[TRZ06]

I'm assuming the lack of updates today is because you hard at work getting the rest of the shocks done??? I'm on the edge of my seat here

[travislambert]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

I'm assuming the lack of updates today is because you hard at work getting the rest of the shocks done??? I'm on the edge of my seat here

I have a full-time job too, so I normally only get a few hours here and there to work on the car. Stay tuned. I'm working on it now.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by travislambert

I have a full-time job too, so I normally only get a few hours here and there to work on the car. Stay tuned. I'm working on it now.

SWEET!! I'm just giving you a hard time.

This swap has my attention. Not something I would do now, but in a year or so when I am wanting to upgrade to the ZL1 1LE, this might be a cheaper way to squash that. lol

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by travislambert

Oh and a special thanks to whoever came up with this design. Both ends of the sway bar links are nearly impossible to tighten with common tools. It's easy to understand why so many of these came loose.

Attachment 957459

A box wrench and a dickpin on a ratchet to get it snug, then a deep well on the nut for final torque?

[travislambert]

Originally Posted by cdb95z28

A box wrench and a dickpin on a ratchet to get it snug, then a deep well on the nut for final torque?

Yeah, that works. It's just more difficult than it should be. The wrench can only be moved a mm at a time, and the bottom end link is really tough to get a allen key into with the ZL1 1LE bars (much harder than with the FE4 suspension).

A place to put an open end wrench on the backside of the link would be much easier. Oh well.

[travislambert]

Suspension swap is complete... Well mostly anyway. My front control arms didn't make it in time. The shipping routed through North Carolina, so it was delayed. The FE4 links will have to work for now.

I'll be driving the car to get an alignment in the morning. I'll grab some more pictures then.

[travislambert]

Here's a few pictures for ride height comparison. My car is black with FEA and my friend's car is garnet red with the stock FE4.

[TRZ06]

Nice. What are you initial impressions?

[travislambert]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

Nice. What are you initial impressions?

Initial impressions... It rides like a floor jack. Honestly, there is a huge difference in ride quality from the FE4. I sure hope it's fast...

I'll write up a review after the track days this weekend.

[cdb95z28]

Originally Posted by travislambert

Initial impressions... It rides like a floor jack. Honestly, there is a huge difference in ride quality from the FE4. I sure hope it's fast...

I'll write up a review after the track days this weekend.

It will be. For me and my Gen 5 1LE, going from the OE to the Z/28 DSSV suspension was huge.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by travislambert

Initial impressions... It rides like a floor jack. Honestly, there is a huge difference in ride quality from the FE4. I sure hope it's fast...

I'll write up a review after the track days this weekend.

Yeah, I would imagine it is a big difference.


When I test drove the ZL1 1LE, I still had my M3 with Ohlin coilovers and it actually felt a little better that the Ohlins in the low speed stuff, but now that I have been in the MRC car for 6 weeks, I would probably have the same initial impressions.

From what I know of the DSSV shocks though is that they come alive when you get into the triple digit speeds.

The damping on the MRC shocks is actually really good, I just wish GM offered a spring for the MRC that was about 50% stiffer, while maintaining the current ride height. If I remember right, the DSSV springs are something like 3 times as stiff as the OEM ZL1/SS springs.

All that is on the market though for the MRC is lowering springs, which do nothing for the handling and are for looks and not performance gains.

[travislambert]

Well the results are in, but unfortunately I'm exhausted so the full review will have to wait until tomorrow.

The short of it is there was almost no difference in track performance. After I got it dialed in I was within a second of my previous lap times at PittRace.

There are certainly advantages / disadvantages to both, so I'll ask that any ZL1 1LE owners wait for my full explanation before flaming me.

The good news is both the FE4 and FEA suspensions are wicked fast on the track. There were tons of high-end cars at this event, and I was only passed once all weekend by some F3 or F5 IndyCar "thing".

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by travislambert

Well the results are in, but unfortunately I'm exhausted so the full review will have to wait until tomorrow.

The short of it is there was almost no difference in track performance. After I got it dialed in I was within a second of my previous lap times at PittRace.

There are certainly advantages / disadvantages to both, so I'll ask that any ZL1 1LE owners wait for my full explanation before flaming me.

The good news is both the FE4 and FEA suspensions are wicked fast on the track. There were tons of high-end cars at this event, and I was only passed once all weekend by some F3 or F5 IndyCar "thing".

Thanks for the update.

I would imagine the short of it will be, if it is a daily driver , do the rear cradle bushing and leave the MRC.

If for the track and you will track a lot, get the DSSV.

The biggest advantage of the DSSV is that since the dual compression . rebound sleeve within the DSSV shocks are mechanical and CNC machined, they will be more consistent with the same results every time, while the MRC fluid is subject to slight variations with temp. changes.

Coming directly from Ohlin coilovers on my M3, the MRC is much better overall and a lot smoother. The Ohlins held a slight advantage when the suspension was loaded up mid corner and upset when going triple digit speeds, the recovery was just a tad quicker, however there is a big daily driver penalty to pay for a track suspension as a daily driver.

My daughter and anyone else who rode in my M3 , that was not a car enthusiast, hated the harshness over regular street driving.

The MRC on the 1LE (and on the ZL1, I would imagine) is very well programmed/damped, and for anything other than pure track duty, it is probably the best option.

The rear cradle bushings is the weakest suspension point on both the ZL1 and the SS 1LE.

I look forwards to your full review.

[cdb95z28]

A big change means a new learning of the car. It took me time to exploit my current setup. And I still have more room to improve. You “should” be able to drive it more aggressively. What sucks is the season is coming to an end. Don’t take one event as the final say on the changes. The driver mod is always the key to any change.