yellowc4LH

I was wondering what are the best suspension mods to do to our cars to stiffen up the ride and make for better handling? I have a 1995 Vette 6-speed. Thanks

vader86

Z51 springs, bigger sway bars, poly bushings, stiffer shocks

bill mcdonald

alighnment and consider lowering it.

Phil-tha-Rush

I have often given some thought to a coil over system from
http://www.dougrippie.com


$1500

Red Tornado

Just trade yours in on one with the Z51 handling package :D

pablocruise

poly bushings and...............
CAMBER-BRACE from RD Racing!
:cheers:

Gary04Z06

:iagree:


Also, check out their Cross-Bar and Cross Frame. Bigger sway bar would help reduce some of the body roll also. http://www.r-dracing.com :thumbs:

65Z01

Lowering it will help and a little more camber will aid cornering.

If you're not drag racing install poly graphite sway bar bushings; otherwise go with larger sway bars.

NavyVet

First, what suspension do you have now? I assume 'base' FE1? Second, what do you intend to do with it? :confused: Autocross? :steering: Road course / time trials? Or? Tell us what your goals are, and we can give some advice on how to move in that direction.

ZAD54

I'm also curious about this. I have a '88 Z52 and was wondering if I could just upgrade to Z51 springs and sway bars and achieve a better handling car. It already has poly bushings and a camber brace. Didn't mean to hijack the post, just wanted to ask. :cheers:

jackdaroofer

:cheers: Are you sure you don't have the Z 51 already? My understanding and I am probably wrong is the Z52 was VERTs only. Again, I am probably wrong, but i didn't think the add on camber brace would fit a Z52 or Z51 because they already have the extra cross braces in the front of the frame

Assuming I am wrong, you might find a nice, inexpensive up grade is Sway bars, 30mm fronts and 24mm rears, also use the Z51 shocks.

:steering:

Fastguy

Camber Brace and possibly a camber brace. If you decide on something else, like say, a camber brace, then you should consider looking into a camber brace.

ZAD54

I'm pretty sure the Z52 was available on coupes also in '88. Mine and my friends both have the code under the console lid. I believe the Z51 was only available on coupes in '88, that might be what you were thinking of. I wasn't planning on using the Z51 shocks, I'm planning on running the HAL QA1 adjustables when I finally get the money for all the upgrades.

yellowc4LH

Well thanks for all the replies. I installed the bigger sway bars and the blistein sport shocks from Ecklers. It handles a lot better. What else do ya'll reccomend? I just drive the car on the street. I just want the best handling i can get. Not real real stiff but really good handling. Thanks

NavyVet

If you're only interested in good handling for the street (fast run on a country or mountain road type fun), alignment is big.

Also, do you still have (assuming you have base suspension) the 8.5 wheels on the front? If so, going to 9.5s at all four corners with 275/40x17s all the way around will improve handling too. I am not talking about straight line driving, but "handling."

Alignment for street with better overall (sporty) handling (and these will not result in significantly reduced tire wear):

Front - camber -0.5 to -0.7 each side (both the same)
toe = zero
caster - 6-7
Rear - camber -0.3 to -0.5 each side (both the same)
toe = 3/32 IN each side

What size bars did you install? If you went 30mm front, 24mm rear would probably be good. Bigger in the rear may increase oversteer tendency.

Try changing one thing at a time and evaluating the results. Good luck.


[Modified by NavyVet, 3:17 PM 3/26/2003]

all4c4lt4

You could try what he said, or just go with the camber brace.

vetracer

I am a firm believer that heim-jointed camber rods for the rear is the best dollar for dollar suspension upgrade for a C4. These eliminate loss of rear wheel camber during hard cornering. The more cornering force you apply to the stock camber rods and bushings the more deflection and loss of camber you will have just when you need it the most. If you look at the size of these bushings and the potential for deflection, it is easy to see how much the heim jointed rods will help. You can change them to poly, but IMO why not change to the rod ends and eliminate all of the deflection and have a better, more precise way of setting the rear camber? As long as the rod ends are properly aligned to prevent them from binding, you shouldn't have any problem with them and it won't affect the ride quality like many other suspension mods will.

RX7 KLR

Good shocks and a race alingment are more than enough for the weekend racer. :cheers:

AZ_Matt

I thought a bigger rear bar incresed oversteer tendency, and a bigger front bar increased understeer tendency?

Matthew

NavyVet

Matt - THANKS! I was writing in a hurry and got front-and-rear reversed :eek: I really do know the difference of the two ends of the car - just type without proof-reading sometimes. Thanks again.....Paul