A recent thread had a number of folks talking about how the aluminum frames of the Z06 and the ZR1 as having much more potential for failure if driven much in a hard way vs the steel frames of the base C6.
Has ANYONE experienced any kind of failure with any of these C6 aluminum frames? I don't want to hear theory, just real examples.
A recent thread had a number of folks talking about how the aluminum frames of the Z06 and the ZR1 as having much more potential for failure if driven much in a hard way vs the steel frames of the base C6.
Has ANYONE experienced any kind of failure with any of these C6 aluminum frames? I don't want to hear theory, just real examples.
'08 VY Z06, 5K miles. So far no problems and haven't heard of any yet. I worked in Marshalltown from 1971 to 1974.
A recent thread had a number of folks talking about how the aluminum frames of the Z06 and the ZR1 as having much more potential for failure if driven much in a hard way vs the steel frames of the base C6.
Has ANYONE experienced any kind of failure with any of these C6 aluminum frames? I don't want to hear theory, just real examples.
08 Z with 6000 miles, many long road trips, a few to chicago and plenty of pot holes on the east side of milwaukee, not a problem yet. I dont think ive ever heard of a frame failure on ANY car that wasnt caused by excessive rust or a previous collision.
Aluminum as any other metal will break if BENT beyond its capability. There's a big difference between flexing and bending. If you engineer an aluminum piece to flex less than the stressful bending point, it will flex forever. That's why we don't have aluminum engine blocks bending and airplane frames that are 50 years old that do not bend and break with 100 times as much stress and load as a car.
you can have fatigue well below a normal stress failure point, however a well designed component operates below both the stress and fatigue limits.
I'm sure the frame has been well designed to operate longer than it's owners, but I'd stay away from removing the roof, or other modifications, that would cause unplanned stress at any point
you can have fatigue well below a normal stress failure point, however a well designed component operates below both the stress and fatigue limits.
I'm sure the frame has been well designed to operate longer than it's owners, but I'd stay away from removing the roof, or other modifications, that would cause unplanned stress at any point
Is that cowbell aluminum??? I have a need for more COWBELL!
Thanks for the info guys...I'm just trying to get someone to listen and pay attention to reality!
I predict this thread will go an and on with many lengthy posts proving and disproving whether a Z06/ZR1 Aluminum frame will fail.
But when all is said and done I don't expect to see a single frame failure in all the Z's on this Forum in my lifetime. Then some of you younger guys will have to monitor the situation after I'm gone.
Aluminum as any other metal will break if BENT beyond its capability. There's a big difference between flexing and bending. If you engineer an aluminum piece to flex less than the stressful bending point, it will flex forever. That's why we don't have aluminum engine blocks bending and airplane frames that are 50 years old that do not bend and break with 100 times as much stress and load as a car.
I am not at all concerned with this issue because it isn't an issue. GM engineered and sized this aluminum frame to flex within its endurance limits. And everything flexes including steel.
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GOLD72
1972 WB Coupe L48/TH400 - Sold
2001 QS Z06 - Sold
2006 VY Z06 - NCM Delivery & Daily Beater!
2007 MR Vert - NCM Delivery & Wife's Car!
I have seen front shock mounts fail on 2 Zs, both had coil-overs and were driven on the street. Both were the passeger front shock mount. I have penske shocks, but use the stock leaf spings.
Location: Clear Lake, TX Picture above at "Tail of the Dragon"
Quote:
Originally Posted by J HEBERT
I have seen front shock mounts fail on 2 Zs, both had coil-overs and were driven on the street. Both were the passeger front shock mount. I have penske shocks, but use the stock leaf spings.
SHHHHH, the coilover guys don't want to hear that!
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Jim
2009 Z06 - Cyber Gray/Titanium 2LZ
My Web Site - http://www.corvetteforum.net/c5/jschindler/ Previous Corvettes: 94 Coupe, 01 Coupe, 03 Vert, 05 Coupe, 05 Vert, 08 Coupe Current daily drivers: 08 Cadillac CTS, 08 Mazda CX9 Other current toys: 09 Honda Goldwing, 06 Yamaha FJR 1300
Location: Canonsburg home of Yenko Chevy (gone but not forgotten) Western PA
Vette Can. is an Anti ZO6ite.
More bad stuff to hurt the reputation of a bulletproof vehical.
You all got to uderstand that if someone does a google search with the words "Any Z06, ZR1 frame failures" This site shows up and does damage the rep. of our vehicals.
I have seen front shock mounts fail on 2 Zs, both had coil-overs and were driven on the street. Both were the passeger front shock mount. I have penske shocks, but use the stock leaf spings.
There's a thread over in the ZR1 section about this same thing. Some guy is worried that if you use a Z06 or ZR1 as a DD that it's gonna fall apart. Here's my response from over there, and I'd give the same advice to the OP of this thread - don't ever fly in an airplane again if you're worried about aluminum breaking after a few flexes:
What you're seeing in the video is a Huey rotor blade going around a couple times. You can see the vertical fin/tail rotor go by a couple times.
Now, IIRC the Huey had a titanium spar and some kind of composite (Nomex?) honyeycomb core, but the skin is aluminum. You can see that aluminum is doing a little flexing.
I'd advise you to either never fly in an airplane again, or if you do be sure you don't look out the window at the wing and watch it flex up and down throughout the flight.
Aluminum wings don't break and fall off airliners every few days, and for the same reason you don't need to worry about the aluminum frame in your Z06 or ZR1. The frame can flex millions of times before it's going to encounter any fatigue problems and fail.
I have seen front shock mounts fail on 2 Zs, both had coil-overs and were driven on the street. Both were the passeger front shock mount. I have penske shocks, but use the stock leaf spings.
I'm not sure what the issue is with shock mounts failing, but I guess it's enough of a problem that LG made this video to show that theirs isn't going to give you a problem:
Any Z06, ZR1 frame failures?
So far no problems and haven't heard of any yet. 
I worked in Marshalltown from 1971 to 1974. 
I am not at all concerned with this issue because it isn't an issue. GM engineered and sized this aluminum frame to flex within its endurance limits. And everything flexes including steel.
