Improving Steering Feel?

[DRM500RUBYZR-1]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Erik,

Absolutely agree w ur assessment of the C4 ZR v a C5 Z06. I did that comparison when I initially started looking for something beyond my 84 Z51 Xfire. The C5 was quick, but felt like a skateboard. The interior was cheap looking and Marty, I actually like sitting IN a car, not ON it.
The ZR felt felt so much more substantial. And its still a car u can work on using jackstands or Quickjacks. Not to mention u can still surprise the crap out of newer stuff w a few mods. 500+ hp is still nothing to sneeze at even thirty years later.
I did enjoy driving a 944. Interested in the C8 because its ME, but not until it has a DOHC in it. Would love to try either the Cayman or the Alfa 4C.

Everyone knows my LOVE for the C-4 ZR-1.

While love is usually blind, it does not in this case, let me overlook the cars missing tooth or other imperfections.
C-5 onward build quality and updates are significantly ahead of the C-4 platform.
A C-5 Z06 is one of the most balanced Corvettes ever with a solidity making it feel it cut form an ingot.
Toss-ability that turns grown men into kids, but I no longer own one.

Yet I still own, and will ALWAYS own my Ruby.

My C-6 is a dream to drive. As solid as the C-5, but in a convertible!
NO Cowl shake top up or down.
No it does not rev like an LT-5, but just a joy to drive anyway.

I put a 6 foot 10 yes TEN client into a C-6 ZR-1 and he LOVES it!

Spend a day with a C-7 Z06 with a manual.
It is breathtaking!!
Tight inside and you can land fighter planes on the console, but still a blast to drive.

The C-8?
Best riding Corvette I ever drove. Yes EVER.
I will await a manual transmission, and if GM does not deliver it, I will find someone making a conversion.
I know I am not the only one who wants it with a clutch and shifter just for fun!

It is ok to be in love with more than one car.
Loving one, does not exclude the other.
Talking cars here folks, just cars!

Now back to the missing tooth car.................
and where is the key for that 427.................


Marty

[XfireZ51]

Marty,

If ur reply was directed towards me, I would say I am in agreement w you. Having said that, I am also in agreement w Erik in that I find the C4 ZR more engaging than the subsequent generations. Its more ?old school? and more of a sleeper which is something I like. Less of a ?boulevard? driver and more rough and tumble.
Marc H loves his C6ZR. I would probably like one at some point. Drove my friends
C7 Z and just felt it was massive. I grew up w Spitfires and MGB-GTs. Traded my C3 coupe for a Datsun 240Z. I like smaller and more nimble. One of the most fun cars I ever had was a 1980 Scirocco S. And my 84 Xfire was 3200# wet.
I?ll wait to hear what u think of the C8.

BTW, Taurus SHOs were great road cars. Had 3 of those, all Yamaha V6.

[jss06c6]

Originally Posted by DRM500RUBYZR-1

Everyone knows my LOVE for the C-4 ZR-1.

While love is usually blind, it does not in this case, let me overlook the cars missing tooth or other imperfections.
C-5 onward build quality and updates are significantly ahead of the C-4 platform.
A C-5 Z06 is one of the most balanced Corvettes ever with a solidity making it feel it cut form an ingot.
Toss-ability that turns grown men into kids, but I no longer own one.

Yet I still own, and will ALWAYS own my Ruby.

My C-6 is a dream to drive. As solid as the C-5, but in a convertible!
NO Cowl shake top up or down.
No it does not rev like an LT-5, but just a joy to drive anyway.

I put a 6 foot 10 yes TEN client into a C-6 ZR-1 and he LOVES it!

Spend a day with a C-7 Z06 with a manual.
It is breathtaking!!
Tight inside and you can land fighter planes on the console, but still a blast to drive.

The C-8?
Best riding Corvette I ever drove. Yes EVER.
I will await a manual transmission, and if GM does not deliver it, I will find someone making a conversion.
I know I am not the only one who wants it with a clutch and shifter just for fun!

It is ok to be in love with more than one car.
Loving one, does not exclude the other.
Talking cars here folks, just cars!

Now back to the missing tooth car.................
and where is the key for that 427.................


Marty

I think I know that 6' 10" ZR1 guy Marty! He absolutely loves that car, even more now that it's pushing 800 crank HP!

Hope you are well!

Steve

Sent from my SM-G950U using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app

[Erik]

Not to repeat myself, but...

My daily drive has a modern chassis, modern steering, magnetic dampers/shocks, etc. It's much roomier and more comfortable then a C4. Or a C5, C6, C7 or C8 for that matter. I put 53,000 km onto it in 9 months, before Covid hit. It's a really great office.

However, like most modern cars, it's so competent, it's a bit dull. The 6 speed manual helps, but there's an element of feeling like you are just playing a computer game, rather then driving a mechanical device. Plus, it's so ridiculously fast, that the speed is unusable. It also takes a couple of weeks of driving to get used to the power and acceleration, and a lot of the thrill goes away. But, give me a fully analog car, that makes me work for its performance potential, that is constantly bombarding me with good sensory info, and that will be a fun drive.

[Hib Halverson]

There are some things one could do:
The aformentioned replacement of the flex coupling in the column helps.

Also, replacing the outer tie rods, replacing the upper and lower ball joints and, if necessary, the inner tie rod ends inside the rack.

And then, there is the rack itself.

All those pieces must be in new or "as-new used" condition if steering feel is going to be optimal.

[LGAFF]

https://www.corvettecontrol.com/prod...teering-damper

[Erik]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

https://www.corvettecontrol.com/prod...teering-damper

I want that!!!

[ram_g]

Originally Posted by Erik

I want that!!!

Seems like it might be going in the opposite direction to what you want though?? (I.e if it is damping out small pulses through the wheel, isn?t it making the steering *less* communicative?)

[Erik]

Originally Posted by ram_g

Seems like it might be going in the opposite direction to what you want though?? (I.e if it is damping out small pulses through the wheel, isn?t it making the steering *less* communicative?)

Maybe.
What I want to feel is what is happening at the treads and the sidewalls. If this smooths out some roughness and bad info, then that's a good thing. From everything I can understand, the C4 is lacking structure. So things are moving and twisting that shouldn't be. All of that will muddy the signal from the tires. Plus, it seems like this thing fixes some poor wheel of control issues, which again should allow more direct info from the tires. So, to me, it seems promising. While it may not be adding back steering feel, it might fix some of the issues that effect what we are getting.

[Marc Haibeck]

Relocating the battery to the rear storage compartment removes about 35 pounds from the front end. The ZR-1 has a 52 - 48% front to rear weight distribution. Relocating the battery will change the bias by 1 point. The revised weight distribution is 51- 49%, the same as a LT1 Corvette. A lightness is noticeable in the steering at low speeds.

An '86 to '87 Z51 steering rack might help. The ZR-1 rack is 2.75 turns lock to lock. The Z51 rack is 2.25 turns lock to lock. The tie rods are about an inch shorter than the ZR-1 rack. Tie rod ends with longer threaded ends are necessary to adapt it. The Z51 rack may be hard to find. Z51 was available from '84 to '89. My experience is with only the '86 - '87 unit.