Ride and suspension questions

[HAWAIIZR-1]

As some may know, during my rebuild I replaced every suspension bushing with poly. The only other things were the rear bolts to lower the back about 1/4" and new front stock shocks (I have new rear shocks, but did not have time to replace).

So after I finally got the Z running and before shipping I put about 200 miles on it. It rode really bumpy and was bouncing all over the place in my opinion. I know I have not driven it for a long time, but it definitely felt like something is not right. I understand that polys will not give like rubber bushing, but did not think it would bounce around like it does and seems more like shocks or binding of suspension parts.

When jacking up under control arms, etc. it seems to move freely.

Any ideas of what to check once I meet up with the Z again?

If anyone has done a total replacement of bushings and can share their input about their experience it would be great? I think it was Rich that might have done a replacement like this with stock shocks.

I wish I could describe it better, but other than saying that even on the freeway it felt like it was bouncing at the slightest dips and bumps. I could not see it, but if you can imagine it following a car that is bouncing like the idiots that cut springs to lower their cars. My Z is stock height other than the very slight lowering of the rear, but still keeping the front lower. It was aligned after the replacement of all the parts.

Thanks!

Craig

[Pete]

I have done poly bushings thru-out my Z.
Feels less bouncy on bumps,a bit firm but not as bad as i thought.
It freshened up the old rubber.

I give it a thumbs up.
With coil overs the car just feels great, it should have been like this from the factory.

I use 400/250 springs.

Some people don't like coil overs,i would not do it any other way.
Pete

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by Pete

I have done poly bushings thru-out my Z.
Feels less bouncy on bumps,a bit firm but not as bad as i thought.
It freshened up the old rubber.

I give it a thumbs up.
With coil overs the car just feels great, it should have been like this from the factory.

I use 400/250 springs.

Some people don't like coil overs,i would not do it any other way.
Pete

Pete,

Thanks for your input and I too like how it feels other than the bouncing that I would like to resolve. Not sure if the new shocks need to break in, but it feels like bounce is front and rear.

I like the thought of going coilovers and even David mentioned how much he loves them as well as Daryll. I guess that will be the next project with some brake upgrades whoa the new found power I have.

[Pete]

Have you done the Moroca valving on the shocks?

I have stock valved shocks,i have driven a Z with Moroca too firm for me.

I don't know what you mean front/rear bounce do you mean it feels like a go cart.

Pete

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Originally Posted by Pete

Have you done the Moroca valving on the shocks?

I have stock valved shocks,i have driven a Z with Moroca too firm for me.

I don't know what you mean front/rear bounce do you mean it feels like a go cart.

Pete

Pete,

No valving done and just new stock shocks on the front. The rear as original I think with 53K miles.

Yes, it feels like you are bouncing and kind of like riding a go cart. I wondered if not enough play in the bushings for sway bar poly bushings and too tight for the size bars if the binding will cause this bouncing?

I measured the bar (don't remember right now the size) and bought the appropriate bushings to match (DRMs).

Thanks!

[Pete]

Originally Posted by HAWAIIZR-1

Pete,

No valving done and just new stock shocks on the front. The rear as original I think with 53K miles.

Yes, it feels like you are bouncing and kind of like riding a go cart. I wondered if not enough play in the bushings for sway bar poly bushings and too tight for the size bars if the binding will cause this bouncing?

I measured the bar (don't remember right now the size) and bought the appropriate bushings to match (DRMs).

Thanks!

Mine does he same i don't know if it's bushing or too tight.

Some don't like this.

Pete

[VetteMed]

Just a thought, forgive me if I'm stating the obvious, but if the nuts are torqued with no load on the suspension (wheels hanging), that can adversely affect the bushing function.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by VetteMed

Just a thought, forgive me if I'm stating the obvious, but if the nuts are torqued with no load on the suspension (wheels hanging), that can adversely affect the bushing function.

Most all bushing have matel sleeve in the middle so you tighten up the sleeve when tightening the nuts.

I would suggest doing this on a drive up lift.
With my two post i use a screw type jack.
Pete

[lbszr]

I've only changed the control arms with polys on the front. Sway bar is still stock, but it does'nt have a bounce.

If your control arms moved kind of freely by hand before connecting the spring and steering knuckle, I wouldn't think that's the problem. I have heard of the polys too tight on the sway bar causing oversteer or understeer, not really a bounce though. You could take the front links off and give it a try to see if it's the bar.

Don't ask me how I know....but if someone were to jump up down on the engine of mine(and no I wasn't mad at it either and a bath towel protects the plenum good), it moves about 1 to 2 inches. It may not of moved that much when the polys were new though. It had a more solid feeling when the control arm bushings where new when going over bumps.

Can you feel a difference with the FX3 settings?
Could try putting old shocks back on. Maybe they messed the valveing up.

I don't know bout the rear. Have heard some complaints polys make too much friction in the rear because the dogbones bind when they
don't move in a straight line since camber changes as the wheel goes up and down. The Banski dog bones are suppose to take care of that.

Can you bounce the back of the car an inch or so? Hope some of this might help.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Guys,

Thanks for all the thoughts and ideas that I will address when I meet up with it next month. I did try to bounce the rear and there is no give (not an inch anyway) so I'll do some checking and as mentioned if I can get it on a lift it would be good too. I will also try to meet up with one of the Z brothers there and do some comparisons. Everything was very tight with the polys for sure and I should have done more checking for binding upon assembly.