on asphalt .
Keep the tank full , dampens the ride .
Last edited by heli-vette; 12-11-2012 at 12:49 PM.
12-11-2012, 08:14 AM
#15
Drifting
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It will tell you exactly what you have.
.
12-11-2012, 08:20 AM
#16
same here,,,never have had a complaint. ..my z51 does have the "competitive mode" set up or "street mode"---cant tell much difference.....the only thing i hated it were the noisy brake pads...uugh!!,,,sounded just like a freight train trying to stop...i just replaced them with ceramic ones for peace and quietness..and no brake dust!!!
12-11-2012, 08:55 AM
#17
Melting Slicks
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Although the Z51 suspension is a bit stiffer, I've never found it to be objectionable. I've had multiple C6s, and both the base and F55 are more compliant than the Z51, but that said I was always happy with the Z51 also.
12-11-2012, 11:49 AM
#18
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '13
How stiff the Z51 suspension feels; will depend on several factors:
Pavement conditions
Types of bumps (potholes/frostheaves/undulations/etc)
Speed
Tires
How much/fast you drive
Seat position
Phsical issues
Our third Z51 Corvette finally made me give in to the frost-heaved roads of Illinois, I replaced the Z51 shocks with base model shocks. For our frost-heaved roads (both winter and summer), that gave a very nice improvement in ride with only a small decrease in street handling.
In Florida, a totally stock Z51 feels fine because the roads are mostly smooth.
Michelin runflats, PS2 or A/S, will also help.
Pavement conditions
Types of bumps (potholes/frostheaves/undulations/etc)
Speed
Tires
How much/fast you drive
Seat position
Phsical issues
Our third Z51 Corvette finally made me give in to the frost-heaved roads of Illinois, I replaced the Z51 shocks with base model shocks. For our frost-heaved roads (both winter and summer), that gave a very nice improvement in ride with only a small decrease in street handling.
In Florida, a totally stock Z51 feels fine because the roads are mostly smooth.
Michelin runflats, PS2 or A/S, will also help.
12-11-2012, 12:15 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
Make sure it doesn't still have the shipping blocks in it.LOL
A memeber in my Corvette Club bought a used Vette and wondered why it rode so bad and put it on a lift and found that it still had them in. How the previous owner put up with that, I can't figure out.
Jimmy
A memeber in my Corvette Club bought a used Vette and wondered why it rode so bad and put it on a lift and found that it still had them in. How the previous owner put up with that, I can't figure out.
Jimmy
12-11-2012, 12:40 PM
#20
Racer
