Koufax

I have found a bone stock '02 in what appears to be very good condition with 50k on the clock. The seller and I have agreed on price.

My biggest worry now is the F45 suspension, which I gather is at best no better than the standard suspension and at worst an expensive repair waiting to happen. The car is at quite a distance from me so inspecting it personally would be impractical - and useless since I don't have the skills to evaluate something like leaking shocks.

I want nothing to do with extra stiff suspensions because I live in New England where the roads are too rough for that type of ride. I am expecting that the F45 will more like the standard suspension and not stiff like the Z51. Please tell me whether that expectation is right or wrong.

I plan to hire a professional auto inspector to look at the car. This particular issue of failing F45 shocks might not be in his wheelhouse since it is unlikely that he would be a Corvette aficionado.

So,

#1 is the F45 a disaster waiting to happen, or is it more likely that the shocks will last until, say, 100k miles?

#2 Is there any way to determine whether the shocks have started to leak if the car has been cleaned up to sell?

#3 - If the F45 is working as it should, is the ride rougher than the "soft" ride that you'd get if you didn't order any special suspension?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

feeder82

Do a search in the tech section on the f45 shocks it's not hard to replace them with a standard shock. You fool the computer with a few resisters

Koufax

Thanks. If it's that simple then my anxiety attack is over.

jcsperson

Replacement shocks are very inexpensive. You can get four C6 Z06 shocks for around $275 shipped. Mate those with C6 Z51 sway bars and you'll notice a tremendous difference in handling.

dadaroo

I would not let the shocks be an issue at all as the others have said.

Does your inspector know how to pull up the DIC trouble codes? No C5 inspection should be done without reading and recording them. Then clear them and go for a drive and pull them again.

jph1972

I have the F45 as well and plan on replacing the shocks with Bilstein shocks soon. Already have the Sims. I think the entire project will cost between $400-$500. You can also find a video on the forum on how to remove the shocks using the zip tie method which will save you a lot of time.

Vetteman Jack

As others have said, you can replace the F45 shocks with regarding shocks and just trick the computer into thinking they are still on the car (or tune them out). Not an expensive remedy should the F45 shocks go bad.

Bobd207s

Since u r local I thought I might share this with you - car is in Windham, NH . I don't know the seller but have seen this car at events. For the $ it looks like a steal - obvious he put a ton of $ into it. Good luck with your search !!

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-c...uthern-nh.html

Pirateslife4me

Don't let something like that stop you! I have the F45 suspension on mine and it actually works I can tell a slight difference between settings It's a very comfortable ride actually. I prefer a bit stiffer. I have since lowered the car but plan on yanking those f45 shocks out and replacing with Z06 (couple hundred bucks) or going coil over quite a bit more but I would leave yours alone at least for a while unless you have some sort of issue. Replacing with non F45 shocks no big deal at all. Now go get your car!!!!

Koufax

I haven't yet contracted the inspector. I have until Monday to do so. I don't know if he has that skill. The car is just outside of Nashville. If anyone has someone local there to suggest, I'd be interested to know. I used a national company recently to inspect a Lexus and was pleased with the results, but it was a CPO so I figured Lexus had more to lose than I did by selling me a defective car. In this case, once I have paid for the car I'm on my own, so I's like to have someone with skill in Corvettes.

CCA Corvette Parts

Tks for saving me a bunch of typing

Regards
Chip

CQRT

I don't think the shocks or suspension should be a deterrent.

That said, I would never buy car I haven't laid hands on. Yes, it's a trip but if you've got the dough to buy the car, you've got the resources to get to Nashville (just a short hop to the museum) and a long weekend to see the car and bring it home.

I understand it's not convenient, but that's my .02 - -

Koufax

CHip,

I have a couple of questions for you about the windscreen and the cover for the C5.

1. The car I am buying is yellow and it would be a hoot to have a yellow outdoor cover, but only if it is easily washable. Can that stormking cover go in a washing machine without damaging it? If not, then I should get a more sensible color.

2. The wind restrictor windscreen - if you get the illuminated one, then it appears that you have to choose from one of a few options on how to light it. I gather that the glow module, dimmer control and on/off switch are alternatives; and the battery pack and 12-volt plug are alternatives. So that a complete package for the illuminated screen would be, for example, the glow module and the 12-volt plug. Is that correct? And where does the 12-volt plug plug into ? Is there a receptacle in the trunk?

Thanks in advance.

Koufax

You know that's a very sensible suggestion. What holds me back is that Massachusetts requires that the car be insured and registered before it is brought into the state. What I don't want to do is go down to inspect it, return to Mass to handle the paperwork, then return to drive it home.

However, since the car is at a dealer in Tennessee, maybe he can give me dealer plates for the drive home? Going down there to be with the inspector, then pay for it and drive it home .... that would be ideal. I'll work on it.

CQRT

The insurance companies I've had typically will issue a card to carry coverage on any vehicle you drive if you give them the VIN. You might also see if anyone here--or that dealer if they're GM- will get you a VIS report on the car - -delivery info, warranty work etc that will support your decision to buy the car.

MA may have a temp tag you can print to carry with the new car in transit - - if you feel lucky, you can always take a tag off your daily driver and use that . . .

I offer these suggestions not as a criticism of your process, but went through a similar situation with a friend currently assigned in Saudi that found what he thought was a real deal on a c6 in Iowa . . .turned out with some research, it was a Lemon car and not worth buying in his view- but on first blush, it looked good.

Better to do your homework in person . . .and might be a fun 1100 miles home! Good luck.

strand rider

My used car had the f 45 suspension replaced with Bilstein HD shocks, because it is lowered, and the computer was reset at that time. No complaints here.

I don't know how long the original shocks were in play, but hope yours are still hanging in there. The Bilsteins went on before I bought it , at about 80, 000 miles. The owner said it rode hard as (heck) and the new shocks are much better. Probably should have lengthened the conversation. At the time I was more interested in things that didn't report well.

I was kind of bummed , in that I like all the switches to be functional, and asked around for restoring the original shocks and control. I was quickly slapped down by pointing out I would be spending a lot of money on obsolete tech, and coil-overs were the way to go.
I decided to get happy with what I have, and no longer miss the control switch being active.

Good luck with your new purchase, I hope it goes well. I hear it is beautiful country up that way.

racebum

the fact you have to hire someone to inspect the car already makes me worry. if you have issues with the f45 will you have to hire that out as well? if so this could get expensive

johnson-rod

I have the F45 suspension and over 130k miles. Don't worry about it.

DevilDog II

Replaced my F45 suspension several years ago with Pfadt coil overs. Very easy process.

Koufax

I'm not sure I understand. The car is 1100 miles away and I have no expertise. What would be the point of my going to look at it? I have 40 photos showing every little visual detail. What I can't assess is the mechanical condition and my being there wouldn't do much. The inspector will be able to drive it, put it up on a lift and examine it. He'll be able to evaluate it better than I.

And yes, if I have issues with the f45 I will bring it to the local Corvette guru -- or the GM dealer that I trust -- and ask him to fix it. And yes, that costs money, but that's how it works for those of us with little mechanical knowledge or skill. Fortunately I have other skills that provide me with wherewithal to afford to have a mechanic fix my car.