For those who have a z51 corvette do you feel the suspension is rough on the street?

[JB]

ive had two z51 corvettes and one z06 and Ive never thought as I daily drive these cars to the tune of a quarter of a million miles without MRC and never thought the ride was rough..

my wifes cars have been cadillacs and alfas so I know what luxury cars are...

so how about you...

do you as owners of z51 corvettes feel this is a rough riding car or a sports car thats well suited for a street driven sports car..

[bobbytinvab]

Good question JB, I have Z51 with MRSC and don't think it's rough on the street. I'm thinking with the new coil over suspension on the C8 it will be an even better ride than the C7. I've taken my car to the track on numerous occasions and am glad I had the Z51 option (bigger brakes electronic diff etc). DDriving the car, I don't find the Z51 option as detrimental to the overall ride quality.

[electroVette]

MRC isn't only about ride comfort. It increases the time the tires are in contact with the pavement to enable better grip, so on rough pavement where a tight non-MRC suspension would lose contact, MRC can increase speeds and safety or emergency maneuvering ability. It's also required for Performance Traction Management which is primarily a track tool.

In conclusion, MRC is for both the street and the track, but probably more for the track. The base suspension's tune is for public roads, while MRC enables the chassis tuning developed for the track.

[Racer86]

Good question JB, I have Z51 with MRSC and don't think it's rough on the street. I'm thinking with the new coil over suspension on the C8 it will be an even better ride than the C7. I've taken my car to the track on numerous occasions and am glad I had the Z51 option (bigger brakes electronic diff etc). DDriving the car, I don't find the Z51 option as detrimental to the overall ride quality.

Remember, you can change the springs on coil overs. Huge number of spring rates and lengths. Tuners will have a huge tool for both track and street by changing rates and loaded lengths. Not saying that GM didn’t get it right, but some will change this to suit what they think they want.

[John]

We were told by Tadge that they were able to soften up suspensions with the C8 compared to previous Corvettes.

[JoeCT]

Had a 2016 Z51 Stingray with MRC etc and never thought it rode rough. It's a great street car in this trim. I also had the MRC update done on it in 2018 and to be honest, I could not tell the difference.

One thing that I do believe affected the ride was a "street" alignment that I had done at the beginning of 2018. I actually did not prefer it. It may be entirely my imagination but I feel like the more neutral camber made the car more susceptible to the crown and/or ruts in the roads, making it feel less stable and less inclined to track straight. It certainly wasn't a huge deal and I didn't have it adjusted back to more of a track alignment but it was something I noticed. For that reason, I'm less inclined to do this on my Z06 but I'll probably look into it and see if there is a happy medium.

[N4SPEED]

Had a 2016 Z51 Stingray with MRC etc and never thought it rode rough. It's a great street car in this trim. I also had the MRC update done on it in 2018 and to be honest, I could not tell the difference.

One thing that I do believe affected the ride was a "street" alignment that I had done at the beginning of 2018. I actually did not prefer it. It may be entirely my imagination but I feel like the more neutral camber made the car more susceptible to the crown and/or ruts in the roads, making it feel less stable and less inclined to track straight. It certainly wasn't a huge deal and I didn't have it adjusted back to more of a track alignment but it was something I noticed. For that reason, I'm less inclined to do this on my Z06 but I'll probably look into it and see if there is a happy medium.

JoeCT, how does the ride compliance on your Z06 compares to your Z51? I have not had a Z51, but I had a 2016 Z06 and on comfort mode, the ride was nice and supple.

Do the springs on Z51 and Z06 have similar rates/stiffness?

[John]

Thanks JoeCT for your excellent comments/analysis.

[Mr Happy]

z51 on my c7 rides great

[cutnout]

Into 3 C7's and all z51s and all rode great. Going into some cities for a show was interesting as the streets were really bad e.g. Jackson Ms.

[JB]

JoeCT, how does the ride compliance on your Z06 compares to your Z51? I have not had a Z51, but I had a 2016 Z06 and on comfort mode, the ride was nice and supple.

Do the springs on Z51 and Z06 have similar rates/stiffness?

The z06 if anything would ride a little firmer due to spring rates.

i created this poll so people on the fence or for those worried the z51 package doesnt really impact the ride as so many moght remember from the launch of the 1984 z51 ...now that was one year corvette where the z51 ride was brutal...the c4 was a great handling machine specifically because its spring rates were so high...

The automotive press so chastised corvette engineering for the 1984 z51 ride that gm subsequently not only softened spring rates for the c4...the corvette engineers created the c5 with such a siff chassis they could dramatically soften the spring rates and at the same time improve both ride and handling.

With each generation after gm further improved not only the handling but also ride.

people who dont want to spend the five(z51) or 7 grand (fe4j for z51 still get an amazing vehicle...

my auto x champion buddy of mine also tracked his corvette and we had a huge laugh when we realized his winning ways were due to his skill as his corvette did NOT have z51...

i still believe the z51 package is all about beefed up suspension, cooling and even gearing for greater durability under duress...whether it be street use or track use so I personally order z51 in 20 years and now 4 new corvettes...for that increased durability for both the track or street...

primarily street use and the durability has been fabulous over a quarter of a million miles...

Is it real or memorex? Who knows ...lol


there is is about ten percent more sporting feel of I were to try and quantify the sporting feel of a z51 versus none z51...

ever so slightly tighter in handling feel and of course more sprightly acceleration due to gearing..

not a big deal and of course Im just guessing at percentages of increased sports car like focus in the vehicle.

at 3800 dollars if you remove the cost of adding npp..it works out to less than five percent more cost for say 10 percent more focused sporting feel focus...

without z51 the corvette is still overwhelming fantastic...and you dont get that wonderfully aerodynamic but uniquely styled rear spoiler...

i always wonder what the rear spoiler like the beautiful c7 z51 would have produced with regards to downforce...

as time goes on Im more and more accepting of this new c8 spoiler...

thanks guys for adding to the value of the street driving aspect of the z51 package on your exosting or previous z51 corvettes.

[Dumbell2]

Only time I ever felt z51 suspension was too stiff (all my previous Corvettes were either Grand Sports or Z51) was when I was living in Canada 🇨🇦 in the early 90s and would drive my Corvette in winter evenings after it was parked outside for 12 hrs while I worked. I did not initially notice that the suspension was stiff, but I would get jaw ache from clenching my teeth for the ride home in the cold. Finally figure out why that was happening lol.

[Fireeagle]

Love the Z51 suspension on my C7 and don't have MRC. It is a great street car and if my wife complains while I have it in sport, the touring mode works great for her.

[pitmanlaw]

I have my order in for the base 1LT C8 but I have not been able to decide on the Z51 option. Those of you with the C7 may be able to help. Input from the ladies would help in helping me make up my mind. My wife refuses to ride in my current sports car because the ride is too firm and she finds the ride to be uncomfortable if not painful. Ergo, I would like to know if I can expect to be able to set a soft ride with the Z51, preferably softer than the single setting for the base model.

[JB]

Pitmanlaw

if you order a z51 with fe4 your wife will think she is riding in a rolls royce from the words of test drivers of the various car magazines.

do not order z51 without fe4 which is the mrc shock system.that ride your wife will mot be as pleased. That non fe4 addition to z51 would give a firmer ride that your wife would not be pleased with. My c6 z51 with NON fe4 is not bad but its firm and when it hits road irregularities its not what you are looking for. Go z51 and add fe4 (mRC shocks) $5000 plus $1890 for a total of $6890.

I hope this helps you.

good luck and feel free to ask any other questions you have.