F45 shock alternatives?
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From: Dublin, CA
F45 shock alternatives? I have a 98 C5 convertible <img border="0" alt="[Corvette]" title="" src="graemlins/corvette.gif" /> with F45 shocks, and Z06 bars. At over 60K miles, and rattling/ clunking noises, I suspect the front shocks are worn (no bushings or bearings seem to budge). No computer codes though. However lowering the car about an inch probably didn't help. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
Replacement front F45 shocks are $590 each from the dealer. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
What alternatives are there? What happens if I use Sport Blistein shocks not for F45 cars? What happens with F45 cars when coilovers are installed? How does one disable the F45 computer, and would I want to?
Advice anyone?
Thanks in advance...
Replacement front F45 shocks are $590 each from the dealer. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
What alternatives are there? What happens if I use Sport Blistein shocks not for F45 cars? What happens with F45 cars when coilovers are installed? How does one disable the F45 computer, and would I want to?
Advice anyone?
Thanks in advance...
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 81
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From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Re: F45 shock alternatives? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by rd98rdstr:
<strong>What happens if I use Sport Blistein shocks not for F45 cars?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I just put them on my F45 equipped car last week, along with Hotchkis swaybars and Z06 springs. They work great.
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by rd98rdstr:
<strong>How does one disable the F45 computer, and would I want to?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You need four 15-ohm 3-watt resistors. Plug one into each shocks electrical connection. The car will think that the shocks are still there, and won't give any errors.
Shinobi's97 on the corvetteforum posted the info, and I followed his instructions, and it worked great.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=309754
<strong>What happens if I use Sport Blistein shocks not for F45 cars?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I just put them on my F45 equipped car last week, along with Hotchkis swaybars and Z06 springs. They work great.
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by rd98rdstr:
<strong>How does one disable the F45 computer, and would I want to?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You need four 15-ohm 3-watt resistors. Plug one into each shocks electrical connection. The car will think that the shocks are still there, and won't give any errors.
Shinobi's97 on the corvetteforum posted the info, and I followed his instructions, and it worked great.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=309754
Thread Starter
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From: Dublin, CA
Re: F45 shock alternatives? Thanks alot for the info, that's very useful.
I was also confused as to F45 and Active Handling. I've read a little on the Active Handling*, and it seems only brakes are involved. I had thought somehow the road-sensing and computer controlled shocks were involved.
It sure is nice to know standard shocks can work without affecting the safety.
*1997 Popular Mechanics, Chevrolet Media, Edmunds 1998 C5 review
I was also confused as to F45 and Active Handling. I've read a little on the Active Handling*, and it seems only brakes are involved. I had thought somehow the road-sensing and computer controlled shocks were involved.
It sure is nice to know standard shocks can work without affecting the safety.
*1997 Popular Mechanics, Chevrolet Media, Edmunds 1998 C5 review
Thread Starter
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From: Dublin, CA
Re: F45 shock alternatives? Just had to leave some feedback after replacing the F45s...
Some research on coilovers made me worry about the quality and fit, so I passed on those for now. Since they may still be a future option, I decided to go with slightly used shocks.
I replaced the F45s with used Z51 shocks, which are reportedly softer then the Bilsteins. Now the car feels solid and stable. Freeway bumps that rattled the suspension and unsettled the car before, are now absorbed with an uneventful 'whump'. Some of the prior uncomfortable ride can be attributed to soft worn shocks and excessive rebound (bump is absorbed, but car lofts higher from it than it should). The rebound discomfort of the worn shocks was not obvious until stiffer shocks were installed for a more comfortable, more stable ride. Cornering now easily overpoweres the Kumho 712s I previously was so happy with (they didn't squeal in corners before).
If your F45 switch seems like it doesn't work, the shocks are most likely worn. Mine had 62K mi., and sitting next to the car, at arms length I could compress the F45 shocks against the floor. I had to put my weight on the Z51s to compress them, and they move slowly.
I'm installing the resistors next. I'm using 15ohm 5watt resisters instead of 3watt (couldn't find 3W or 4W at Radio Shack or Frys'). That 80mph limiter kicks in suprisingly often (and harshly) in normal commuter traffic.
Some research on coilovers made me worry about the quality and fit, so I passed on those for now. Since they may still be a future option, I decided to go with slightly used shocks.
I replaced the F45s with used Z51 shocks, which are reportedly softer then the Bilsteins. Now the car feels solid and stable. Freeway bumps that rattled the suspension and unsettled the car before, are now absorbed with an uneventful 'whump'. Some of the prior uncomfortable ride can be attributed to soft worn shocks and excessive rebound (bump is absorbed, but car lofts higher from it than it should). The rebound discomfort of the worn shocks was not obvious until stiffer shocks were installed for a more comfortable, more stable ride. Cornering now easily overpoweres the Kumho 712s I previously was so happy with (they didn't squeal in corners before).
If your F45 switch seems like it doesn't work, the shocks are most likely worn. Mine had 62K mi., and sitting next to the car, at arms length I could compress the F45 shocks against the floor. I had to put my weight on the Z51s to compress them, and they move slowly.
I'm installing the resistors next. I'm using 15ohm 5watt resisters instead of 3watt (couldn't find 3W or 4W at Radio Shack or Frys'). That 80mph limiter kicks in suprisingly often (and harshly) in normal commuter traffic.
