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When we took off from the dealer, it felt rough, I checked the tire pressure and they were too high at 38. I lowered them to 30 cold the next day, still rough. So I went down to 28 cold, still rough.
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First 38 psi is very high. If that is what you were driving with most of the time can understand the "rough ride." But a drop to 28 psi should have been dramatically different.
There was an hour TV program on the bad roads in Portland and the reason for many holes. If that is what you are judging perhaps the issue.
This is just a clip on the subject, not the TV program:
I have had 5 Corvettes, most were Z51. Two of those car were dedicated SCCA road race cars. The C4 had Bilstein shocks, The C5 had the GM T1 aftermarket road race package with shocks, springs, sway bars, and solid suspension bushings.
I expected a rough ride from the C5 but was surprised at how smooth it was. I had a GT1 road race car. When I installed double adjustable shocks, I was concerned that I would not know how to adjust the shocks. After one track session I said increase the rebound front and rear. Another track session, decrease the compression on the rear. Every track session I could feel what need to be changed to make the car work better. I was able to get it dialed in to where the car worked, and I won SCCA regional and national races with that car.
We just bounced across the USA from Maryland to Oregon. I had hope that the shocks would mellow out after 200 miles, or 2000. Very little change. After the first day I lowered the tires to 30, then the next day to 28.
Now I am home on familiar roads, and this is the roughest riding car I have ever owned.
If the C8 had adjustable shocks, I would say back off the compression about 15% and back off the rebound 30%.
I bought Z51 for all of the features; brakes; cooling; adjustable height; spoiler.
I don't plan to go to the track, but it appears that these shocks are race ready.
This is what I would expect if I bought a "race only "package, but it is extreme for a sports handling package.
Maybe a fluke but make sure the spacers are not in place on your shocks. Years ago was an issue, don't even know if they use them anymore in shipping the cars to the dealers.
This forum is a great place to hear ideas and experiences from Corvette owners. The history and knowledge base is amazing, you can't find that anywhere else. I appreciate your input.
I have an appointment with the Chev dealer in Sandy Oregon Thursday. They have a great reputation with all of the local Corvette clubs.
I don't expect that they can do anything. The shocks are not defective, they work, just way too hard for my street use.
If I was going to the track once a month, and that was the end goal, I could live with this. But I am not going to the track, I am going on a road trip once a month, and this ride is too rough.
There are plenty of aftermarket adjustable shock solutions, most are very expensive. I will probably end up buying a set of GM base Corvette shocks, and building some parts to make them height adjustable.
Height adjustment is really important to me. The right stance makes or breaks the look of the car.
A new set of stock GM shocks is not that expensive, so that is the plan for now, unless the Chev dealer can perform a miracle.
I’m in CT and have a z51 car with no mag ride at 3000 status and am a bit unsure now. If you’re offering rides I would gladly accept if I am down in NJ 👍🏻
Sure- give me a DM (though we are in central Jersey, not north).
Why did you buy a Z51 Non Mag Ride without test driving one first?
Just askin.
We bought non mag z51 without test. Been loving it for 5,000 miles now (hit 5k today). Not a luxury ride but glad i saved the money. We did Spring Mountain course with their mag cars and I really didn't notice enough difference to care :-) Test driving wasn't an option for us.
I have a Z51 non mag ride. MSRC was on constraint when I ordered the car. On rough roads I try to avoid obvious divots. 95+% of the time it is a smooth taut ride that brings miles of smiles to my face. Damn I love driving that car. If mag ride was not on constraint would I have ordered it? Well yes kinda maybe …. because people say you should have it. In all honesty I don’t really miss it unless I’m on an exceptionally bad road. If I intended on tracking the car it would have been a must-have. Just my opinion.
Why did you buy a Z51 Non Mag Ride without test driving one first?
Just askin.
Curious. Bought all my 6 Vettes without testing. All ordered and made just for me, with my colors, options etc in Bowling Green.
How and where does one test drive a C8 that takes 6 months to a year to get when ordered made for you in Bowling Green? Few on dealer lots and those still for a significant premium over MSRP. Those are usually NOT available to test drive. Who wants a new car, especially selling over MSRP that has been "test driven?"
I have a Z51 non mag ride. MSRC was on constraint when I ordered the car. On rough roads I try to avoid obvious divots. 95+% of the time it is a smooth taut ride that brings miles of smiles to my face. Damn I love driving that car. If mag ride was not on constraint would I have ordered it? Well yes kinda maybe …. because people say you should have it. In all honesty I don’t really miss it unless I’m on an exceptionally bad road. If I intended on tracking the car it would have been a must-have. Just my opinion.
Agree. MRC in Track is definitely a very stiff ride. Frankly in my C8 Z51 with MRC (bought for the transient control benefits when driving aggressively NOT ride) is ONLY driven in Sport. For our relatively good roads in NE SC perfect for me. Not a big difference from driving in Touring.
My prior 2017 Grand Sport, before I paid $350 for the MRC software upgrade when it became available, was initially harsh when in Sport Mode and I hit a bump. So for ~6 months I drove in Touring that was more like my 2014 Z51 without MRC.
I agree if on a washboard road or one with lots of potholes MRC is a benefit for ride. But on a good road not much different Touring to Sport. Yep in Track it is very stiff BUT few would drive in Track on the street. A post once stated when Driving in Track you can feel if going over a dime! It's designed for Tracking. Now I often drive in Z-Mode Power set to Track BUT I have Ride set to Sport. My Ride in Sport feels about like my C7 Z51 non MRC.
Curious. Bought all my 6 Vettes without testing. All ordered and made just for me, with my colors, options etc in Bowling Green.
How and where does one test drive a C8 that takes 6 months to a year to get when ordered made for you in Bowling Green? Few on dealer lots and those still for a significant premium over MSRP. Those are usually NOT available to test drive. Who wants a new car, especially selling over MSRP that has been "test driven?"
Before I bought my C8 I went to Stingray Chevrolet and test drove several C8s with different options. I then went to Speed Vegas and did 6 Laps on the road course.
I had a C7 ZO6 M7 and wanted to make sure I would not regret going to a C8. C5, C6 and C7 Zs I’ve purchased were all test driven before bought.
I do not buy anything over MSRP. Never have and never will. I’m on the list for a ZO6 at MSRP.
^^^
Glad you were able to find cars to test. "Never would" when I bought my early 2014 C7 Z51 as placed my hold-a-spot order at MSRP soon after the reveal in January 2013 when nether dealer nor I knew what what the price would be. Same with my early Grand Sport in 2017 (got a big discount from Kerbeck for one they ordered with their winter pricing "made just for me in BG") or my C8 Z51 when I placed my hold-a-spot order with Kerbeck soon after the reveal in July 2019. Ordering my E-Ray the same way. No test drive."
Guess I consider no one would/should allow me to test a new Vette, especially newly released model Vette where I can get close to max handling ability. Don't track but live in a rural area where plenty of safe places, no homes, no people, no cars to ring it out.
Yep at 80 my racing days are over but still have fun in safe places seeing what the car can do. No dealer would/should let me "test drive" to find out!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t all z-51s have adjustable suspension?
Possibly the tech or ? Cranked them down?
Nope, only those with the mag ride, including the past Z51 models.
Non Mag ride C8 Z51's are non adjustable shocks, however the ride height has some adjustability.
Last edited by Mike's LS3; 04-26-2023 at 04:32 PM.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t all z-51s have adjustable suspension?
Possibly the tech or ? Cranked them down?
The Z51s have adjustable spring perches to allow corner balancing (as do MSRC cars) and some people use this to lower their cars. Front lift removes the adjustable perches on the front. But lowering the car does not significantly increase the stiffness and this wouldn't be something a tech would do just for the heck of it.
04-25-2023, 08:17 AM
