Quote:
Originally Posted by aeoman
I got my 23 ZL1 M6 last year, and immediately found that I had a serious drivability issue. The rear end consistently kicks out to the right under load and fishtails. Occasionally it will kick to the left if the surface is tilted significantly that way. WOT is basically an impossibility except in 4th or higher gears due to squirrelyness. I love the car, but want to be able to actually use its capabilities. I generally use the car as a daily driver but would like to be able to take it to the track occasionally.
Had the alignment checked. Had the dealer look at it, and after keeping it for a week, they said the car is "perfect" even though I reproduced the issue for them on a test drive.
So now after reading the forum and all the posts on suspension issues I am planning to put the BMR rear cradle kit in it to try and fix the issue. I am wondering what else I should get done at the same time.
I live in Oman, so it is not as simple as going to a local performance shop. I have to order parts from the States, get them through customs, then go to the local performance shop for install. Thankfully there are some good shops here to do the work and can put a good tune on the car if needed. Even so it is a hassle to do all the logistics so I prefer to batch everything together at once. My questions are:
1) If anyone has any ideas about other ways to fix the problem, well, I am all ears. Its on relatively new Pilot Sport 4S and only has 12K miles.
2) What other suspension upgrades should I consider based on daily driver and occasional track use? Arms? Sway Bars? etc.
3) Are there any other upgrades to be considered? I am not chasing more power yet as I can't even use the stock power effectively. I bought the car used with a Corsa Carbon Fibre CAI. That said, no reason not to use the shop time for relatively simple upgrades.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
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Hey Buddy... First off, welcome to the Forum and congrats on picking up the ZL1, these are amazing cars, this great platform, and you found a great spot to search for old conversations, ask questions and learn from dozens of super knowledgeable guys on here.
1. Like you, was not happy with several things on my ZL1 1LE after purchasing new. First thing I noticed was the latency and lazy throttle response. Two things helped that.... a remote tune using
HP tuners, and removing the factory oil filled engine mounts for the
BMR versions with poly bushings. Combined, the engine now felt so much more connected to the chassis... night and day difference.
2. Not related to your topic, but being here in California with crappy 91 octane fuel, it didn't take long to install a
Flex Fuel Sensor, in order to take advantage of readily available E85 for more power, better detonation protection, and a much more responsive car.
3. Like you, found the rear suspension soft, unpredictable, and impossible to tame. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you which component made the most improvement, but combined made a night and day difference.... along with a quality alignment. Although I have several newer items now, but before upgrading to these
Ridetech Coilovers... The first round of rear suspension upgrades included the
BMR Front of Rear cradle braces,
BMR Upper and lower trailing / traction arms, and the
BMR Toe Links.
Those combined made a dramatic improvement... down the road, I installed the
Ridetech Coilovers,
BMR Upper &
Lower Control Arms, to round out the package... and BOY do they help!
Like you suspect, no harm in starting small... perhaps the lockout kit, and trailing arm package to start... then add more later if you see the need.
Cheers to going faster and staying cooler!