WKMCD

I picked up a set of LG's new GT2 adjustable coilovers from Lou at Carlisle. I also met and picked up a set of PFADT Street/Track sway bars from a forum member who brought them to Carlisle.

These are better looking in person.




Last Saturday Sneakelman, McLeod and Lowcash came over at 7:00am and we took off my Z06 springs and sway bars and Bilstein Sport shocks and installed the new suspension. We ran into a couple of hickups but we were finished by noon. Thanks guys!

The alignment was SO bad after the install that I needed an alignment before I could push the car. The first place I went couldn't get it on the rack - too low. ALOHAC5 recommended Funktion Automotive in Sterling which is where I took the car Monday. It's an exotics shop and they had an in ground rack that could handle the car easily. I had them set the car to 04 Z06 specs which is as aggressive as I want to run on the street and what I had been running.

I picked the car up last night and had an opportunity to drive it about 60 miles of mixed use. My immediate impression is that while the ride is firmer it's not jolting at all. Small bumps are swallowed quickly and larger ones cause no excitement in the suspension at all. Compliant is the word that comes to mind.

Now as far as handling difference - this thing is a freaking slot car. It's corners FLAT!!!!! Braking hard going into turns inspires confidence. I found myself accelerating through a decreasing radius turn that I carried quite a bit of speed into to begin with. I had an opportunity to throw the car from side to side in some switch backs and the car never complained a bit - it simply went where I pointed it. There is no wallow through long corners and the suspension takes a quick set and unloads smoothly. The car is very neutral with perhaps a touch of over-steer that is easily controllable and usable if you want to throttle steer some. Under hard straight line acceleration there is some rear squat but no where near as much as with the Z06 setup. The front never "felt" light.

I have absolutely no wheel hop!!! With the 315 PS2's on the back I used to have horrible wheel hop.

I have the LG's set to one softer than the middle setting. Lou says the middle setting is the same as their Bilstein coilovers. There are 12 settings in total. I added 1/2 inch of preload to the front springs.

The sway bars are set to PFADT's recommended setting.

Overall, this is one of the best mods I have done to my car. Two people at the shop drove it and simply couldn't believe the ride quality considering this is pretty much a race car setup. I have to agree.

Thanks Lou for the coilovers and the setup help and thanks to Lowcash, McLeod and Sneakelman for the installation help!

0Z06Joe@AutoBuffs

Glad to hear it went well!!!!! I was curious as to how you would rate them. I have driven a car with Pfadts and were also looking at these. I guess now it comes down to where I can get the better price, seeing as how they are probably very very similar. Good review Kevin

Thanks!!!!

AU N EGL

Cool Kevin

McLeod

How low is the cruiser sitting?

WKMCD

I had them set the ride height measuring at the frame rails. I measured the wheel openings when I got home last night - 26.5 front and 27.0 rear. It's just like it was with the Z06 suspension which is what I wanted. Not too high and definitely not too low.

intoc6s

Niiice! Ill bet that s fun to drive!

Lowcash

No problem Kevin. It's always fun working on your car.

I've been 'pondering' a new shock setup with my C6 Z51 bars (yet to be installed). I've been looking at the inverted Pfadt shocks Chip has but that would have to be a Christmas gift to myself.

SkyWarp

Any noise from the coilovers? tks

Rob

WKMCD

This suspension is quieter than my last. I doubt the spherical mounts on the shocks are going to give up much noise. I don't hear the suspension at all now.

Independent1

Thanks for the write-up.

Hope you will update it after you have more time driving the new set-up.


Why did you pre-load the front? Was it to make the front stiffer?

Also, how are the roads in your area? I am having one he!! of time with the suspension in my car because the roads up here in NOVA suck and my suspension is very stiff.

Vetteman Jack

Congrats on getting the new suspension on. Those parts sure look good.

WKMCD

I'm just out 66 in NoVA so I feel your pain.

Vega$Vette

That was my question also. Good the hear the news.

So far as "Firmer Ride" Would you say compared to ZO6 is is 10% or 20% or ??? in you SOP opinion?

WKMCD

It's just different. I don't think it feels as firm as it really is. The ride quality is about like the Z06 springs, bars and Bilstein sports. I'm also running 35 and 30 profile tires. Where before when I hit a bump you would feel the bump and then feel the suspension settling back down. Now you just feel a little bump and then it's gone. Kind of hard to describe. I would say if you measured everything it would probably be 15-20% stiffer than the Z06 suspension but it sure doesn't feel like it.

CCA Corvette Parts

Me get to drive

Peace
Chip

peter pan

Kevin, congrats on joining the Coil Over Crowd and I wish I had those street bars you have as we are running the same tire size setup I have mine set a little firmer on the shocks as the roads here are rough

Gray Ghost GS

Kevin - that is one sweet setup! I knew Funktion would take good care of you. Let me know when the next gathering is at your place so you can take me for a ride.

sneakelman

You are more than welcome Kevin. You know me, have wrench will travel.
I'm interested to see how she handles now that the aligment is done. When we took it out Saturday, you could definately tell it was way off, but the way it soaked up the road was incredible. I've never seen a suspension that tight with that smooth of a ride.
You should come up this way Saturday and join up with us. Going ot be meeting in Frederick, and then hitting some of the mountain roads up this way. Gonna take the boys up 77, which is nothing but one switchback after another all the way up the mountain. Would be a great workout for them bars and coils.
Oh, and thanks for the Z06/billstein hook up.

black98c5

This sounds like just what I need! Congrats, and thanks for the write-up!

IM28702

Jealous....